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Chen DW, Banerjee M, Gay B, Wang YC, Miranda L, Watanabe M, Veenstra CM, Haymart MR. Access to New Clinic Appointments for Patients With Cancer. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2415587. [PMID: 38848062 PMCID: PMC11161839 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.15587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Racial and ethnic disparities have been observed in the outpatient visit rates for specialist care, including cancer care; however, little is known about patients' experience at the critical step of attempting to access new clinic appointments for cancer care. Objective To determine simulated English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and Mandarin-speaking patient callers' ability to access new clinic appointments for 3 cancer types (colon, lung, and thyroid cancer) that disproportionately impact Hispanic and Asian populations. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional audit study was conducted between November 2021 and March 2023 using 479 clinic telephone numbers that were provided by the hospital general information personnel at 143 hospitals located across 12 US states. Using standardized scripts, trained research personnel assigned to the roles of English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and Mandarin-speaking patients called the telephone number for a clinic that treats colon, lung, or thyroid cancer to inquire about a new clinic appointment. Data analysis was conducted from June to September 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was whether the simulated patient caller was able to access cancer care (binary variable, yes or no), which was defined to include being provided with a clinic appointment date or scheduling information. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors independently associated with simulated patient callers being able to access cancer care. Results Of 985 total calls (399 English calls; 302 Spanish calls; 284 Mandarin calls), simulated patient callers accessed cancer care in 409 calls (41.5%). Differences were observed based on language type, with simulated English-speaking patient callers significantly more likely to access cancer care compared with simulated Spanish-speaking and Mandarin-speaking patient callers (English, 245 calls [61.4%]; Spanish, 110 calls [36.4%]; Mandarin, 54 calls [19.0%]; P < .001). A substantial number of calls ended due to linguistic barriers (291 of 586 Spanish or Mandarin calls [49.7%]) and workflow barriers (239 of 985 calls [24.3%]). Compared with English-speaking simulated patient callers, the odds of accessing cancer care were lower for Spanish-speaking simulated patient callers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.34; 95% CI, 0.25-0.46) and Mandarin-speaking simulated patient callers (aOR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.09-0.19). Compared with contacting clinics affiliated with teaching hospitals, callers had lower odds of accessing cancer care when contacting clinics that were affiliated with nonteaching hospitals (aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.40-0.70). Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional audit study, simulated patient callers encountered substantial barriers when attempting to access clinic appointments for cancer care. These findings suggest that interventions focused on mitigating these barriers are necessary to increase access to cancer care for all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie W. Chen
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Brittany Gay
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Yi-Chun Wang
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Lesley Miranda
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Maya Watanabe
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Megan R. Haymart
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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Arora G, Bairagi N, Chatterjee S. A mathematical model to study low-dose metronomic scheduling for chemotherapy. Math Biosci 2024; 372:109186. [PMID: 38580078 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2024.109186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Metronomic chemotherapy refers to the frequent administration of chemotherapeutic agents at a lower dose and presents an attractive alternative to conventional chemotherapy with encouraging response rates. However, the schedule of the therapy, including the dosage of the drug, is usually based on empiricism. The confounding effects of tumor-endothelial-immune interactions during metronomic administration of drugs have not yet been explored in detail, resulting in an incomplete assessment of drug dose and frequency evaluations. The present study aimed to gain a mechanistic understanding of different actions of metronomic chemotherapy using a mathematical model. We have established an analytical condition for determining the dosage and frequency of the drug depending on its clearance rate for complete tumor elimination. The model also brings forward the immune-mediated clearance of the tumor during the metronomic administration of the chemotherapeutic agent. The results from the global sensitivity analysis showed an increase in the sensitivity of drug and immune-mediated killing factors toward the tumor population during metronomic scheduling. Our results emphasize metronomic scheduling over the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and define a model-based approach for approximating the optimal schedule of drug administration to eliminate tumors while minimizing harm to the immune cells and the patient's body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garhima Arora
- Complex Analysis Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India
| | - Nandadulal Bairagi
- Department of Mathematics, Centre for Mathematical Biology and Ecology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Samrat Chatterjee
- Complex Analysis Group, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India.
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3
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Aller A, Hauser K, Pedell L, Martinez F, Lin A. Time is of the Essence: Why Goals-of-Care Conversations and Prognosis Documentation Matters in Advanced Cancer Patients in an Integrated Health System. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2024; 41:634-640. [PMID: 37592901 DOI: 10.1177/10499091231188715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Advanced cancer patients benefit less from aggressive therapies and more from goal-directed palliative management. Early and clearly documented goals-of-care discussions, including end-of-life decision making, are essential in this patient population. Integrated healthcare systems are comprehensive care models associated with improved quality of care and lower mortality compared to other healthcare models. The role of advance care planning within our system is understudied. Methods: Patients 18 years and older with a diagnosis of advanced-stage cancer were identified over a 6-month period. Expert panel review was performed to evaluate medical appropriateness of the selected diagnostic workup and management. The role and extent of care planning was reviewed in association with the clinical context. Results: In a cohort of 82 patients, evidence-based and individualized appropriateness of medical management was found to be consistent for all patients. Eighty-two percent of patients elected for oncologic-based treatment, 5% pursued active surveillance, and 11% did not receive treatment. Seventy-three percent of patients were referred to palliative care. Fifty-six percent of patients had a full goals-of-care conversation documented; yet only 9% of goals-of-care conversations were documented by an oncologist. Prognosis was documented fully for only 22% of patients. At the end of the study period, 43 patients were deceased (52%), further indicating the critical importance of documentation. Conclusions: Within our integrated health system, we found consistent guideline- and patient-directed diagnosis and management, along with frequent integration of palliative care services. Goals-of-care conversation and prognosis documentation, especially by the oncologist, remains an area of needed improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Aller
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Permanente Medical Group, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Karen Hauser
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Leon Pedell
- Independent Consultant, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
| | - Francisco Martinez
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Permanente Medical Group, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Amy Lin
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, The Permanente Medical Group, San Francisco, CA, USA
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4
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Beatrici E, Paciotti M, Nguyen DD, Filipas DK, Qian Z, Lughezzani G, Daniels D, Lipsitz SR, Kibel AS, Cole AP, Trinh QD. Estimating the impact of enhanced care at minority-serving hospitals on disparities in the treatment of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers. Cancer 2024. [PMID: 38798127 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to quantify disparities in cancer treatment delivery between minority-serving hospitals (MSHs) and non-MSHs for breast, prostate, nonsmall cell lung, and colon cancers from 2010 to 2019 and to estimate the impact of improving care at MSHs on national disparities. METHODS Data from the National Cancer Database (2010-2019) identified patients who were eligible for definitive treatments for the specified cancers. Hospitals in the top decile by minority patient proportion were classified as MSHs. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics compared the odds of receiving definitive treatment at MSHs versus non-MSHs. A simulation was used to estimate the increase in patients receiving definitive treatment if MSH care matched the levels of non-MSH care. RESULTS Of 2,927,191 patients from 1330 hospitals, 9.3% were treated at MSHs. MSHs had significant lower odds of delivering definitive therapy across all cancer types (adjusted odds ratio: breast cancer, 0.83; prostate cancer, 0.69; nonsmall cell lung cancer, 0.73; colon cancer, 0.81). No site of care-race interaction was significant for any of the cancers (p > .05). Equalizing treatment rates at MSHs could result in 5719 additional patients receiving definitive treatment over 10 years. CONCLUSIONS The current findings underscore systemic disparities in definitive cancer treatment delivery between MSHs and non-MSHs for breast, prostate, nonsmall cell lung, and colon cancers. Although targeted improvements at MSHs represent a critical step toward equity, this study highlights the need for integrated, system-wide efforts to address the multifaceted nature of racial and ethnic health disparities. Enhancing care at MSHs could serve as a pivotal strategy in a broader initiative to achieve health care equity for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Beatrici
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Paciotti
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - David-Dan Nguyen
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Urology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dejan K Filipas
