Survival impact based on hepatic artery lymph node status in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A study of patients receiving modern chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has significantly improved in recent years. While the involvement of the hepatic artery lymph node (HALN; station 8a lymph node) likely represents advanced disease, a comparison to patients with metastases on modern chemotherapy is lacking. METHODS: Patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with HALN sent for pathologic review at a single institution from 2003 to 2018 were reviewed. Patients who presented with liver-only metastases at the time of PDAC diagnosis (Stage IV) and received chemotherapy were identified. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was utilized and overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Of the 112 patients with a HALN sent for analysis, 17 (15%) were positive and 13 (76%) received chemotherapy. Ninety-four stage IV patients were identified and were significantly more likely to have received a multiagent rather than single-agent chemotherapy regimen compared to HALN positive patients (79.8% vs. 38.5%, p < .001). Median OS was significantly longer in all patients who underwent surgical resection, regardless of HALN status, compared to stage IV patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy with HALN positivity have significantly improved OS compared to patients with stage IV disease. HALN involvement does not significantly alter survival among resected patients and does not warrant preoperative endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy.

Reducing time to treatment and patient costs with breast cancer: the impact of patient visits.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of processes aimed at reducing time to treatment initiation (TTI) on minimizing the days spent to complete pretreatment visits and the associated costs for patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer. METHODS: System-wide initiatives were implemented in 2014 to minimize TTI, by incorporating multiple strategies (eg, creation of teams, patient liaisons, process mapping) and enhanced communication to increase coordinated visits. Average number of days spent to complete visits, TTI, and associated patient costs including driving expenses, parking, food, childcare, and lost wages were calculated and compared between the years 2015 and 2018. RESULTS: In 2015, the median TTI was 43.5 days and the average number of separate days spent to attend multidisciplinary visits prior to first treatment was 1.86. These were reduced to 29 days and 1.52 visits, respectively, in 2018 (p < 0.0001 for both). When evaluating treatment visits by surgical procedure, the average number of visits was reduced regardless of surgical procedure. The average number of visits was highest for patients undergoing mastectomy with reconstruction (2.34 in 2015, reduced to 1.65 in 2018, p < 0.0001). A single visit to complete treatment planning was associated with patient costs of $249 as compared with multiple trips costing $491 for 2 visits and up to $1,226 for 5 visits. CONCLUSIONS: In breast cancer patients, implementing processes to reduce time to treatment was associated with fewer visits required prior to treatment initiation, resulting in lower patient costs.

The power of one: Evaluating the impact of a single multi-disciplinary treatment visit on time to treatment.

Breast cancer treatment often requires multi-disciplinary evaluation, which can require multiple visits, delaying time to treatment initiation (TTI). The present analysis evaluated the impact of system-wide initiatives to reduce TTI by evaluating TTI for patients completing treatment evaluation in a single visit compared with those having multiple visits. The results demonstrated that patients who completed multi-disciplinary evaluation in a single visit had a reduced median TTI (27 vs 32 days, P = .002), which was seen for patients undergoing initial surgery (28.0 vs 33.5 days, P = .01) as well as for those undergoing neoadjuvant systemic therapy (22.5 vs 29 days, P = .05).

Clustering of uveal melanoma: County wide analysis within Ohio.

PURPOSE: To determine if a greater than expected number of cases (clustering) of uveal melanoma occurred within Ohio for any specific region or time period as compared to others. DESIGN: Analysis of population database. METHODS: Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System (OCISS) database (2000-2019) was accessed for the diagnosis of uveal melanoma using the International Classification of Disease for Oncology codes: C69.3 (choroid), C69.4 (ciliary body and iris). Counties within Ohio were grouped by geographic regions (7) and socioeconomic variables. Age- and race-standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated to determine temporal or geographic clustering. RESULTS: Over the twenty-year period, the total number of uveal melanoma cases reported within Ohio were 1,617 with the overall age-adjusted annual incidence of 6.72 cases per million population (95% CI 6.30-7.16). There was an increase in the incidence of uveal melanoma over 20 years (p<0.001) across seven geographic regions, but no significant difference in incidence rates between the regions. There was no difference in incidence based on county classification by age composition (p = 0.14) or education level (p = 0.11). Counties with a low median household income (p<0.001), those classified as urban (p = 0.004), and those with a greater minority population (p = 0.004) had lower incidence. Less populated counties had a higher incidence of uveal melanoma (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence of geographic or temporal clustering of uveal melanoma within Ohio from 2000 to 2019.

