Cancer treatment is becoming more personalized than ever. Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, doctors can now use a patient’s unique genetic and molecular profile to help determine which treatments are most likely to work for their specific cancer.
But there’s a catch: not everyone has equal access to the testing that makes this personalized care possible.
A recent discussion in Clinical Research News highlighted ongoing disparities in biomarker testing. These genetic and molecular tests can reveal specific changes in a tumor and help connect patients with targeted therapies or clinical trials. These tests are a key part of precision oncology, yet research suggests that Black patients are less likely to receive them. As cancer care continues to advance, experts worry that unequal access to biomarker testing could leave some patients behind and widen existing health disparities.
Biomarkers are biological signs found in a tumor that can give doctors more information about a person’s cancer. By looking at a tumor’s genes, proteins, or other features, doctors can learn how the cancer is likely to behave and which treatments might work best.
In some cases, biomarker testing can show that a patient qualifies for a targeted therapy — a treatment designed to attack specific changes in cancer cells. It can also help patients find clinical trials for promising new treatments.
Without biomarker testing, patients and their doctors may miss treatment options that could be more effective for their specific type of cancer.
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The issue isn’t that Black patients are less likely to have biomarkers. The issue is that they are less likely to get the testing needed to find them. Experts say there are several reasons for this gap.
Some patients receive care at hospitals that don’t have easy access to advanced genetic testing. Others may face insurance hurdles, referral delays, or health systems that don’t consistently offer biomarker testing to every eligible patient. As a result, not everyone benefits equally from the latest advances in cancer care.
That can have serious consequences. When patients aren’t offered comprehensive biomarker testing, they may miss out on targeted treatments designed for their specific cancer. They may also lose opportunities to participate in clinical trials testing promising new therapies.
The concern is even greater because Black Americans already face higher death rates for many types of cancer. Without equal access to biomarker testing, advances in precision medicine could end up widening existing disparities instead of helping close them.
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Researchers say the first step is to measure the problem. Part of the challenge is that many health systems track how many patients receive biomarker testing overall, but they don’t always examine who is (and isn’t) being tested. Without data broken down by factors such as race, income, location, or treatment center, it can be difficult to spot and address disparities.
Experts say there are several ways to close these gaps. Making biomarker testing a routine part of cancer care, expanding access in community hospitals, increasing awareness among both doctors and patients, and ensuring clinical trials reflect the diversity of the people affected by cancer could all help more patients benefit from precision medicine.
The science behind personalized cancer treatment is advancing rapidly, but a breakthrough only matters if the people who need it can actually access it. If some patients are routinely excluded from testing, they may never learn about treatments or clinical trials that could improve their outcomes.
That’s why advocates say patients and families should feel empowered to ask questions. After a cancer diagnosis, one simple question could make a difference: “Has my tumor been tested for biomarkers, and are there targeted treatments or clinical trials that might be right for me?”
As cancer care becomes increasingly personalized, ensuring that everyone has access to the tools that guide those treatments isn’t just a matter of innovation. It is truly a matter of equity.
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