Factors Influencing Immunotherapy Utilization in Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer: Impact of Race and Socioeconomics in the U.S

  • 0Northwell Health, North Shore/Long Island Jewish General Surgery, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY, USA. akhalid7@northwell.edu.

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Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Access to immunotherapy for stage IV pancreatic cancer varies significantly by race and socioeconomic status. Interventions are needed to ensure equitable access to this vital treatment for all patients.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research
  • Immunotherapy

Background

  • Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer with low survival rates.
  • Immunotherapy offers promise but faces challenges in PDAC treatment.
  • Most PDAC patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, limiting treatment options.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To analyze disparities in immunotherapy utilization for stage IV PDAC.
  • To investigate the impact of race, insurance, and socioeconomic factors on treatment access.

Main Methods

  • Analysis of National Cancer Database (NCDB) data from 2010-2017.
  • Inclusion of 109,663 patients diagnosed with stage IV PDAC.
  • Logistic regression analyses to assess factors influencing immunotherapy receipt.

Main Results

  • Only 0.38% of stage IV PDAC patients received immunotherapy.
  • Immunotherapy recipients were more likely to be white, have private insurance, and higher income.
  • Black patients and those with lower income had significantly lower odds of receiving immunotherapy.

Conclusions

  • Significant disparities exist in immunotherapy access for stage IV PDAC.
  • Race, socioeconomic status, and location impact treatment equity.
  • Interventions are crucial to promote equitable access to immunotherapy for PDAC patients.

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