Half of metastatic cancer patients lack genomic testing
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- JAMA Network Open published the study on Tuesday, providing a peer‑reviewed analysis of genomic testing in metastatic cancer.
- The study examined sequencing rates across five metastatic cancer types, focusing on whether patients received tumor genome analysis.
- Roughly half of the cohort received genetic sequencing for most cancers, indicating substantial underutilization of this diagnostic tool.
- Low‑income patients, those on Medicare or Medicaid, and Black or Hispanic patients were significantly less likely to undergo sequencing, highlighting socioeconomic and racial disparities.
- Five‑year survival for all cancers reached 70% by 2026, and metastatic cancer survival has doubled since the 1960s, underscoring the potential impact of targeted therapies that rely on genomic data.
Why it matters: Patients who are low‑income, on Medicare/Medicaid, or Black/Hispanic miss out on genomic testing, limiting their access to targeted therapies that could improve survival, while the broader oncology community loses critical data needed to refine precision‑medicine approaches and reduce health inequities.