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Zhiyu Qian
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Giovanni Lughezzani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Danesha Daniels
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Stuart R Lipsitz
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adam S Kibel
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexander P Cole
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Quoc-Dien Trinh
- Division of Urological Surgery and Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Miyamori D, Kamitani T, Yoshida S, Kikuchi Y, Shigenobu Y, Ikeda K, Yamamoto Y, Ito M. Effects of the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on mortality in patients with lung cancer: A multiple mediation analysis in Japan. Int J Cancer 2024. [PMID: 38794791 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.35042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial effect on healthcare systems worldwide, including the care of patients with lung cancer. The impact of healthcare disruptions and behavioral changes on lung cancer mortality is unclear. Patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer during the pandemic period 2020-2021 were compared with those diagnosed in the pre-pandemic 2018-2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 1 year. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to estimate the changes in mortality between pandemic and pre-pandemic. Multiple mediation analyses were performed to determine the factors that accounted for the changes in mortality. In total, 5785 patients with lung cancer were included in this study. The overall mortality rate was significantly higher during the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic (crude hazard ratio [HR]: 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 1.29). Mediation analyses showed that not receiving tumor-directed treatment, diagnosis at an older age, and decreased diagnosis through cancer screening significantly accounted for 17.5% (95%CI: 4.2, 30.7), 13.9% (95%CI: 0.8, 27.0), and 12.4% (95%CI: 3.0, 21.8) of the increased mortality, respectively. This study revealed a significant increase in mortality risk in patients with lung cancer who have not received tumor-directed treatment or cancer screening, despite potential selection bias for follow-up status. Efforts should be focused on ensuring timely access to healthcare services, optimizing treatment delivery, and addressing the unique challenges faced by patients with lung cancer during the pandemic to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on lung cancer outcomes and provide clinical care to vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Miyamori
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Kamitani
- Section of Education for Clinical Research, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shuhei Yoshida
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuka Kikuchi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yuya Shigenobu
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kotaro Ikeda
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yosuke Yamamoto
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, School of Public Health in the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masanori Ito
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
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6
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Carrera PM, Curigliano G, Santini D, Sharp L, Chan RJ, Pisu M, Perrone F, Karjalainen S, Numico G, Cherny N, Winkler E, Amador ML, Fitch M, Lawler M, Meunier F, Khera N, Pentheroudakis G, Trapani D, Ripamonti CI. ESMO expert consensus statements on the screening and management of financial toxicity in patients with cancer. ESMO Open 2024; 9:102992. [PMID: 38626634 PMCID: PMC11033153 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2024.102992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Financial toxicity, defined as both the objective financial burden and subjective financial distress from a cancer diagnosis and its treatment, is a topic of interest in the assessment of the quality of life of patients with cancer and their families. Current evidence implicates financial toxicity in psychosocial, economic and other harms, leading to suboptimal cancer outcomes along the entire trajectory of diagnosis, treatment, supportive care, survivorship and palliation. This paper presents the results of a virtual consensus, based on the evidence base to date, on the screening and management of financial toxicity in patients with and beyond cancer organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in 2022. METHODS A Delphi panel of 19 experts from 11 countries was convened taking into account multidisciplinarity, diversity in health system contexts and research relevance. The international panel of experts was divided into four working groups (WGs) to address questions relating to distinct thematic areas: patients with cancer at risk of financial toxicity; management of financial toxicity during the initial phase of treatment at the hospital/ambulatory settings; financial toxicity during the continuing phase and at end of life; and financial risk protection for survivors of cancer, and in cancer recurrence. After comprehensively reviewing the literature, statements were developed by the WGs and then presented to the entire panel for further discussion and amendment, and voting. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of 25 evidence-informed consensus statements were developed, which answer 13 questions on financial toxicity. They cover evidence summaries, practice recommendations/guiding statements and policy recommendations relevant across health systems. These consensus statements aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of financial toxicity and guide clinicians globally in mitigating its impact, emphasizing the importance of further research, best practices and guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Carrera
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Healtempact: Health/Economic Insights-Impact, Hengelo, The Netherlands.
| | - G Curigliano
- European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan
| | - D Santini
- Oncologia Medica A, Policlinico Umberto 1, La Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - L Sharp
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - R J Chan
- Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - M Pisu
- University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - F Perrone
- National Cancer Institute IRCCS G. Pascale Foundation, Naples, Italy
| | | | - G Numico
- Azienda Ospedaliera S. Croce e Carle, Cuneo, Italy
| | - N Cherny
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - E Winkler
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Oncology, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M L Amador
- Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Fitch
- Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - M Lawler
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - F Meunier
- European Initiative on Ending Discrimination against Cancer Survivors and Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine (ARMB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - D Trapani
- European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan
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Jiam ML, Xin KZ, Ha PK, Jiam NT. A supervised machine learning model for identifying predictive factors for recommending head and neck cancer surgery. Head Neck 2024; 46:1001-1008. [PMID: 38344931 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New patient referrals are often processed by practice coordinators with little-to-no medical background. Treatment delays due to incorrect referral processing, however, have detrimental consequences. Identifying variables that are associated with a higher likelihood of surgical oncological resection may improve patient referral processing and expedite the time to treatment. The study objective is to develop a supervised machine learning (ML) platform that identifies relevant variables associated with head and neck surgical resection. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 64 222 patient datapoints from the SEER database. RESULTS The random forest ML model correctly classified patients who were offered head and neck surgery with an 81% accuracy rate. The sensitivity and specificity rates were 86% and 71%. The positive and negative predictive values were 85% and 73%. CONCLUSIONS ML modeling accurately predicts head and neck cancer surgery recommendations based on patient and cancer information from a large population-based dataset. ML adjuncts for referral processing may decrease the time to treatment for patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max L Jiam
- School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin Z Xin
- Department of Radiology, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Patrick K Ha
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nicole T Jiam
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Smith RE, Sprague BL, Henderson LM, Kerlikowske K, Miglioretti DL, Wernli KJ, Onega T, diFlorio-Alexander RM, Tosteson ANA. Breast density knowledge and willingness to delay treatment for pre-operative breast cancer imaging among women with a personal history of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:73. [PMID: 38685119 PMCID: PMC11057127 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01820-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following a breast cancer diagnosis, it is uncertain whether women's breast density knowledge influences their willingness to undergo pre-operative imaging to detect additional cancer in their breasts. We evaluated women's breast density knowledge and their willingness to delay treatment for pre-operative testing. METHODS We surveyed women identified in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium aged ≥ 18 years, with first breast cancer diagnosed within the prior 6-18 months, who had at least one breast density measurement within the 5 years prior to their diagnosis. We assessed women's breast density knowledge and correlates of willingness to delay treatment for 6 or more weeks for pre-operative imaging via logistic regression. RESULTS Survey participation was 28.3% (969/3,430). Seventy-two percent (469/647) of women with dense and 11% (34/322) with non-dense breasts correctly knew their density (p < 0.001); 69% (665/969) of all women knew dense breasts make it harder to detect cancers on a mammogram; and 29% (285/969) were willing to delay treatment ≥ 6 weeks to undergo pre-operative imaging. Willingness to delay treatment did not differ by self-reported density (OR:0.99 for non-dense vs. dense; 95%CI: 0.50-1.96). Treatment with chemotherapy was associated with less willingness to delay treatment (OR:0.67; 95%CI: 0.46-0.96). Having previously delayed breast cancer treatment more than 3 months was associated with an increased willingness to delay treatment for pre-operative imaging (OR:2.18; 95%CI: 1.26-3.77). CONCLUSIONS Understanding of personal breast density was not associated with willingness to delay treatment 6 or more weeks for pre-operative imaging, but aspects of a woman's treatment experience were. CLINICALTRIALS GOV : NCT02980848 registered December 2, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Smith
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr. WTRB Level 5, Hinman Box 7251, NH 03756, Lebanon, NH, USA.
