New cancer drugs are revolutionary. Why don’t more patients get them?

Key Points:

• John Ebers, diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer after severe fatigue, initially underwent standard chemotherapy, which he found nearly intolerable and was not informed about genetic testing options.
• Genetic testing can identify specific mutations in tumors, allowing for targeted therapies that are often more effective and less toxic than chemotherapy, but many patients do not receive such testing or treatments due to systemic barriers.
• Barriers to genetic testing and targeted treatment include lack of biopsies, insufficient tumor samples, doctors not ordering tests or prescribing drugs, high drug costs, and the rapid pace of new drug approvals overwhelming physicians.
• Disparities exist in access to innovative treatments, with poorer, Black, Hispanic, uninsured, or Medicaid patients less likely to receive genetic testing and targeted therapies.
• After seeking a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, Ebers received genetic testing revealing a rare mutation treatable with targeted drugs, improving his condition and outlook, highlighting the life-saving potential of precision medicine when properly utilized.