Accuracy of Time to Treatment Initiation Data in Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Background: Time to treatment initiation (TTI) is a quality metric in cancer care. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of TTI data from a single cancer center registry that reports to the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for sarcoma diagnoses. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a single Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited cancer center's tumor registry between 2006 and 2016 identified 402 patients who underwent treatment of a musculoskeletal soft tissue sarcoma and had TTI data available. Registry-reported TTI was extracted from the tumor registry. Effective TTI was manually calculated by medical record review as the number of days from the date of tissue diagnosis to initiation of first effective treatment. Effective treatment was defined as oncologic surgical excision or initiation of radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Registry-reported TTI and effective TTI values were compared for concordance in all patients. Results: In the entire cohort, 25% (99/402) of patients had TTI data discordance, all related to surgical treatment definition. For patients with a registry-reported value of TTI = 0 days, 74% (87/118) had a diagnostic surgical procedure coded as their first treatment event, with 73 unplanned incomplete excision procedures and 14 incisional biopsies. In these patients, effective TTI was on average 59 days (P < 0.001). For patients with a registry-reported value of TTI >0 days, only 4% (12/284) had discordant TTI values. Conclusions: Nearly three-fourths of patients with a registry-reported value of TTI = 0 days in a large, CoC-accredited cancer center registry had a diagnostic procedure coded as their first treatment event, though their effective treatment had not yet started. These data suggest that TTI is likely longer than what is reported to the NCDB. Redefinition of what constitutes surgical treatment should be considered to improve the accuracy of data used in measuring TTI in sarcoma.

Proportion of Early-Onset Gastric and Esophagus Cancers Has Changed Over Time With Disproportionate Impact on Black and Hispanic Patients.

PURPOSE: The proportion of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma is increasing. This study evaluated trends in early-onset gastric and esophageal cancers and compared socioeconomic and clinical characteristics between early-onset versus late-onset disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included all patients with gastric and esophageal cancer from 2004 to 2015 from the National Cancer Database. Patients were categorized by age < 50, 50-69, and ≥ 70 years. Differences in pathologic and socioeconomic factors between early-onset and late-onset cancers were assessed by using chi-square test. The effects of demographic and socioeconomic factors on overall survival (OS) were assessed using Cox models. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with early-onset gastric cancer increased from 23.9% in 2004-2006 to 26.2% in 2013-2015, whereas the proportion of early-onset esophageal cancer decreased from 27.3% in 2004-2006 to 23.1% in 2013-2015. For both malignancies, the early-onset group was more likely to be Black or Hispanic and more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Black patients had the worst median OS in both malignancies. In gastric cancer, within the Black patient group, patients experienced worse OS if they had government insurance versus private insurance (hazard ratio 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.3; P value < .0001) or if they were in the lowest community median income category versus the highest category (hazard ratio 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.3; P value < .0001). CONCLUSION: Early-onset gastric cancer is increasing, whereas early-onset esophageal cancer is declining. Early-onset gastric cancer disproportionately affects non-White patients, particularly Hispanic patients. Black patients have worse outcomes compared with other races for both gastric and esophageal cancer.

Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Overall Survival in SCLC.

Objectives: To determine how the incidence and demographics of SCLC have changed over time and to evaluate whether patient demographics, disease presentation, and treatment characteristics affect patient outcomes. Methods: We identified patients with SCLC in the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016. Differences in demographics, disease, and treatment characteristics were assessed by year of diagnosis using chi-square test. The effect of age, race, insurance status, income, distance to treatment center, and education level on overall survival (OS) was evaluated by multivariable Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Patients diagnosed after 2010 were significantly older, more frequently treated at academic centers, had more comorbidities, had government payer insurance, had more stage IV disease, and lived further from treatment centers. More females, African Americans, patients without high school diplomas, and those from rural areas were diagnosed after 2010. In patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2010, 5-year OS was 6.8% (95% confidence interval: 6.6-6.9), and after 2010, 5-year OS was 8.7% (95% confidence interval: 8.5-8.9), despite an increase in stage IV disease in the latter group. Older patients, males, Caucasians, patients with stage IV disease, those with government primary payer insurance, and those from rural areas had significantly worse OS. Patients without comorbidities and treated at academic centers had significantly better OS. OS significantly increased with community income and education level. Conclusions: Despite improvement in OS, disparities were noted in demographics which may complicate patient and provider access to health care resources, including rural communities, distance to academic centers, income, insurer, and education level. Efforts to affect these variables will improve outcomes for patients with SCLC.

The impact of socioeconomic disparities on the use of upfront autologous stem cell transplantation for mantle cell lymphoma.

Using the National Cancer Database, we identified 10,290 patients with newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) treated with chemotherapy with or without upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Only 17% of patients underwent ASCT. Patients who underwent ASCT were younger and more likely to have lower comorbidity scores, private insurance, higher income and education, and treatment received at an academic facility. On multivariable analysis, age, comorbidity index, insurance type, the transition of care, facility type, distance to facility, and diagnosis year were predictive for ASCT use. ASCT use was associated with improved 5-year overall survival in younger (82% vs. 64%, p < .001) and older (70% vs. 40%, p < .001) patients, which was retained in the matched propensity score and 12-month analyses. Female gender, the diagnosis year ≥2009, private insurance, higher income, and education were associated with superior survival, whereas Black race and higher comorbidities predicted inferior survival.

