Retrospective cohort study of racial differences in ctDNA profiles, targeted therapy use, and outcomes in metastatic breast cancer

Black patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) have higher mortality rates than White patients. A retrospective cohort study at three centers in the US, with validation in a population-based cohort, found significant differences in ctDNA profiles between Black (n=140) and White (n=1057) patients. Black patients were significantly less likely to receive phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors (5.9% versus 28.8%), despite equal incidence of PIK3CA alterations. The authors conclude that these findings suggest that clinical inequities exist alongside genomic differences between Black and White mBC patients.