Disparities in Gynecologic Cancer Care and Outcomes in the Age of Molecular Profiling and Targeted Therapies: Etiologies and Solutions

In contradistinction to many other malignancies, gynecologic cancers continue to rise in incidence and/or mortality. By 2030, endometrial cancer will be one of the top three female cancers, exceeding colon cancer rates. Moreover, rates of locally advanced cervical cancer cases are rising particularly among women who are 30-44 years old. Unfortunately, women in minoritized groups bear a disproportionate amount of the disease burden. We describe these disparities, their etiologies and current/future solutions. In particular, recent advances in gynecologic cancer care include the incorporation of immunotherapy in definitive cervical cancer treatment and increased use of molecular profiling for endometrial cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, the benefits of these advances may not accrue equally across all populations due to inequities in access to care (i.e., lower rates of immunotherapy use among minoritized populations), lack of representation in ongoing clinical trials (RAINBO-PORTEC, PORTEC-4a) and under-resourced institutions that are unable to implement/offer these treatments and services. This dynamic threatens to worsen existing cancer disparities (i.e., endometrial cancer which has the second largest Black-White mortality gap). In order to course correct, practitioners must be aware of these inequities and the ways in which individual and collective action can mitigate or eliminate these inequities. We discuss disparities in the receipt of radiotherapy (both definitive and adjuvant), the incidence of aggressive endometrial cancer subtypes, and underrepresentation in gynecologic cancer clinical trials. Finally, we present the role of tumor boards, peer review, clinical trial design/implementation and community outreach in mitigating gynecologic cancer disparities.

Topics:

  1. Overview of Endometrial Cancer Disparities
    Onyinye D. Balogun, MD, MSc. 
  2. Overview of Cervical Cancer Disparities
    Vonetta Michelle Williams, MD, PhD
  3. Community Outreach Initiatives
    Amanda Rivera, MD
  4. Q and A
    Gita Suneja, MD, MS, FASTRO - Moderator
    Full Panel

This activity is available from April 14, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on April 13, 2028. 

The content was originally presented and recorded at the 2025 ASTRO Annual Meeting.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons and residents.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the current state of disparities in cervical and endometrial cancer.
  • Implement strategies to address disparities in their local setting or more broadly. 
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
04/14/2026
Course expires: 
04/13/2028
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0

Moderator: 

  • Gita Suneja, MD, MS, FASTRO, is employed by University of Utah. Dr. Suneja has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 

Speakers: 

  • Onyinye D. Balogun, MD, MSc., is employed by Northwell/Nuvance Health. Dr. Balogun receives compensation from Iwosan Health and Eisai. Dr. Balogun owns copyright/patent, has ownership equity and stock in Mission-Driven Tech. 
  • Vonetta Michelle Williams, MD, PhD, is employed by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Williams has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 
  • Amanda Rivera, MD, is employed by University of Miami Sylvester Cancer Center. Dr. Rivera has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 

Planners: 

  • Malcolm Mattes, MD is employed at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Mattes received research/grant funding from Gilead Sciences (relationship ended 8/30/2025). Dr. Mattes has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Parul Barry, MD, is employed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Barry has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Michael Haddock, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic and has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Manisha Palta, MD, is employed by Duke Cancer Center and Duke University Hospital. Dr. Palta receives grant/research funding from Merck and Varian Medical Systems. 
  • Salma Jabbour, MD, is employed by Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Jabbour receives grant/research funding from Merck & Co., Inc. and Beigene. Dr. Jabbour receives compensation/payment as a consultant with Radialogica and IMX Medical. 

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Available Credit

  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.

  • Nonmember: $0
  • Member: $0
  • Member-in-Training: $0
  • Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $0
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Member: $0

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date. 

Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until April 13, 2028, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date. 

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