Racial disparities negatively impact outcomes in early-onset colorectal cancer independent of socioeconomic status.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients under age 50 is rising for unclear reasons. We examined the effects of socioeconomic factors on outcomes for patients with early-onset CRC compared to late-onset CRC. METHODS: Patients with CRC from 2004 to 2015 in the National Cancer Database were included and categorized by age (under or over 50 years). Differences in demographic and socioeconomic factors, disease characteristics, and survival outcomes between early-onset versus late-onset CRC patients were assessed by Chi-squared test and Cox models. RESULTS: The study population included 1,061,204 patients, 108,058 (10.2%) of whom were under age 50. The proportion of patients diagnosed under age 50 increased over time: 9.4% in 2004-2006, 10.1% in 2007-2009, 10.5% in 2010-2012, and 10.7% in 2013-2015 (p < 0.0001). Early-onset CRC patients were more likely to be Black (15.1% vs. 11.3%) or Hispanic (8.6% vs. 4.6%) and to present with stage 4 disease (24.9% vs. 17.0%), p < 0.0001 for all. Black patients had the worst median OS (58.3 months) compared to White (67.0 months), Hispanic (91.6 months), or Asian (104.9 months) patients, p < 0.0001. Within the subgroup of early-onset CRC patients with private insurance, Black patients had worse OS compared to White patients, even in communities with higher income and education status. CONCLUSIONS: Early-onset CRC continues to increase. Patients with early-onset CRC are more likely to be Black or Hispanic and to present with stage 4 cancer. Early-onset Black patients showed worse OS compared to White patients in all income subgroups, even with private insurance.

Correction: Time to initial cancer treatment in the United States and association with survival over time: An observational study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213209.].

Time to initial cancer treatment in the United States and association with survival over time: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Delays in time to treatment initiation (TTI) for new cancer diagnoses cause patient distress and may adversely affect outcomes. We investigated trends in TTI for common solid tumors treated with curative intent, determinants of increased TTI and association with overall survival. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We utilized prospective data from the National Cancer Database for newly diagnosed United States patients with early-stage breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, renal and pancreas cancers from 2004-13. TTI was defined as days from diagnosis to first treatment (surgery, systemic or radiation therapy). Negative binomial regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used for analysis. The study population of 3,672,561 patients included breast (N = 1,368,024), prostate (N = 944,246), colorectal (N = 662,094), non-small cell lung (N = 363,863), renal (N = 262,915) and pancreas (N = 71,419) cancers. Median TTI increased from 21 to 29 days (P<0.001). Aside from year of diagnosis, determinants of increased TTI included care at academic center, race, education, prior history of cancer, transfer of facility, comorbidities and age. Increased TTI was associated with worsened survival for stages I and II breast, lung, renal and pancreas cancers, and stage I colorectal cancers, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.005 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.002-1.008) to 1.030 (95% CI 1.025-1.035) per week of increased TTI. CONCLUSIONS: TTI has lengthened significantly and is associated with absolute increased risk of mortality ranging from 1.2-3.2% per week in curative settings such as early-stage breast, lung, renal and pancreas cancers. Studies of interventions to ease navigation and reduce barriers are warranted to diminish potential harm to patients.

Do patients with pancreatic body or tail cancer benefit from adjuvant therapy?A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence supporting adjuvant therapy for resected pancreatic cancer is limited primarily to head tumors. We analyzed data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to evaluate the relationship of tumor site with benefit from adjunctive (adjuvant, neoadjuvant, perioperative) therapy (Rx). METHODS: All NCDB patients with clinical stage I and II pancreatic cancer, diagnosed from 2003 to 2013, who underwent surgical resection and had data on site of primary were included. Overall survival (OS) analyses with hazard ratios (HR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and two-sided p-values are presented. RESULTS: A total of 27,930 patients met inclusion criteria; median age 66 years, 51% males, 86% white. Primary site was coded as head (74.4%), body (9.3%), or tail (16.3%). Pathologic stage was predominantly stage II (77%); 81% had negative margins. Perioperative Rx was used in 4%, neoadjuvant in 8%, adjuvant in 48%. Median OS for the cohort was 24 months; for head, body and tail tumors, it was 21.6, 34.5, and 42.5 months, respectively. In univariable analyses, adjunctive Rx was associated with improved OS in head tumors (HR, any Rx vs. no Rx: 0.87; 95% CI 0.84-0.91; p < 0.0001) but not in body (1.82; 1.59-2.08; <0.0001) and tail (2.28; 2.05-2.53; <0.0001) tumors; multivariable models including statistically significant predictors (Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, tumor grade and stage, positive resection margin) confirmed these results. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the benefit of adjunctive Rx is restricted to pancreatic head tumors; body and tail tumors have a much better prognosis. These results warrant further evaluation in prospective studies.