Collaborating to Increase Biomarker Testing Access in Brazil

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The Global Colon Cancer Association (GCCA) partners with leading organizations Instituto Oncoguia and Abrale to increase access to biomarker testing for colorectal cancer patients in Brazil. In September 2022, GCCA convened a panel at the Todos Juntos Contra o Câncer annual conference in São Paulo. This panel, made up of oncologists Marcela Bonalumi dos Santos and Diego Bugano, pathologist Marina De Brot, and moderated by advocate and psycho-oncologist Luciana Holtz, discussed the role of biomarker testing in colorectal cancer care, and the barriers to biomarker testing access faced in Brazil.

Speakers from Collaborating to Increase Biomarker Testing Access in Brazil

Some of the challenges Brazil faces in colorectal cancer biomarker testing access are shared by many countries, while other barriers are unique to Brazil.

Cancer biomarker testing can be used to assess a patient’s prognosis, and to predict which cancer treatments will be beneficial or not for a specific patient.
According to the Brazilian Society of Pathologists, there are fewer than 2 pathologists per 100,000 people, while the recommended number to optimally meet the pathology and cancer biomarker testing needs of Brazil is 9 pathologists per 100,000 people.
Approximately 75% of Brazilians rely on the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) for health services.
There is a lack of adequate policy and financial investment in cancer biomarker testing by SUS and supplementary health plans in Brazil, leaving these tests out of reach for many patients.
In Brazil, and in other places around the world, there is a discrepancy between the availability of biomarker tests and the availability of targeted therapy drugs. An available biomarker test that indicates a targeted therapy drug that is not available gives doctors no option to act on the test results.

In this video, hear from Luciana Holtz, Dr. Marcela Bonalumi dos Santos, Dr. Diogo Bugano, and Dr. Marina De Brot as they discuss challenges facing colorectal cancer biomarker testing access in Brazil, and the steps needed to increase healthcare access and health equity.

Collaborating to Increase Biomarker Testing Access in Brazil

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