Disparities Found in Lung Cancer Screening across Diverse U.S. Communities

September 27, 2021

Researchers from the Lung Population-based Research to Optimize the Screening Process (PROSPR) Consortium, including PC3I Faculty Katharine Rendle and PC3I Affiliate Anil Vachani, are working to optimize benefits of lung cancer screening (LCS) and eliminate disparities in uptake of screening. The consortium works across five integrated healthcare systems representing diverse populations and communities. Several media outlets (Oncology Times, Oncology Nurse Advisor) covered their findings.

First, the largest study of real-world patients receiving LCS to date showed that longitudinal adherence to LCS is lower in clinical practice than in clinical trials, with adherence rates lower for Black patients than white. These findings, covered by Oncology Times, indicate the need to further study of systemic ways to improve longitudinal adherence to LCS to detect cancers not diagnosed in the first round of screening.

Second, a retrospective study examined low-dose CT scan adherence for LCS in the years 2014 to 2019, after the Affordable Care Act mandated coverage of LCS in 2014. Data indicated that Black men in particular may be less likely to complete a baseline LCS exam after it is ordered, highlighting a need for further examination of factors associated with reduced uptake and the impact of these factors on exacerbating disparity. The team shared their findings at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.