| | - Brian L Sprague
- Department of Surgery, University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Louise M Henderson
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Karla Kerlikowske
- Departments of Medicine, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Diana L Miglioretti
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Karen J Wernli
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tracy Onega
- Department of Population Health Science, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Roberta M diFlorio-Alexander
- Radiology Department, Dartmouth Health and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Lebanon, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Anna N A Tosteson
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr. WTRB Level 5, Hinman Box 7251, NH 03756, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
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9
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Graboyes EM, Lee SC, Lindau ST, Adams AS, Adjei BA, Brown M, Sadigh G, Incudine A, Carlos RC, Ramsey SD, Bangs R. Interventions addressing health-related social needs among patients with cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2024; 116:497-505. [PMID: 38175791 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djad269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Health-related social needs are prevalent among cancer patients; associated with substantial negative health consequences; and drive pervasive inequities in cancer incidence, severity, treatment choices and decisions, and outcomes. To address the lack of clinical trial evidence to guide health-related social needs interventions among cancer patients, the National Cancer Institute Cancer Care Delivery Research Steering Committee convened experts to participate in a clinical trials planning meeting with the goal of designing studies to screen for and address health-related social needs among cancer patients. In this commentary, we discuss the rationale for, and challenges of, designing and testing health-related social needs interventions in alignment with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 5As framework. Evidence for food, housing, utilities, interpersonal safety, and transportation health-related social needs interventions is analyzed. Evidence regarding health-related social needs and delivery of health-related social needs interventions differs in maturity and applicability to cancer context, with transportation problems having the most maturity and interpersonal safety the least. We offer practical recommendations for health-related social needs interventions among cancer patients and the caregivers, families, and friends who support their health-related social needs. Cross-cutting (ie, health-related social needs agnostic) recommendations include leveraging navigation (eg, people, technology) to identify, refer, and deliver health-related social needs interventions; addressing health-related social needs through multilevel interventions; and recognizing that health-related social needs are states, not traits, that fluctuate over time. Health-related social needs-specific interventions are recommended, and pros and cons of addressing more than one health-related social needs concurrently are characterized. Considerations for collaborating with community partners are highlighted. The need for careful planning, strong partners, and funding is stressed. Finally, we outline a future research agenda to address evidence gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Graboyes
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Simon C Lee
- Department of Population Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Stacy Tessler Lindau
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Medicine-Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alyce S Adams
- Departments of Health Policy/Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brenda A Adjei
- Office of the Associate Director, Healthcare Delivery Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mary Brown
- Adena Cancer Center, Hematology and Oncology, Chillicothe, OH, USA
| | - Gelareh Sadigh
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Ruth C Carlos
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Scott D Ramsey
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rick Bangs
- SWOG Cancer Research Network, Portland, OR, USA
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10
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Chen AM. Same-Day Access in Oncology: A Patient-Centric Paradigm for Health Care Delivery. JCO Oncol Pract 2024; 20:463-465. [PMID: 38252897 DOI: 10.1200/op.23.00731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Allen M Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange, CA
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11
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Sadeghi JK, Reza JA, Miller C, Cooke DT, Erkmen C. Death by a thousand delays. JTCVS OPEN 2024; 18:353-359. [PMID: 38690410 PMCID: PMC11056460 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- John K. Sadeghi
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa
| | - Joseph A. Reza
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa
| | - Claire Miller
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa
| | - David T. Cooke
- Division of General Thoracic Surgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, Calif
| | - Cherie Erkmen
- Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa
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12
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Barclay NL, Pineda Moncusí M, Jödicke AM, Prieto-Alhambra D, Raventós B, Newby D, Delmestri A, Man WY, Chen X, Català M. The impact of the UK COVID-19 lockdown on the screening, diagnostics and incidence of breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer in the UK: a population-based cohort study. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1370862. [PMID: 38601756 PMCID: PMC11004443 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1370862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic had collateral effects on many health systems. Cancer screening and diagnostic tests were postponed, resulting in delays in diagnosis and treatment. This study assessed the impact of the pandemic on screening, diagnostics and incidence of breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer; and whether rates returned to pre-pandemic levels by December, 2021. Methods This is a cohort study of electronic health records from the United Kingdom (UK) primary care Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD database. The study included individuals registered with CPRD GOLD between January, 2017 and December, 2021, with at least 365 days of clinical history. The study focused on screening, diagnostic tests, referrals and diagnoses of first-ever breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer. Incidence rates (IR) were stratified by age, sex, and region, and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated to compare rates during and after lockdown with rates before lockdown. Forecasted rates were estimated using negative binomial regression models. Results Among 5,191,650 eligible participants, the first lockdown resulted in reduced screening and diagnostic tests for all cancers, which remained dramatically reduced across the whole observation period for almost all tests investigated. There were significant IRR reductions in breast (0.69 [95% CI: 0.63-0.74]), colorectal (0.74 [95% CI: 0.67-0.81]), and prostate (0.71 [95% CI: 0.66-0.78]) cancer diagnoses. IRR reductions for lung cancer were non-significant (0.92 [95% CI: 0.84-1.01]). Extrapolating to the entire UK population, an estimated 18,000 breast, 13,000 colorectal, 10,000 lung, and 21,000 prostate cancer diagnoses were missed from March, 2020 to December, 2021. Discussion The UK COVID-19 lockdown had a substantial impact on cancer screening, diagnostic tests, referrals, and diagnoses. Incidence rates remained significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels for breast and prostate cancers and associated tests by December, 2021. Delays in diagnosis are likely to have adverse consequences on cancer stage, treatment initiation, mortality rates, and years of life lost. Urgent strategies are needed to identify undiagnosed cases and address the long-term implications of delayed diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola L. Barclay
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Pineda Moncusí
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Annika M. Jödicke
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Prieto-Alhambra
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus Medical Center University, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Berta Raventós
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Danielle Newby
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Delmestri
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Wai Yi Man
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Xihang Chen
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marti Català
- Pharmaco− and Device Epidemiology, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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13
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Youn HM, Zhang Y, Liu A, Ng CS, Liang J, Lau GKK, Lee SF, Lok J, Lam CLK, Wan EYF, Quan J. Decline in Cancer Diagnoses during the 'Zero COVID' Policy in Hong Kong: Indirect Spillover Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2024; 36:157-164. [PMID: 38262779 DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2024.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Despite a largely successful 'zero COVID' policy in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine cancer services in the city of Hong Kong. The aims of this study were to examine the trends in cancer incidence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and estimate missed cancer diagnoses. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used population-based data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry 1983-2020 to examine the trends of age- and sex-standardised cancer incidence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied: (i) the annual average percentage change (AAPC) calculated using the Joinpoint regression model and (ii) the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to forecast cancer incidence rates in 2020. Missed cancer diagnoses in 2020 were estimated by comparing forecasted incidence rates to reported rates. A subgroup analysis was conducted by sex, age and cancer site. RESULTS The cancer incidence in Hong Kong declined by 4.4% from 2019 to 2020 (male 8.1%; female 1.1%) compared with the long-term AAPC of 0.5% from 2005 to 2019 (95% confidence interval 0.3, 0.7). The gap between the reported and forecasted incidence for 2020 ranged from 5.1 to 5.7% (male 8.5%, 9.8%; female 2.3%, 3.5%). We estimated 1525-1596 missed cancer diagnoses (ARIMA estimate -98, 3148; AAPC 514, 1729) in 2020. Most missed diagnoses were in males (ARIMA 1361 [327, 2394]; AAPC 1401 [1353, 1460]), with an estimated 479-557 missed cases of colorectal cancer (ARIMA 112, 837; AAPC 518, 597) and 256-352 missed cases of prostate cancer (AAPC 231, 280; ARIMA 110, 594). CONCLUSION The incidence of new cancer diagnoses declined in 2020 contrary to the long-term increase over the previous decades. Significantly lower diagnoses than expected were observed in males, particularly for colorectal and prostate cancers. Fewer reported cancer cases indicate missed diagnoses and could lead to delayed treatment that could impact future health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Youn
