Bridging gaps in colorectal cancer care: Real-world impact of a national clinical navigation program.

36 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with an estimated 153,000 new cases and over 52,000 deaths projected in 2024. Patients with CRC often face complex care pathways and systemic barriers, particularly those with advanced-stage disease or limited access to biomarker testing and clinical trials. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s Clinical Navigation Program was established to provide personalized, one-on-one support that enhances education, improves access, and facilitates informed decision-making throughout the care continuum. The program emphasizes health equity and patient empowerment. Methods: Trained clinical navigators engage patients via phone, email and BlueHQ, the Alliance’s digital support platform. Navigators provide support, including education on diagnosis and treatment, guidance on biomarker testing, clinical trial navigation, referrals for hepatic-directed therapy (HAI/Intera), insurance navigation, and support for second opinions. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and service engagement were tracked across 229 referrals from 2024 to 2025. Results: Among the patients referred, 115 (50.2%) engaged in navigation services. Key services included biomarker education (n = 33), clinical trial education (n = 85), second opinion support (n = 71), and referrals to Leal (n = 72), HAI/Intera (n = 19), and Travera (n = 6). The majority (61.5%) were under the age of 60, with 13.4% under 40, 27.4% between 40 and 49, 20.7% between 50 and 59 years old, and 38.5% aged 60 or older. Stage was reported for 233 patients, with 63.1% diagnosed at stage IV and 18.5% at stage III, with 74.1% having colon cancer and 25.9% rectal cancer. Race and ethnicity were: White (42.9%), Hispanic/Latino (11.0%), Black or African American (7.5%), Asian (2.8%), and other or unreported (35.8%). The data reflect meaningful outreach to diverse populations, while also revealing gaps that must be addressed to support equity goals. Conclusions: The Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s Clinical Navigation Program successfully addressed the core challenges outlined in the background by delivering personalized, one-on-one support to patients facing complex care pathways. The program improved access to critical services such as biomarker testing, clinical trial education, and second opinion support. These services are key elements of the cancer care continuum. Engagement across racially and geographically diverse patients, especially those with advanced-stage disease and younger age groups, demonstrates the relevance and reach of the program. These findings reinforce that patient-centered navigation can meaningfully reduce barriers, enhance understanding, and empower individuals to make informed decisions at pivotal moments in their cancer journey.