Lack of resource ‘equality’ means research of the deadliest cancers is often underfunded

January 26, 2024 9:00 am

By Josh Friedman

Key takeaways:

  • Breast cancer received 25% of cancer funding from 2015 to 2018.
  • Cancers with high mortality rates, such as colorectal and pancreatic cancer, are underfunded.

Cancer research and advocacy funding disproportionately skewed toward certain subtypes, leaving … Read more

Gynecologic cancer clinical trial enrollment lower for certain underrepresented groups

December 29, 2023 9:00 am

By Erin T. Welsh, MA

Key takeaways:

  • Clinical trial enrollment was lower for Asian, Black and Hispanic women vs. white women.
  • Asian and Hispanic women were underrepresented in endometrial, cervical and ovarian cancer trials.

Asian, Black and Hispanic women with … Read more

Survey Finds Gaps in Care for Patients With Slow-Growing Ovarian Cancer

November 9, 2023 9:00 am

By Mary Caffrey

Delayed diagnoses. Symptoms that are dismissed or misinterpreted. Feelings of anxiety because no one can offer a clear explanation for their condition.

These are just some of the experiences of women who have low-grade serous ovarian cancer … Read more

Fred Hutch study highlights racial disparities in ovarian cancer risk for women

May 4, 2023 2:48 pm

Researchers examined risks for Black and white women with endometriosis and fibroids to understand how common medical interventions for those conditions modified the outcomes

SEATTLE, WA — May 4, 2023 — A new Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center study in the

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Financial Navigation Can Reduce the Financial Toxicity of Cancer Care

April 21, 2023 9:00 am

Clearity’s Perspective: Ask your health care team if they have a social worker, financial navigator, patient navigator, or nurse navigator who can help you manage the financial impacts of cancer. See Clearity’s Information and Support Resources for national organizations that Read more

Exome sequencing identifies cancer predisposition-gene carriers screening guidelines miss

April 19, 2023 12:55 pm

by Jennifer Southall

Whole-exome sequencing identified carriers of predisposition genes for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer or Lynch syndrome who, under current guidelines, would not have qualified for genetic testing, according to study results.

The findings, presented at American Association … Read more

1 in 4 patients at gynecologic oncology clinic lack adequate cancer health literacy

March 29, 2023 9:55 am

by Matthew Shinkle

One of every four patients with a gynecologic oncology office visit had inadequate levels of cancer health literacy, according to data presented at Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer.

Researchers found racial and ethnic … Read more

Ovarian Cancer in Black and African American Communities

February 3, 2023 3:10 pm

Ovarian cancer outcomes are less positive for Black and African American persons compared to other communities, but the reasons why are not entirely clear. Anne Mette Buhl, PhD, Director of Science and Clinical Trials, from The Clearity Foundation, recently contributed Read more

Racial, ethnic minority groups lack representation in OB/GYN trials

January 4, 2023 10:23 am

by Kalie VanDewater

Reporting of race and ethnicity data and representation of different racial and ethnic populations in OB/GYN clinical trials are subpar, although improvement is possible, according to findings published in JAMA Surgery.

“Although trial results inform policies … Read more

Race, Ethnicity ‘Notably Underreported’ in Publicly Accessible Databases of Gynecologic Cancer Trials

November 29, 2022 2:29 pm

by Nicolas Wrigley

Findings from a recent 30-year analysis of more than 1,000 gynecologic cancer trials strongly suggest that reporting race and ethnicity must be a required part of clinical research to improve diversity, according to a group of researchers.Read more

Black women less likely to receive guideline-concordant therapy for ovarian cancer

November 9, 2022 11:23 am

by Matthew Shinkle

Black women in the U.S. appeared less likely than white women to receive guideline-concordant treatment for ovarian cancer, according to a study published in Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Even among white women, the … Read more

Melissa Frey, MD, on Disparities in Ovarian Cancer Genetic Testing

October 19, 2022 10:40 am

by Mark L. Fuerst

Most people with a hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome are unaware of their underlying mutation, and the majority have not had genetic testing.

In a recent article in the ASCO Educational Book, Melissa Frey, MD, MS, … Read more

Eligibility Not Responsible for Under Representations in Cancer Clinical Trials

October 18, 2022 10:16 am

by Jessica Nye, PhD

Left image: Eligibility and opportunity for participation in cancer clinical trials was found to be similar across race, level of disadvantage, and residential area. Source: Getty Images

Eligibility was not found to drive disparities in clinical … Read more

Insurance Type Linked With Disparities in the Treatment of Gynecologic Cancer

October 14, 2022 10:36 am

by Jordyn Sava

In the interview with Targeted Oncology, Anna Jo Bodurtha Smith, MD, discusses the effects various insurance types have on the quality of care of patients with gynecologic cancers.Whether a patient with gynecologic cancer has insurance or is … Read more

Hannah C. Karpel, MS, Talks Increasing Clinical Trial Accrual in Patients With Gynecologic Malignancies Following NCI Call-to-Action

October 4, 2022 10:04 am

by Ariana Pelosci

A recent study presented at IGCS 2022 looking at clinical trial enrollment found that Black patients experienced the biggest increase in accrual following an NCI call-to-action for more diversity in clinical trials.

A recent single-institution study presented

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ASCO, ACCC Issue Recommendations to Boost Clinical Trial Diversity

July 24, 2022 10:44 am

by Jason Harris

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) have issued a joint statement outlining 6 recommendations for boosting participation among underserved communities.1

Increasing the racial and ethnic diversity in

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Effects of Food Insecurity Interventions on Cancer Treatment Adherence, Completion

July 13, 2022 11:22 am

by Vicki Moore, PhD

A recent study evaluated the effects programs aimed at addressing food insecurity have on treatment outcomes for patients with cancer. Each intervention seemed beneficial, with a voucher-plus-pantry program appearing to be the most effective. The study’s … Read more

Examining factors that may impact ovarian cancer survival disparities

June 20, 2022 10:33 am

by Coco Davis/ Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy among women in the United States (US). Although the incidence rate is higher among White women, Black women have the lower survival … Read more

Ovarian Cancer Patients in PARP Inhibitor Trials Don’t Reflect Real-World Population

February 25, 2022 11:33 am

by Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black patients were significantly underrepresented, but Asian/Pacific Islander patients were overrepresented.

Clinical trials of PARP inhibitors in patients with ovarian cancer do not accurately reflect the racial and ethnic makeup of the real-world … Read more

Racial Disparities Persist in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

January 25, 2022 8:52 am

by Jon Kelvey

Black patients with ovarian cancer were less likely than their White counterparts to receive adjuvant chemotherapy after primary surgery, according to a study published in Gynecologic Oncology.

The study also showed that patients who did not undergo … Read more