Global disparities persist in access to molecular diagnostics and novel therapies for advanced NSCLC

This narrative review synthesizes evidence from guidelines, real-world studies, and literature to examine disparities in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) care across global regions and healthcare systems. The population includes patients with advanced NSCLC in high-, middle-, and low-income settings. The review focuses on access to molecular diagnostics, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy, though no specific comparator is reported.

The main finding is that access to modern diagnostics and treatments remains highly uneven worldwide. The review describes persistent global disparities in diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic options, and patient outcomes. It notes regional and income-related differences in the availability and implementation of molecular diagnostics and novel systemic therapies. No specific effect sizes, absolute numbers, p-values, or confidence intervals are reported for these disparities.

Safety and tolerability data are not reported. The review acknowledges it synthesizes existing evidence without primary data analysis. Key limitations include the inability to establish causation from disparities to outcomes, lack of quantitative effect sizes, and absence of specific intervention efficacy data. Funding and conflicts of interest are not reported.

For clinical practice, this review highlights the contextual reality that access to modern NSCLC diagnostics and treatments varies significantly by region and healthcare system resources. The evidence describes associations and contributing factors rather than proving causal relationships. Clinicians should be aware of these systemic disparities when considering diagnostic and treatment pathways for patients in different settings.