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Y Zhang
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - A Liu
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - C S Ng
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - J Liang
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - G K K Lau
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - S F Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore
| | - J Lok
- Department of Pathology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - C L K Lam
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - E Y F Wan
- Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D(2)4H), Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - J Quan
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; HKU Business School, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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14
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Roman Souza G, Nooruddin Z, Lee S, Boyle L, Lucero KT, Ananth S, Franklin K, Mader M, Toro Velez E, Naqvi A, Kaur S. The Impact of Time From Diagnosis to Initiation of Chemotherapy on Survival of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the Veterans Health Administration. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2024; 24:e67-e77. [PMID: 38151390 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Our retrospective study evaluates the impact of time from diagnosis to treatment (TDT) on outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). METHODS VHA patients diagnosed with DLBCL between 2011 and 2019 were included, while those with primary central nervous system lymphoma were excluded. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. The odds ratio for refractory outcomes was calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 2448 patients were included. The median time from diagnosis to treatment of the cohort was 19 days. When comparing median progression-free survival, median overall survival, and the 2-year overall survival between the group that started treatment within 1 week and each of the other groups individually, there was a significant difference favoring improved survival in all groups with a TDT longer than 1 week (P < .0001). These patients also had a lower odds ratio for refractory outcomes. On multivariable analysis, TDT remained an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION Our study shows that a TDT equal to or less than 1 week is associated with adverse clinical factors, worse outcomes, and response in DLBCL, even after adjusting for multiple known poor prognostic factors. This was the first time that response to first-line therapy was correlated to time to treatment. Our findings support ongoing efforts to improve currently standardized prognostic tools and the incorporation of TDT into clinical trials to avoid selection bias.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zohra Nooruddin
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Sophia Lee
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Lauren Boyle
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Kana Tai Lucero
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | | | | | - Michael Mader
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX
| | | | - Amna Naqvi
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Supreet Kaur
- University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
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Riascos MC, Greenberg JA, Palacardo F, Edelmuth R, Lewis VC, An A, Najah H, Al Asadi H, Safe P, Finnerty BM, Christos PJ, Fahey TJ, Zarnegar R. Timing to Surgery and Lymph Node Upstaging in Gastric Cancer: An NCDB Analysis. Ann Surg Oncol 2024; 31:1714-1724. [PMID: 38006526 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-14536-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior studies have shown tumor specificity on the impact of longer time interval from diagnosis to surgery, however in gastric cancer (GC) this remains unclear. We aimed to determine if a longer time interval from diagnosis to surgery had an impact on lymph node (LN) upstaging and overall survival (OS) outcomes among patients with clinically node negative (cN0) GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients diagnosed with cN0 GC undergoing surgery between 2004-2018 were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and divided into intervals between time of diagnosis and surgery [short interval (SI): ≥ 4 days to < 8 weeks and long interval (LI): ≥ 8 weeks]. Multivariable regression analysis evaluated the independent impact of surgical timing on LN upstaging and a Cox proportional hazards analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves evaluated survival outcomes. RESULTS Of 1824 patients with cN0 GC, 71.8% had a SI to surgery and 28.1% had a LI to surgery. LN upstaging was seen more often in the SI group when compared to LI group (82% versus 76%, p = 0.004). LI to surgery showed to be an independent factor protective against LN upstaging [adjusted odds ratio = 0.62, 95% CI: (0.39-0.99)]. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that time to surgery was not associated with a difference in overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.91, 95% CI: (0.71-1.17)], however uncontrolled Kaplan-Meier curves showed OS difference between the SI and LI to surgery groups (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION Timing to surgery was not a predictor of LN upstaging or overall survival, suggesting that additional medical optimization in preparation for surgery and careful preoperative staging may be appropriate in patients with node negative early stage GC without affecting outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - V Colby Lewis
- Department of Population and Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anjile An
- Department of Population and Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Haythem Najah
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hala Al Asadi
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Parima Safe
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Thomas J Fahey
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rasa Zarnegar
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Cheo FY, Lim CHF, Chan KS, Shelat VG. The impact of waiting time and delayed treatment on the outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg 2024; 28:1-13. [PMID: 38092430 PMCID: PMC10896687 DOI: 10.14701/ahbps.23-090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most diagnosed cancer worldwide. Healthcare resource constraints may predispose treatment delays. We aim to review existing literature on whether delayed treatment results in worse outcomes in HCC. PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Scopus were systematically searched from inception till December 2022. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included post-treatment mortality, readmission rates, and complications. Fourteen studies with a total of 135,389 patients (delayed n = 25,516, no delay n = 109,873) were included. Age, incidence of male patients, Child-Pugh B cirrhosis, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage 0/A HCC were comparable between delayed and no delay groups. Tumor size was significantly smaller in delayed versus no delay group (mean difference, -0.70 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.14, 0.26; p = 0.002). More patients received radiofrequency ablation in delayed versus no delay group (OR, 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.27; p < 0.0001). OS was comparable between delayed and no delay in HCC treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.29; p = 0.07). Comparable DFS between delayed and no delay groups (HR, 0.99; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.30; p = 0.95) was observed. Subgroup analysis of studies that defined treatment delay as > 90 days showed comparable OS in the delayed group (HR, 1.04; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.16; p = 0.51). OS and DFS for delayed treatment were non-inferior compared to no delay, but might be due to better tumor biology/smaller tumor size in the delayed group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Yi Cheo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Kai Siang Chan
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | - Vishal Girishchandra Shelat
