Racial disparities in biomarker testing and clinical trial enrollment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Abstract

9005 Background: Cancer racial disparities may exist at many levels in the health care system, from screening to timely diagnosis and treatments received, as well as clinical trial enrollment. This study investigated differences in black versus white race among patients with NSCLC undergoing biomarker testing and clinical trial enrollment in the US. Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized the Flatiron Health database, which includes longitudinal data of patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC. Patients were eligible if they had evidence of systemic therapy in the database from 1/1/2017 through 10/30/2020. Descriptive analyses summarized differences by race in biomarker testing and trial enrollment. Multivariable regression examined the relationship between these factors. Results: A total of 14,768 patients were eligible: 9,793 (66.3%) were white and 1,288 (8.7%) were black. 76.4% of white patients and 73.6% of black patients underwent at least one single molecular test or comprehensive genomic analysis (p = 0.03). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed among 50.1% of white patients and 39.8% of black patients (p < 0.0001. Trial participation was observed among 3.9% of white and 1.9% of black patients (p = 0.0002). There was a statistically significant association between race (white vs black) and both biomarker testing (ever vs never) and trial participation (yes vs no) (both p < 0.001, unadjusted chi square). Differences in NGS testing, baseline biomarker testing, and race were retained as statistically significant (p < 0.01) in adjusted regression analyses. The receipt of first-line targeted therapy was comparable between white and black patients (10.2% and 9.2%, respectively, p = 0.24); however, this summary did not consider biomarker test results. First line use of pembrolizumab+carboplatin+pemetrexed was observed among 19.8% of white and 22.6% of black patients; carboplatin+paclitaxel was observed among 16.5% and 18.6%, and single-agent pembrolizumab was observed among 14.8% and 11.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The use of NGS-based testing, which is recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Guidelines in Oncology for patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC, is the most notable disparity among black patients, with more than a 10 percentage-point difference in receipt of this testing versus white counterparts. This may in part contribute to the more than double the rate of participation in clinical trials observed among white patients, as many second line and beyond trials utilize molecular targets as inclusion criteria. While multiple factors are known to impact health care disparities, access to and receipt of appropriate biomarker testing may be an attenable goal in order to ensure equal access to quality care.