ASCO 2022

Lymphoma is one of the most common and deadly cancers, ranking in the top 10 causes of cancer deaths. Despite its prevalence and severity, no blood test approaches to lymphoma screening have been implemented at the population level, and there are limited accurate surveillance markers. Methylated DNA markers (MDMs) have proven to be informative in...

Staff Writer: Deileta Kamhunga It’s well established that there are serious inequities in cancer care and outcomes in the U.S. and around the globe. But are pivotal clinical trials including populations representative of all patients, particularly those who experience these inequities? Researchers set out to determine if clinical trials for lymphomas reflect the populations affected...

Staff Writer: Deileta Kamhunga The survival rates of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have been dramatically improved through relatively new therapies. One such therapy is CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy, which has improved survival rates, particularly in children with relapsed or refractory B-ALL. However, other external factors may also have a significant impact...

Although multiple myeloma cannot be cured, treatments are available to help improve symptoms and manage quality of life. However, while treatments can help control the disease, mortality remains a concern for patients with multiple myeloma and their healthcare providers. Little research has been conducted on end-of-life care for multiple myeloma patients. This retrospective population-based cohort...

African Americans tend to have a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma at an earlier age and a higher risk of death than whites. While certain factors, such as socioeconomic status and access to care, can affect the outcomes of multiple myeloma, there’s no question that genetic mutations may also play a significant role in...

Given the troubled history of Black Americans in previous clinical studies, such as the Tuskegee syphilis study, it is not surprising that Black Americans may feel a sense of lingering mistrust in clinical trials and medical research. Despite the increased risk and aggressive nature of prostate cancer in Black patients compared to white patients, a...

The development and outcomes of prostate cancer can be significantly affected by multiple factors, such as genetic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Given this multifactorial approach to prostate cancer, disaggregating the available data on racial and ethnic subgroups is vital to pinpoint disparities in treatment status and diagnosis. In particular, Hispanic subpopulations with metastatic prostate cancer...

A lack of access to health care and treatment, brought about by socioeconomic and environmental factors, can impact the observed racial disparities in prostate cancer. While clinical trials open the doors to novel therapeutics targeted toward improving the survival of men with prostate cancer, an underrepresentation of racial groups could mean decreased insights into potential...

Multiple myeloma can affect different racial groups in different ways, especially since clinical trials are often skewed without equal representation. For example, around 20% of people affected by multiple myeloma are Black, but only 6% of participants in multiple myeloma clinical trials are Black.  This study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology for the 2022 ASCO...