Evaluating Disparities in Proton Radiation Therapy Use in AHOD1331, a Contemporary Children's Oncology Group Trial for Advanced-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma

Abstract

The indications for proton radiation therapy carry the strongest evidence in pediatric cancers. In a recently published letter, Bitterman et al reviewed factors associated with receipt of proton radiation therapy in patients enrolled in Children's Oncology Group (COG) solid tumor and CNS tumor trials. They demonstrated that Black children were less likely to receive this treatment than non-Hispanic white patients, a disparity that persisted when controlling for other demographic and clinical variables. We strongly commend them for their work, as addressing racism and infrastructural barriers to care requires its identification.