Characterizing the Impact of Race and Contemporary Redlining on Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Locoregional Therapy Among Older Women With Breast Cancer

Purpose: Improving locoregional control for breast cancer (BC) results in better overall survival. Contemporary redlining is associated with worse BC survival in older patients. Self-reported race is associated with survival, redlining, and access to care. We aim to examine the relationship between race, redlining, and the receipt of guideline-concordant locoregional therapy (LRT) in older women with BC. Methods and Materials: Women aged 66 to 90 years with stage I to III BC diagnosed in 2010 to 2017 with known metropolitan statistical area were identified in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare. Redlining was estimated using Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. Guideline-concordant LRT was assessed based on receipt of surgery and appropriate adjuvant radiation treatment. A logistic regression model was fitted to examine the relationship between redlining and receipt of guideline-concordant LRT, accounting for covariates. Cluster bootstrap at the MSA-level was used. Conclusions: In this cohort of older women with BC, NH Black race and redlining, even after adjusting for several important clinical and demographic factors, were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving guideline-concordant LRT. This finding demonstrates the profound impact of interpersonal racism and redlining on receipt of cancer-directed therapies and highlights the need for further work to combat systemic inequities and interpersonal racism.