Disparities in Next-Generation Genetic Sequencing Among Individuals with Cancer

• Published in: Annals of surgical oncology 2024-11, Vol.32 (2), p.650-652
• Main Authors: Khan, Muhammad Muntazir Mehdi, Khalil, Mujtaba, Stecko, Hunter, Pawlik, Timothy M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ASO Research Letter; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Surgery; Surgical Oncology
• ISSN: 1068-9265; 1534-4681; 1534-4681
• DOI: 10.1245/s10434-024-16464-6

Background We sought to investigate disparities in the utilization of next-generation genetic sequencing (NGS) across demographic groups related to several  common cancer subtypes. Methods Data on patients aged 65 years or older with a diagnosis of gastrointestinal, lung, and breast cancer between 2015 and 2020 were obtained from the Medicare Standard Analytic Files. Propensity score matching was employed to reduce selection bias, and logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate racial, ethnic, and sex-based disparities in NGS utilization. Results Among 1,466,105 individuals, only 1.8% ( n  = 26,608) underwent NGS. Median patient age was 76 years (IQR 71–82), 36.8% ( n  = 539,201) of patients were male, and 87.8% ( n  = 1,287,805) were non-Hispanic White. Of note, minority patients, including non-Hispanic Black individuals (no NGS: 7.2% vs. NGS: 5.2%) and Hispanics (no NGS: 0.9% vs. NGS: 0.5%), as well as individuals residing in socially vulnerable neighborhoods (no NGS: 32.6% vs. NGS: 30.7%) were less likely to undergo NGS testing (all p