A RECENT study has highlighted racial disparities in the use of immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), particularly among Black patients. The cohort study, which analysed data from 10,724 TNBC patients, found that while immunotherapy use was similar across racial and ethnic groups for early-stage TNBC (esTNBC), Black patients with metastatic TNBC (mTNBC) were significantly less likely to receive this treatment.
Immunotherapy has been shown to improve outcomes for both early-stage and metastatic TNBC, but the study revealed that the use of immunotherapy among Black patients with mTNBC was notably lower, with only 28.1% of Black patients receiving the treatment, compared to higher rates in Asian or Pacific Islander patients (37.1%) and White patients (35.5%). After adjusting for factors such as insurance status and treatment facility, Black patients were still less likely to receive immunotherapy than their White counterparts, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.63.
Despite these differences in treatment, the study found that the overall survival rate among Black and White patients receiving immunotherapy was similar, suggesting that immunotherapy is equally effective for both groups. These findings underscore the need for greater efforts to address these disparities and ensure equal access to immunotherapy, particularly for Black patients with metastatic TNBC. The study calls for systemic changes to ensure that all patients, regardless of race or ethnicity, can benefit from advancements in cancer treatment.
Reference
Freeman JQ et al. Trends and disparities in the use of immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer in the US. JAMA Nets Open. 2025;8(2):e2460243.
