"Approximately half of patients diagnosed with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer between 2006 and 2021 did not receive systemic therapy."
Key Findings
A study published on May 7 in JAMA Oncology reveals significant gaps in lung cancer care. Led by Gerard Silvestri, M.D., and Adam Fox, M.D., from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center on behalf of the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, the research analyzed data from 2006 to 2021.
- About 40% of patients died within 90 days of diagnosis.
- Among those who might have been eligible for treatment, a significant minority did not receive therapy.
- Married patients were more likely to be treated.
- The proportion of patients receiving treatment did not increase substantially over the study period, despite the introduction of immunotherapies and targeted therapies.
Potential Contributing Factors
The study authors suggest several possible reasons for the undertreatment:
- Many patients never see a medical oncologist.
- Outdated perceptions among patients and clinicians about the toxicity and limited benefit of lung cancer treatments.
- Lack of social support, including transportation issues and treatment at under-resourced facilities.
- Poor overall health of patients, as clinical trial eligibility often excludes those with comorbidities.
Calls to Action
The researchers recommend a three-pronged approach to address the issue:
- Prompt referral of lung cancer patients to oncologists for evaluation.
- Expansion of lung cancer screening to detect disease earlier.
- Inclusion of patients with poorer health status in clinical trials for newer therapies with fewer side effects.
Background
Approximately 200,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer annually in the U.S., with about 100,000 having metastatic disease at diagnosis. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country.