Healthcare Disparities in the Treatment of Advanced Lung Cancer

This CTSNet virtual Roundtable invites experts from the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to discuss health care disparities in the treatment of advanced lung cancer. Participants are Dr. Brittney Williams, fourth-year general surgery resident; Dr. M. Patricia Rivera, pulmonologist and Director of the UNC Lung Cancer Screening Program; Dr. Marjory Charlot, medical oncologist and Assistant Director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Community Outreach and Engagement program; and Dr. Gita Mody, thoracic surgeon and Director of Thoracic Surgical Oncology. The major findings of the discussion are: (1) inequity in access to and outcomes of lung cancer treatment based on sociodemographic disparities persist, despite efforts to improve screening and community engagement programs; (2) there is a gap in the current evidence on disparities in both curative and palliative approaches to advanced lung cancer care; (3) inclusions of minorities in studies to characterize molecular targets and trials on targeted treatments must be addressed; and (4) determining methods to ensure guideline concordant care regardless of patient or treating center characteristics is a priority. The panel concludes that the research and programmatic initiatives to address disparities in the care of patients with advanced lung cancer are crucially needed.