A new study has found that while biomarker testing for advanced colorectal cancer patients has increased over the past 10 years, differences in testing rates based on race, ethnicity, and income level still exist.
Biomarker testing looks for specific changes in a patient’s cancer cells. The results can help doctors choose the best treatment options. The study, led by Hannah R. Robinson from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, looked at data from nearly 26,000 patients at 280 U.S. cancer clinics between 2013 and 2023.
The researchers found that overall biomarker testing rates have gotten better. However, the study shows that more work is needed to make sure all patients have equal access to these important tests, no matter their background. Differences in testing rates based on ethnicity, race, and income level highlight the need to ensure that every patient with advanced colorectal cancer can get biomarker-guided treatment.
See “Study Reveals Disparities in CRC Biomarker Testing Trends” by Deepa Varma on the Medscape website (February 1, 2024)
