Making Every Patient Count: Precision Oncology for Latin America

Precision medicine—an approach to disease treatment that tailors care based on each person’s unique genetic makeup, environment, and lifestyle—is changing how cancer is treated around the world. But in Latin America, making this approach available to everyone still faces major obstacles. A new study by Dr. Ana Rita González  from Policy Wisdom LLC and her team outlines how precision medicine could help improve cancer outcomes in the region, but only if health systems and policies are changed to make it more accessible. The study was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

This comprehensive review examines how advanced cancer diagnostics and personalized treatment approaches can address healthcare disparities across Latin America. The study focuses specifically on Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama, analyzing both current challenges and future opportunities for improving cancer outcomes through tailored medical care.

Cancer represents a growing crisis in Latin America, with nearly 1.5 million new cases reported in 2022 and projections showing an 85% increase by 2050. Despite lower rates of cancer occurrence compared to developed nations, patients in the region face significantly higher mortality rates. This paradox stems from delayed diagnosis, limited access to specialized care, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure. The economic burden is substantial, with cancer expected to cost Latin American economies hundreds of billions of dollars through 2050, affecting not only healthcare systems but also families and caregivers who shoulder enormous physical, emotional, and financial stress.

The research reveals that personalized cancer treatment, which uses genetic testing to match patients with the most effective therapies, could dramatically improve outcomes. This approach analyzes a patient’s unique tumor characteristics to design targeted treatments, reducing unnecessary side effects and avoiding trial-and-error approaches that waste time and resources. However, the current reality in Latin America presents significant barriers. Most advanced testing and treatments remain accessible primarily through private insurance, creating a two-tiered system where wealthier patients receive cutting-edge care while those relying on public healthcare face delays and limited options.

Healthcare disparities in the region are deeply rooted in economic inequality, with over one-third of populations in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil living in poverty. Geographic barriers compound these challenges, as many patients must travel long distances to receive treatment, and rural communities lack specialized facilities. The fragmented nature of healthcare systems across Latin America further complicates access, with bureaucratic delays and poor coordination between different levels of care contributing to late-stage cancer presentations.

The study emphasizes that achieving fairness in cancer care requires intentional policy action beyond simply expanding coverage. While most countries in the region recognize health as a constitutional right and have made progress toward broader healthcare access, significant gaps remain in implementing policies that ensure everyone can benefit from medical advances. Current spending on cancer care averages only 0.12% of national income in Latin American countries, compared to over 0.5% in wealthier nations, reflecting insufficient investment in this critical area.

González and her team identify several essential components for successfully implementing personalized cancer care. These include establishing high-quality cancer registries to track disease patterns, training medical professionals in interpreting genetic test results, creating clear regulations for data privacy and ethical use, and ensuring that new treatments receive timely regulatory approval. The research also highlights the need for collaboration among academic institutions, healthcare providers, industry partners, and government agencies to build effective frameworks.

Looking forward, the authors emphasize that personalized medicine holds tremendous promise for reducing health disparities in Latin America, but only if implemented equitably. This requires addressing not just medical and technical challenges but also the broader social and economic factors that influence health outcomes. Recommendations include increasing investment in cancer care, improving healthcare system coordination, expanding access to specialized services in underserved areas, and developing policies that prioritize equitable distribution of advanced treatments.

The consensus document concludes that Latin America stands at a critical juncture. The region’s cancer burden will continue growing, but emerging medical advances offer unprecedented opportunities to improve outcomes. Success will depend on whether policymakers, healthcare leaders, and stakeholders can work together to ensure that all patients, regardless of income or location, have access to the best available cancer care. Without deliberate action to address existing inequalities, new technologies risk widening rather than closing the gap between those who can afford advanced treatment and those who cannot.

This work represents an important step toward building expert agreement on the value of personalized cancer care in Latin America and establishing a roadmap for making these advances accessible to all patients who need them.

Journal Reference

González A.R., Acuña Merchán L.A., Alatorre Alexander J.A., Kaen D., Lopez-Correa C., Martin C., Attwill A., Marinetti T., Rocha J.V., Barrios C., “Precision Medicine for Cancer and Health Equity in Latin America: Generating Understanding for Policy and Health System Shaping,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081220

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