Dr Olazagasti on Disparities in Lung Cancer Screening Rates for Hispanic Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Coral Olazagasti, MD, thoracic oncologist, professor, medicine, The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses factors that may contribute to disparities in lung cancer screening rates between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White survivors of head and neck cancer.

Head and neck cancer survivors have 3-times the risk of developing lung cancer compared with patients without a prior history of the disease, Olazagasti reports. This increased risk necessitates robust lung cancer screening protocols, particularly in vulnerable populations. However, there are significant disparities in lung cancer screening for the Hispanic population, she says.

Prior studies have shown that Hispanics are less likely to meet eligibility criteria for lung cancer screening compared with non-Hispanic patients, Olazagasti reports. Within different screening criteria, Hispanics are less likely to meet the United States Preventive Services Task Force criteria than the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria, she says. This discrepancy is attributed to differences in smoking histories and pack-year histories, as the studies that designed the lung cancer screening criteria predominantly enrolled white participants, Olazagasti explains.

Moreover, Hispanic patients who do meet these are still less likely to undergo screening, Olazagasti adds. This could be attributed biases from healthcare providers, who might perceive Hispanics as non-compliant, or due to barriers in access to care, such as a lack of insurance and access to private transportation, Olazagasti says. These barriers prevent effective lung cancer screening in this high-risk population, she emphasizes.

To address this significant inequity, the GUIAR study was designed to evaluate the impact of a culturally tailored educational intervention on lung cancer screening uptake among Hispanic head and neck cancer survivors, Olazagasti details. This trial assessed awareness and disposition toward lung cancer screening among Hispanic head and neck cancer survivors. Secondary aims included identifying barriers to lung cancer screening, developing and testing a tailored lung cancer screening program, and comparing lung cancer screening uptake rates between the two arms at baseline and after one year. By implementing culturally tailored educational interventions, the study aims to improve awareness and increase screening uptake, thereby reducing lung cancer mortality rates in this high-risk group.