This Genetic Difference Is Unfairly Keeping Black Americans Out of Clinical Trials

Racial disparities in cancer outcomes are a serious problem, and it begins with clinical trial access. Studies show that people of color, especially Black Americans, are more likely to die from cancer than white people. One reason is that they often don’t have the same access to treatment or clinical trials. A new study published in JAMA has found that a genetic difference called Duffy null-associated neutrophil count (DANC) can unfairly exclude people of color from cancer treatment. DANC is more common in people of African and Middle Eastern descent. It causes their white blood cell count to be lower than average, but it doesn’t affect their health. The study looked at clinical trials for five common cancers: breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, and melanoma. It found that 76.5 percent of these trials excluded people with DANC, even though their white blood cell count was within the normal range. This is because the trials used outdated guidelines that didn’t account for DANC. The study also found that 53.5 percent of cancer treatment regimens recommended lower doses for people with DANC. This can make treatment less effective. The researchers say that these findings show that current cancer treatment guidelines are unfair to...