Novel Therapies in Cancer: Summit on Cancer Health Disparities, Keynote and Panel Discussion

Molecularly-targeted therapeutics play a pivotal role in the therapeutic arena in cancer medicine, in many cases prolonging overall survival. However, despite decades since their foray into the cancer therapy armamentarium, many targeted therapies are beyond the reach of cancer patients due to high, sometimes exorbitant cost. Moreover, in some cases failure of uptake of targeted therapies is due to the lack of use of sophisticated molecular diagnostic tests (many of which are also extremely expensive), and therefore patients are deprived of potentially life-saving treatment options. In this article, we will discuss the main points of Dr. Jerry Radich’s lecture at the Binaytara Foundation 2023 summit on cancer health disparities held in Seattle, WA from April 28 to April 30. Dr. Radich’s keynote address was followed by a panel discussion led by experts including Dr. Parameswaran Hari, Dr. Lidia Schapira, Dr. Manali Patel, Sydney Osborne, and Dr. Linda Armstrong. Dr. Mark Pegram moderated the session, which focused not only on the disparities in cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), but also highlighted great disparities here in the U.S. The session explored collaborative efforts at uprooting these disparities across various branches of cancer care.