A new study suggests minority patients with a common type of blood cancer may have unequal access to cutting-edge treatments, highlighting ongoing racial disparities in cancer care.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that patients from minority populations being treated for B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) may not have equal access to CAR T cell therapy, an innovative personalized cancer treatment.
The study, published in NEJM Evidence, examined data from two cancer centers between 2018 and 2022. While minority representation among NHL patients mirrored local population demographics at both centers, suggesting equitable access to general cancer care, the research raised concerns about access to advanced therapies like CAR T cells.
“CAR T cell therapy represents a major leap forward for blood cancer treatment, with many patients living longer than ever before, but its true promise can only be realized if every patient in need has access to these therapies,” said lead author Guido Ghilardi, a postdoctoral fellow at Penn Medicine.
The findings underscore broader concerns about cancer disparities. For instance, Black and African American patients have higher death rates for many cancer types, including large B-cell lymphoma, the most common subtype of NHL.
“We’re constantly working in the laboratory to make CAR T cell therapy work better, but we also want to make sure that when a treatment like this becomes available, it reaches all patients who might be able to benefit,” Ghilardi added.
See “Study reveals inequities in access to transformative CAR T cell therapy” (April 10, 2024)