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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Lindahl G, Fjellander S, Selvaraj K, Vildeval M, Ali Z, Almter R, Erkstam A, Rodriguez GV, Abrahamsson A, Kersley ÅR, Fahlgren A, Kjølhede P, Linder S, Dabrosin C, Jensen L. Zebrafish tumour xenograft models: a prognostic approach to epithelial ovarian cancer. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:53. [PMID: 38413842 PMCID: PMC10899227 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00550-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the gynaecological malignancy with highest mortality. Although adjuvant treatment with carboplatin and paclitaxel leads to an objective response in ~80% of these patients, a majority will relapse within two years. Better methods for assessing long-term treatment outcomes are needed. To address this, we established safe and efficacious doses of carboplatin and paclitaxel using IGROV-1 zebrafish-CDX models. Then fluorescently-labelled cell suspensions from 83 tumour biopsies collected at exploratory laparotomy of women with suspected EOC were generated and 37 (45%) were successfully implanted in zebrafish larvae. Among these 19 of 27 pathology-confirmed EOC samples (70%) engrafted. These zebrafish patient-derived tumour xenograft (ZTX) models were treated with carboplatin or paclitaxel and tumour growth/regression and metastatic dissemination were recorded. In a subgroup of nine patients, four ZTX models regressed during carboplatin treatment. All four corresponding patients had >24 months PFS. Furthermore, both ZTX models established from two patients having <24 months PFS failed to regress during carboplatin treatment. Seven of eight models seeding <6 metastatic cells were established from patients having >24 months PFS. In eleven of fourteen patients, FIGO stage I + II or III tumours gave rise to ZTX models seeding <4 or >4 metastatic cells, respectively. In conclusion, ZTX models predicted patients having >24 or <24 months PFS, based on response/no response to carboplatin. Furthermore, high metastatic dissemination in ZTX models correlated to shorter PFS and more advanced disease at diagnosis. These preliminary results suggest that ZTX models could become a useful prognostic tool in EOC treatment planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Lindahl
- Department of Oncology and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Fjellander
- BioReperia AB, Linköping, Sweden
- Linköping University, Department of Health, Medicine and Care, Division of Diagnostics and Specialist Medicine, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Karthik Selvaraj
- Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Annelie Abrahamsson
- Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Åsa Rydmark Kersley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna Fahlgren
- BioReperia AB, Linköping, Sweden
- Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Preben Kjølhede
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Stig Linder
- Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Charlotta Dabrosin
- Department of Oncology and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lasse Jensen
- BioReperia AB, Linköping, Sweden.
- Linköping University, Department of Health, Medicine and Care, Division of Diagnostics and Specialist Medicine, Linköping, Sweden.
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18
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Arizpe A, Navarro S, Ochoa-Dominguez CY, Rodriguez C, Kim SE, Farias AJ. Nativity differences in socioeconomic barriers and healthcare delays among cancer survivors in the All of Us cohort. Cancer Causes Control 2024; 35:203-214. [PMID: 37679534 PMCID: PMC10787892 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-023-01782-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to assess whether nativity differences in socioeconomic (SES) barriers and health literacy were associated with healthcare delays among US cancer survivors. METHODS "All of Us" survey data were analyzed among adult participants ever diagnosed with cancer. A binary measure of healthcare delay (1+ delays versus no delays) was created. Health literacy was assessed using the Brief Health Literacy Screen. A composite measure of SES barriers (education, employment, housing, income, and insurance statuses) was created as 0, 1, 2, or 3+. Multivariable logistic regression model tested the associations of (1) SES barriers and health literacy with healthcare delays, and (2) whether nativity modified this relationship. RESULTS Median participant age was 64 years (n = 10,020), with 8% foreign-born and 18% ethnic minorities. Compared to survivors with no SES barriers, those with 3+ had higher likelihood of experiencing healthcare delays (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.84, 2.58). For every additional barrier, the odds of healthcare delays were greater among foreign-born (1.72, 1.43, 2.08) than US-born (1.27, 1.21, 1.34). For every 1-unit increase in health literacy among US-born, the odds of healthcare delay decreased by 9% (0.91, 0.89, 0.94). CONCLUSION We found that SES barriers to healthcare delays have a greater impact among foreign-born than US-born cancer survivors. Higher health literacy may mitigate healthcare delays among US cancer survivors. Healthcare providers, systems and policymakers should assess and address social determinants of health and promote health literacy as a way to minimize healthcare delays among both foreign- and US-born cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Arizpe
- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto St., Suite 318B, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Stephanie Navarro
- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto St., Suite 318B, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | | | | | - Sue E Kim
- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto St., Suite 318B, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA
| | - Albert J Farias
- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto St., Suite 318B, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA.
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Wei X, Yu S, Wang J, Xiang Z, Liu L, Min Y. Association between time from diagnosis to treatment and survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A population-based cohort study. Curr Probl Cancer 2024; 48:101060. [PMID: 38211418 DOI: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2024.101060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment delays have frequently been observed in cancer patients. Whether the treatment delays would impair the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is still unclear. METHODS The data were derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015. Patients were divided into groups of timely treatment (<1 month), intermediate delay (1 and 2 months), and long delay (3-6 months). The influence of different treatment delay intervals on long-term survival was evaluated by multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS In total, 2,048 patients with NPC were included in our study. There were 551 patients in the early stage (I, II stage: 26.9 %) and 1,497 patients in the advanced stage (III, IV stage: 73.1 %). No significant difference in overall survival (OS) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) was observed among the groups with various treatment delay intervals (p = 0.48 in OS and p = 0.43 in CSS, respectively). However, upon adjusting for covariates, a significantly improved OS probability emerged in patients with intermediate treatment delays compared to those who received timely interventions in both the entire study population (adjustedHazard Ratio (aHR)=0.86, 95 % CI: 0.74-0.99, p = 0.043) and the subgroup with advanced stage (aHR=0.85, 95 % CI: 0.72-1.00, p = 0.049). Regarding the CSS probability, similar associations were also observed in the entire study population (aHR=0.84, 95 % CI: 0.71-0.98, p = 0.030) as well as the advanced-stage patients (aHR=0.83, 95 % CI: 0.70-0.99, p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed that treatment delays are not associated with worse survival of NPC patients. Tumor-specific characteristics and subsequent treatment modalities play more pivotal roles in the prognosis of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Wei
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Siting Yu
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Zhongzheng Xiang
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
| | - Yu Min
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
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Chen AM, Garcia AD, Alexandrescu M, Truong A, Senthil M. Effect of a Same-Day-Appointment Initiative on Access-Related Benchmarks in Radiation Oncology. Pract Radiat Oncol 2024; 14:12-19. [PMID: 37747390 DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2023.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The timely delivery of health care is an important quality indicator that has been shown to correlate with outcomes for cancer patients. We present our single-institution experience with the implementation of a same-day-access scheduling initiative in outpatient radiation oncology. METHODS AND MATERIALS From March 2021 to March 2023, a total of 4301 consecutive new patients referred for radiation oncology consultation were offered same-day appointments as part of a prospective pilot initiative conducted at a tertiary-based academic medical center. Descriptive statistics were used to study the effect of this initiative on access-related benchmarks compared with historical control patients referred during a preceding 24-month period. RESULTS Among the 3414 patients scheduled, 477 (14%) opted for same-day appointments. Black, Latino, and Asian patients were significantly more likely to use same-day access versus Caucasian patients (P < .001). The same-day-access initiative increased the proportion of patients seen within 5 days from referral from 22% to 61% (P < .001). The median time from referral to consult was 12 days (range, 0-149 days) before the implementation of the same-day-access initiative compared with 3 days (range, 0-101 days) after (P < .001). The no-show rate was reduced from 15% to 7% with the initiative (P < .001). All patients who requested a same-day appointment were successfully accommodated. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of this same-day-access initiative enhanced operational efficiency and reduced barriers to care in the outpatient setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Maheswari Senthil
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California Irvine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange, California
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21
