The distribution of immunotherapy for patients with stage IV melanoma was unequal, and the rates of surgical resection did not differ with the use of immunotherapy between the checkpoint inhibitor era and pre-checkpoint inhibitor era, according to a study released in Cancer.
More, the patients who received immunotherapy in the checkpoint inhibitor era were more likely to be younger, be healthier, have private insurance, come from upper income quartiles, and be treated at academic programs.
“Use of immunotherapy significantly varied among patients with stage IV melanoma according to age, socioeconomic status, and treating facility,” wrote the researchers. “In comparison with the pre-checkpoint inhibitor era, the difference-in-difference analysis demonstrated that the approval of immunotherapy in 2011 was not associated with an increase in surgical resection of distant…
