Evaluating Disparities in Pediatric Cancer Genomic Testing and Sequencing Results at the University of California, San Francisco Using the National Childhood Cancer Registry
Rural and marginalized children receive genomic testing less often, highlighting disparities that could worsen cancer outcomes.
In 758 eligible pediatric cancer patients, only 34.6% received comprehensive genomic testing, with significant inequities by rural location, sex, older teen age, and cancer type. Despite increasing adoption over time, these disparities in access to precision oncology could contribute to unequal clinical outcomes in pediatric cancer care.
What the study was
- Study design
- Retrospective cohort study with Poisson regression
- Population
- Pediatric cancer patients ≤20 years at UCSF (2012-2019)
- Sample size
- 758
- Category
- Public Health
- Maturity
- Validated
- Journal
- JCO Oncology Practice
Why it surfaced
Quantifies access disparities in pediatric cancer genomic testing with clear policy implications. Rural, female, and older adolescent patients significantly undertested. JCO Oncol Pract.
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