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Muzumder S, Tripathy A, Alexander HN, Srikantia N. Hospital factors determining overall survival in cancer patients undergoing curative treatment. J Cancer Res Ther 2024; 20:17-24. [PMID: 38554293 DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_2_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In oncology, overall survival (OS) and quality of life (QoL) are key indicators. The factors that affect OS and QoL include tumor-related characteristics (stage and grade), patient-related factors (performance status and comorbidities), and cancer-directed therapy (CDT)-related aspects. In addition, external factors such as governance or policy (e.g., inaccessibility to CDT, increased distance to service, poor socioeconomic status, lack of insurance), and hospital-related factors (e.g., facility volume and surgeon volume) can influence OS and QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS The primary objective of this narrative review was to identify hospital-related factors that affect OS and QoL in patients receiving curative CDT. The authors defined extrinsic factors that can be modified at the hospital level as "hospital-related" factors. Only factors supported by randomized controlled trials (RCT), systematic reviews (SR) and/or meta-analyses (MA), and population database (PDB) analyses that address the relationship between OS and hospital factors were considered. RESULTS The literature review found that high hospital or oncologist volume, adherence to evidence-based medicine (EBM), optimal time-to-treatment initiation (TTI), and decreased overall treatment time (OTT) increase OS in patients undergoing curative CDT. The use of case management strategies was associated with better symptom management and treatment compliance, but had a mixed effect on QoL. The practice of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in cancer patients did not result in an increase in OS. There was insufficient evidence to support the impact of factors such as teaching or academic centers, hospital infrastructure, and treatment compliance on OS and QoL. CONCLUSION The authors conclude that hospital policies should focus on increasing hospital and oncologist volume, adhering to EBM, optimizing TTI, and reducing OTT for cancer patients receiving curative treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Muzumder
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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22
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Evans SM, Ivanova K, Rome R, Cossio D, Pilgrim C, Zalcberg J, Antill Y, Blake L, Du Guesclin A, Garrett A, Giffard D, Golobic N, Moir D, Parikh S, Parisi A, Sanday K, Shadbolt C, Smith M, Te Marvelde L, Williams K. Registry-derived stage (RD-Stage) for capturing cancer stage at diagnosis for endometrial cancer. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1222. [PMID: 38087227 PMCID: PMC10714535 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11615-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Capture of cancer stage at diagnosis is important yet poorly reported by health services to population-based cancer registries. In this paper we describe current completeness of stage information for endometrial cancer available in Australian cancer registries; and develop and validate a set of rules to enable cancer registry medical coders to calculate stage using data available to them (registry-derived stage or 'RD-Stage'). METHODOLOGY Rules for deriving RD-stage (Endometrial carcinoma) were developed using the American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) TNM (tumour, nodes, metastasis) Staging System (8th Edition). An expert working group comprising cancer specialists responsible for delivering cancer care, epidemiologists and medical coders reviewed and endorsed the rules. Baseline completeness of data fields required to calculate RD-Stage, and calculation of the proportion of cases for whom an RD stage could be assigned, was assessed across each Australian jurisdiction. RD-Stage (Endometrial cancer) was calculated by Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) medical coders and compared with clinical stage recorded by the patient's treating clinician and captured in the National Gynae-Oncology Registry (NGOR). RESULTS The necessary data completeness level for calculating RD-Stage (Endometrial carcinoma) across various Australian jurisdictions varied from 0 to 89%. Three jurisdictions captured degree of spread of cancer, rendering RD-Stage unable to be calculated. RD-Stage (Endometrial carcinoma) could not be derived for 64/485 (13%) cases and was not captured for 44/485 (9%) cases in NGOR. At stage category level (I, II, III, IV), there was concordance between RD-Stage and NGOR captured stage in 393/410 (96%) of cases (95.8%, Kendall's coefficient = 0.95). CONCLUSION A lack of consistency in data captured by, and data sources reporting to, population-based cancer registries meant that it was not possible to provide national endometrial carcinoma stage data at diagnosis. In a sample of Victorian cases, where surgical pathology was available, there was very good concordance between RD-Stage (Endometrial carcinoma) and clinician-recorded stage data available from NGOR. RD-Stage offers promise in capturing endometrial cancer stage at diagnosis for population epidemiological purposes when it is not provided by health services, but requires more extensive validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Evans
- Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - K Ivanova
- Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
| | - R Rome
- Epworth Health Care, Melbourne, Australia
| | - D Cossio
- Cancer Alliance Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia
| | - Chc Pilgrim
- Central Clinical School, Department of Surgery, The Alfred, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - J Zalcberg
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Y Antill
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - L Blake
- Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Du Guesclin
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, The Alfred, Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Garrett
- Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - D Giffard
- Cancer Alliance Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia
| | - N Golobic
- Cancer Alliance Queensland, Woolloongabba, Australia
| | - D Moir
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, The Alfred, Melbourne, Australia
| | - S Parikh
- Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Parisi
- ACT Cancer Registry Australian Capital Territory Health, Deakin, Australia
| | - K Sanday
- Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - C Shadbolt
- Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - M Smith
- ACT Cancer Registry Australian Capital Territory Health, Deakin, Australia
| | | | - K Williams
- Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
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23
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Ota M, Taniguchi K, Asakuma M, Lee SW, Ito Y. Trends in the stage distribution of colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a nationwide hospital-claims data analysis. J Epidemiol 2023:JE20220347. [PMID: 38044088 PMCID: PMC11167262 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20220347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has affected cancer care. The aim of this study was to clarify the trend of colorectal cancer (CRC) stage distribution in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS In this retrospective study, we used an inpatient medical claims database established at approximately 400 acute care hospitals. From the database, we searched patients who were identified as having the main disease (using ICD-10codes [C18.0-C20]) between January 2018 and December 2020. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the impact of the pandemic on CRC stage distribution each month, and the odds ratio (OR) for late-stage cancer was calculated. RESULTS We analyzed 99,992 CRC patients. Logistic regression analysis, including the interaction term between increased late-stage CRC effect during the pandemic period and by each individual month, showed that the OR for late-stage CRC was highest in July during the pandemic, at 1.31 (95%CI: 1.13- 1.52) and also significantly higher in September at 1.16 (95%CI: 1.00- 1.35). CONCLUSION We investigated the trend of CRC stage distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic using a nationwide hospital-claims database in Japan, and found that the proportion of early-stage cancers tended to decrease temporarily after the state of emergency declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the effect was only temporary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Ota
- Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
- Department of Medical Statistics, Research & Development Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Kohei Taniguchi
- Translational Research Program, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Mitsuhiro Asakuma
- Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Sang-Woong Lee
- Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Yuri Ito
- Department of Medical Statistics, Research & Development Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
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Chen AM, Garcia AD, Alexandrescu M, Healy E. Effect of a same day appointment initiative on racial disparities in access for radiation oncology. J Cancer Policy 2023; 38:100445. [PMID: 37716467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2023.100445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We present our single-institution experience with the development of a same day access scheduling initiative for an outpatient radiation oncology unit, focusing on its potential influence on ameliorating racial disparities. METHODS AND MATERIALS From March 2021 to August 2022, a pilot initiative was conducted such that all new patients referred to a tertiary care-based radiation oncology department were offered the ability to be seen as a same day consultation. The timespan of this analysis was categorized into 2 distinct successive periods over 36 months-a 18-month pre-initiative period (September 2019 to February 2021) and another subsequent one (March 2021 to August 2022). Descriptive statistics were used to study the impact of this initiative on access-related benchmarks. RESULTS A total of 2897 patients were referred. Among the 2107 patients scheduled, three hundred and sixteen (15 %) opted for same day appointments. Black, Latino, and Asian patients were significantly more likely to use the same day access initiative versus Caucasian patients (p = 0.01). The same day access initiative increased the proportion of patients seen within 5 days from referral from 8 % to 34 % for Blacks, 12-57 % for Latinos, and 18-67 % for Asians, compared to 39-55 % for Caucasians (p < 0.001). The no-show rate was reduced from 20 % to 7 % and 14-5 %, for Black and Latino patients, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The implementation of a same day access initiative narrowed disparities with respect to access-related benchmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen M Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange, CA 92868, United States.
