Research Shows Palliative Care Disparities Among Hispanic Patients With Lung Cancer

Edward C. Dee, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Shriya Garg, a rising junior at the University of Georgia, double majoring in genetics and economics, joined Lung Cancers Today during the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 Annual Meeting to discuss their research on palliative treatment disparities in Hispanic patients with lung cancer.

“The disparities were slightly different for patients with stage IV lung cancer,” Garg highlighted.

The study revealed that receipt of palliative-intent interventions for patients of Mexican descent with lung cancer was reduced compared to non-Hispanic White patients.

“Similarly, there was also a reduction in the use of palliative-intent treatment for patients of South and Central American descent,” Garg explained.

Garg also described findings among patients of Dominican descent.

“Specifically, the Dominican subgroup or patients of Dominican descent showed the highest uptake of palliative-intent treatment compared to non-Hispanic White patients,” Garg explained.

In addition, the study highlighted the need for additional research “to characterize such disparities and discuss community-level and patient-centric solutions to address their drivers.”

“Early access to palliative-intent treatment, like I mentioned, improves survival and improves quality of life,” Garg concluded. “Focusing on those things is important for the patient long term.”