Work

Association of social vulnerability index and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy administration, 2018-2023

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies demands numerous visits, which may pose challenges for patients with lower socioeconomic status (SES). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), which summarizes area-level SES factors that predict how residents respond to stressors, including a new cancer -diagnosis. We used the nationwide MarketScan commercial and Medicare insurance claims database to analyze the association between SVI and CAR T therapy completion. We performed multivariable logistic regressions (adjusting for patient-level covariates) and found that patients with hematologic malignancies residing in areas of higher SVI (lower SES) have decreased odds of CAR T therapy completion (odds ratio [OR] 0.84 for leukemia, P = .02; OR 0.72 for lymphoma, P < .001; OR 0.70 for myeloma, P < .001). Therefore, strategies to mitigate CAR T disparities may be focused on patients living in areas with higher SVI.

Source: The Oncologist

DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyaf236

Authors: Alireza Boloori, Emisa Nategh, Christopher T Su

Institutions: University of Washington Tacoma, Georgetown University, University of Washington, Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: CAR-T cell therapy research

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,852