| | - Andrew D Garcia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange, CA 92868, United States
| | - Marcela Alexandrescu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange, CA 92868, United States
| | - Erin Healy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Irvine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orange, CA 92868, United States
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25
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Pettit NR, Bischof JJ. The emergency department: A key pillar in the cancer care continuum. Acad Emerg Med 2023; 30:1288-1289. [PMID: 37684050 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R Pettit
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Jason J Bischof
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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de Castro G, Souza FH, Lima J, Bernardi LP, Teixeira CHA, Prado GF. Does Multidisciplinary Team Management Improve Clinical Outcomes in NSCLC? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. JTO Clin Res Rep 2023; 4:100580. [PMID: 38046377 PMCID: PMC10689272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2023.100580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The implementation of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) has been found to be effective for improving outcomes in oncology. Nevertheless, there is still a dearth of robust literature on patients with NSCLC. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review regarding the impact of MDTs on patient with NSCLC outcomes. Methods Databases were systematically searched up to February 2023. Two reviewers independently performed study selection and data extraction. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa and certainty of evidence by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Overall survival was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included mortality, length of survival, progression-free survival, time from diagnosis to treatment, complete staging, treatment received, and adherence to guidelines. A meta-analysis with a random-effect model was performed. Statistical analysis was performed with the R 3.6.2 package. Results A total of 22 studies were included in the systematic review. Ten outcomes were identified, favoring the MDT group over the non-MDT group. Pooled analysis revealed that patients managed by MDTs had better overall survival (three studies; 38,037 participants; hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-0.75, I2 = 78%), shorter treatment time compared with patients in the non-MDT group (six studies; 15,235 participants; mean difference = 12.20 d, 95% CI: 10.76-13.63, I2 = 63%), and higher proportion of complete staging (four studies; 14,925 participants; risk ratio = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.17-1.57, I2 = 89%). Conclusions This meta-analysis revealed that MDT-based patient care was associated with longer overall survival and better quality-of-care-related outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto de Castro
- Clinical Oncology, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Marks VA, Hsiang WR, Nie J, Umer W, Haleem A, Galal B, Pak I, Kim D, Salazar MC, Pantel H, Berger ER, Boffa DJ, Cavallo JA, Leapman MS. Telehealth Availability for Cancer Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Cancer 2023; 9:e45518. [PMID: 37917149 PMCID: PMC10654905 DOI: 10.2196/45518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telehealth was an important strategy for maintaining continuity of cancer care during the coronavirus pandemic and has continued to play a role in outpatient care; however, it is unknown whether services are equally available across cancer hospitals. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess telehealth availability at cancer hospitals for new and established patients with common cancers to contextualize the impact of access barriers to technology on overall access to health care. METHODS We conducted a national cross-sectional secret shopper study from June to November 2020 to assess telehealth availability at cancer hospitals for new and established patients with colorectal, breast, and skin (melanoma) cancer. We examined facility-level factors to determine predictors of telehealth availability. RESULTS Of the 312 investigated facilities, 97.1% (n=303) provided telehealth services for at least 1 cancer site. Telehealth was less available to new compared to established patients (n=226, 72% vs n=301, 97.1%). The surveyed cancer hospitals more commonly offered telehealth visits for breast cancer care (n=266, 85%) and provided lower access to telehealth for skin (melanoma) cancer care (n=231, 74%). Most hospitals (n=163, 52%) offered telehealth for all 3 cancer types. Telehealth availability was weakly correlated across cancer types within a given facility for new (r=0.16, 95% CI 0.09-0.23) and established (r=0.14, 95% CI 0.08-0.21) patients. Telehealth was more commonly available for new patients at National Cancer Institute-designated facilities, medical school-affiliated facilities, and major teaching sites, with high total admissions and below-average timeliness of care. Telehealth availability for established patients was highest at Academic Comprehensive Cancer Programs, nongovernment and nonprofit facilities, medical school-affiliated facilities, Accountable Care Organizations, and facilities with a high number of total admissions. CONCLUSIONS Despite an increase in telehealth services for patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic, we identified differences in access across cancer hospitals, which may relate to measures of clinical volume, affiliation, and infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Walter R Hsiang
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - James Nie
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Waez Umer
- The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, United States
| | - Afash Haleem
- The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, United States
| | - Bayan Galal
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Irene Pak
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dana Kim
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | | | - Haddon Pantel
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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Balchander D, Shorbaji K, Cabrera CI, Hoying D, Clancy K, Fowler N, Thuener JE, Lavertu P, Pan Q, Teknos TN, Rezaee RP, Li S, Tamaki A. Prognostic significance of time trends in treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Am J Otolaryngol 2023; 44:103966. [PMID: 37481899 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the impact of demographic, clinical, and management variables on time to treatment initiation (TTI) and overall survival (OS). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medical records of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. Univariate linear and Cox-regressions identified predictors of TTI and OS. Kaplan Meier (KM) curves assessed the difference in survival by diagnostic year and TTI. RESULTS 381 patients met eligibility criteria. Median TTI was 35.0 days (IQR: 25.0-49.0). Only 10.8 % of all patients reported any treatment delay, with TTI exceeding 90 days found in 3.7 % of patients. TTI increased with African American race (p = 0.02), ED referrals (p = 0.02), and direct admission status (p = 0.01). When compared to treatment with surgery alone, TTI was shorter in patients undergoing surgery with adjuvant radiation (p = 0.02), adjuvant chemoradiation (p = 0.04), and salvage surgery (p = 0.04). Univariate Cox-regressions found smoking (p = 0.01), direct admission status (p = 0.02), increased duration of symptoms (p = 0.02), placement of PEG tubes (p < 0.01) and tracheostomies (p < 0.01), combination treatment (p < 0.01), and surgery with adjuvant chemoradiation treatment (p = 0.01) to increase mortality risk. Disease characteristics, including tumor size (p < 0.01), presence of nodal disease (p = 0.02), and late-stage disease (p < 0.01), increased mortality risk. TTI and diagnostic year did not impact survival. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis determined several demographic, referral, and treatment factors impacted TTI. However, increased TTI did not impact survival. Characteristics consistent with advanced disease worsened OS. Despite the pandemic burden, patients diagnosed in 2020 showed no difference in short-term survival compared to prior years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Khaled Shorbaji
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Claudia I Cabrera
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - David Hoying
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kate Clancy
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nicole Fowler
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Jason E Thuener
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Pierre Lavertu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Quintin Pan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Theodoros N Teknos
