Precision Oncology for Solid Tumor Malignancies in the Rural United States: A Scoping Review
Dena P. Rhinehart, Madelyn F. Klugman, Shuait Nair, Nicole Henderson, Mehmet Akce, Gabrielle Rocque, S.M. Qasim HussainiPURPOSE
Precision oncology has contributed to population-level improvements in cancer mortality, but patients in rural areas have not benefited as greatly from survival gains. Delivery of complex precision oncology strategies in resource-limited or rural areas can be challenging, and improvement is a priority to ensure access to these treatments for all patients. This scoping review synthesized existing evidence for precision oncology for solid tumors in the rural United States and identified areas for further research and health policy development.
METHODS
A scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews was performed. We conducted a search of English-language publications from 2014 to 2026 in the PubMed and Scopus databases.
RESULTS
In all, 34 of 842 studies identified met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Four primary themes were identified: (1) rural-urban disparities in precision oncology access and utilization, (2) patient experiences and perceptions of precision oncology, (3) provider perceptions of precision oncology, and (4) implementation and integration of precision oncology infrastructure into rural settings.
CONCLUSION
This review highlights the need for (1) greater examination of regional and cultural differences in uptake and perceptions of precision oncology in the rural United States, (2) future care delivery studies, and (3) health policy efforts to promote accessible and sustainable precision oncology delivery.