Reply to Multidisciplinary clinics: A possible means to help to eliminate racial disparities in prostate cancer

Disparities in the Utilization of Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer in the United States: A Comprehensive Review

“…Use is associated with factors such as older age, lower Gleason score and tumor state, and treatment at an academic center. 35 Tang et al (2020) Reply to Multidisciplinary clinics: A possible means to help to eliminate racial disparities in prostate cancer Single-institution N/A Men with intermediate- and high-risk PCa Black patients with high-risk PCa are more likely to receive definitive treatment if seen in a MultiD clinic 36 Dess et al (2019) Association of Black Race With Prostate Cancer-Specific and Other-Cause Mortality Multi-cohort (SEER, VA health system, NCI RTOG) 306,099 Men with clinical T1-4N0-1M0 PCa diagnosed from 1992 to 2013 After adjusting for nonbiological differences, notably access to care and standardized treatment, Black race does not associate with inferior PCSM. Abbreviations: NCDB = national cancer database; PCSM = prostate cancer–specific mortality; RT = radiation therapy; RTOG = radiation therapy oncology group; SEER = surveillance, epidimiology, and end results program; VA = veteran affairs.…”

“…Notably, receiving care at racially minority serving hospitals or community-based treatment facilities is associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving definitive treatment. 19 , 33 , 34 For patients with high-risk prostate cancer, definitive treatment is more likely offered if managed at an academic/multidisciplinary clinic, which leads to increased overall survival 35 versus facilities using lower quartile technology. 32 …”

“…The use of RT is best considered in a multidisciplinary setting, as it has been shown to help remove some disparities as well as the uncertainties of treatment planning and recommendations. 35 …”