Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40378235›Full record

ArticleJNCI cancer spectrum2025

Disparities in tissue-based biomarker testing among US Medicare beneficiaries with prostate cancer.

Stephan M Korn, Zhiyu Qian, Hanna Zurl, Andrea Piccolini, Klara K Pohl, Stuart Lipsitz, Jianyi Zhang, Adam S Kibel, Caroline M Moore, Huma Q Rana and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JNCI cancer spectrum, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Stephan M KornDepartment of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-3962-6049
Zhiyu QianCenter for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9953-3074
Hanna ZurlCenter for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0009-0007-1255-9337
Andrea PiccoliniCenter for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0009-0004-6601-1244
Klara K PohlCenter for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0009-0001-6740-4005
Stuart LipsitzCenter for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
Jianyi ZhangCenter for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-1501-4822
Adam S KibelDepartment of Urology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-9446-7781
Caroline M MooreDivision of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Huma Q RanaDivision of Cancer Genetics and Prevention, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-1598-6752
Kerry L KilbridgeLank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States.
Shahrokh F ShariatDepartment of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-6627-6179
Stacy LoebDepartment of Urology and Population Health, New York University Langone Health and Manhattan Veterans Affairs, New York, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-3933-9207
Quoc-Dien TrinhDepartment of Urology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-3857-9276
Alexander P ColeCenter for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-0049-8529

Funding

American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society #23YOUN25AstellasBayerBruce A BealHealth Disparity ResearchIntuitive SurgicalJanssenNovartisPfizerPfizer Global MedicalProstate Cancer FoundationProstate Cancer Foundation #23YOUN25Robert L Beal
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPersonalized therapeutic approaches for localized prostate cancer have evolved significantly, with tissue-based biomarker tests supplementing traditional risk stratification tools. However, national testing patterns and geographic variability remain limited a decade after coverage implementation. We aimed to assess current nationwide utilization and urban-rural differences in tissue-based biomarker testing.

methodsUsing full Medicare claims data, we retrospectively identified patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and tissue-based biomarker testing claims from 2019 to 2023. Patients' county of residence was categorized as metro, urban, or rural. Regional testing rates were further assessed across hospital referral regions. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to assess the effect of residence on test receipt.

resultsOur final cohort included 749 202 patients, of whom 79.5% lived in metro, 11.4% in urban and 8.00% in rural counties. Overall, 86 908 (11.6%) patients underwent tissue-based biomarker tests. Hospital referral region-level testing rates ranged from 2.4% to 42.7%. Rural patients were 18% less likely to undergo testing compared to metro patients (odds ratio [OR] 0.82, 95% CI = 0.73 to 0.91). Independently, the odds of undergoing testing were lower among Black (OR 0.82, 95% CI = 0.77 to 0.88) and Hispanic patients (OR 0.80, 95% CI = 0.73 to 0.88) compared to White patients.

conclusionThis study reveals high geographic variability in tissue-based biomarker testing for prostate cancer. Further, Black and Hispanic patients were less likely to receive testing. Our findings highlight regional practice variation in the use of advanced, not routinely recommended tests and underscore the need to minimize disparities in diagnostic access.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorHealthcare DisparitiesMedicareProstatic NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overBlack or African AmericanHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesRural PopulationUnited StatesUrban PopulationWhiteBiomarkers, Tumor

Identifiers

PMID40378235
PMCPMC12212051

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.