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rod P Rezaee
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Shawn Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Akina Tamaki
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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29
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Klarenbeek SE, Aarts MJ, van den Heuvel MM, Prokop M, Tummers M, Schuurbiers-Siebers OCJ. Impact of time-to-treatment on survival for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer in The Netherlands-a nationwide observational cohort study. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2023; 12:2015-2029. [PMID: 38025812 PMCID: PMC10654436 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-23-256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Varied outcomes on the relation between time-to-treatment and survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are reported. We examined this relation in a large multicentric retrospective cohort study and identified factors associated with extended time-to-treatment. Methods We included 9,536 patients with clinical stage I-II NSCLC, diagnosed and treated in 2014-2019, from the Netherlands Cancer Registry that includes nation-wide data. Time-to-treatment was defined as the number of days between first outpatient visit for suspected lung cancer and start of treatment. The effect of extended time-to-treatment beyond the first quartile and survival was studied with Cox proportional hazard regression. Analyses were stratified for stage and type of therapy. Time-to-treatment was adjusted for multiple covariates including performance status and socioeconomic status. Factors associated with treatment delay were identified by multilevel logistic regression. Results Median time-to-treatment was 47 days [interquartile range (IQR): 34-65] for stage I and 46 days (IQR: 34-62) for stage II. The first quartile extended to 33 days for both stages. Risk of death increased significantly with extended time-to-treatment for surgical treatment of clinical stage II patients [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) >33 days: 1.36, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.09-1.70], but not in stage II patients treated with radiotherapy or in stage I patients. Causes of prolonged time-to-treatment were multifactorial including diagnostic tests, such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). Conclusions Clinical stage II patients benefit from fast initiation of surgical treatment. Surprisingly this appears to be accounted for by patients who are clinically stage II but pathologically stage I. Further study is needed on characterizing these patients and the significance of lymph node- or distant micrometastasis in guiding time-to-treatment and treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sosse E. Klarenbeek
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mieke J. Aarts
- Netherlands Cancer Registry, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michel M. van den Heuvel
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mathias Prokop
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcia Tummers
- Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Olga C. J. Schuurbiers-Siebers
- Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Khan Y, Verhaeghe N, De Pauw R, Devleesschauwer B, Gadeyne S, Gorasso V, Lievens Y, Speybroek N, Vandamme N, Vandemaele M, Van den Borre L, Vandepitte S, Vanthomme K, Verdoodt F, De Smedt D. Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288777. [PMID: 37903130 PMCID: PMC10615261 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cancer causes a substantial burden to our society, both from a health and an economic perspective. To improve cancer patient outcomes and lower society expenses, early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential. The recent COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the care trajectory of cancer patients, which may affect their prognosis in a potentially negative way. The purpose of this paper is to present a flexible decision-analytic Markov model methodology allowing the evaluation of the impact of delayed cancer care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium which can be used by researchers to respond to diverse research questions in a variety of disruptive events, contexts and settings. METHODS A decision-analytic Markov model was developed for 4 selected cancer types (i.e. breast, colorectal, lung, and head and neck), comparing the estimated costs and quality-adjusted life year losses between the pre-COVID-19 situation and the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. Input parameters were derived from published studies (transition probabilities, utilities and indirect costs) and administrative databases (epidemiological data and direct medical costs). One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses are proposed to consider uncertainty in the input parameters and to assess the robustness of the model's results. Scenario analyses are suggested to evaluate methodological and structural assumptions. DISCUSSION The results that such decision-analytic Markov model can provide are of interest to decision makers because they help them to effectively allocate resources to improve the health outcomes of cancer patients and to reduce the costs of care for both patients and healthcare systems. Our study provides insights into methodological aspects of conducting a health economic evaluation of cancer care and COVID-19 including insights on cancer type selection, the elaboration of a Markov model, data inputs and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Khan
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nick Verhaeghe
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Research Institute for Work and Society, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robby De Pauw
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Brecht Devleesschauwer
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Gadeyne
- Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vanessa Gorasso
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yolande Lievens
- Radiation Oncology Department, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niko Speybroek
- Research Institute of Health and Society, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nancy Vandamme
- Research Department, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miet Vandemaele
- Radiation Oncology Department, Ghent University Hospital and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laura Van den Borre
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sophie Vandepitte
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrien Vanthomme
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Freija Verdoodt
- Research Department, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Delphine De Smedt
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Sauvaget C, Boutayeb S, Bendahhou K, Selmouni F, Belbaraka R, Muwonge R, Hassouni K, Lucas E, Alaoui L, Ibrahim Khalil A, Bennani M, Chami Y, Bekkali R. The journey of cancer patients and the quest to equity: findings from Morocco. Public Health 2023; 223:33-41. [PMID: 37597462 PMCID: PMC10547108 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Rapid diagnostic and assessment pathways for cancer patients provide timely and effective care. This study took place in Morocco, where the majority of patients treated in the public sector are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The aim of this study was to determine the duration of different time intervals along the cancer patient pathway and to highlight problem areas so that strategies can be implemented to make the process more equitable and effective. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Recently diagnosed cancer patients were recruited from four major oncology centres in Morocco; namely, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, and Fez. A questionnaire survey was administered, including sociodemographic and medical information and questions on access to the oncology centre, beliefs, and opinions on the medical staff. The dates of symptom recognition, assessment, diagnosis referral, biopsy, and treatment initiation were collected. Different time intervals (patient, diagnosis, biopsy, and treatment) were estimated and their determinants were investigated. RESULTS A total of 812 patients were interviewed. The majority of participants were breast cancer patients. In total, 60% of participants were at stage III-IV. The main facilitators of cancer diagnosis confirmation and treatment initiation were easy access to diagnosis and treatment facilities, financial resources, personal history of cancer, time availability, late stage at diagnosis, advanced age, and private health insurance. The patient interval (i.e., time from symptom recognition to initial healthcare assessment) had a median duration of 30 days. The biopsy and treatment intervals were within the current international recommendations (7 and 28 days, respectively). However, the diagnosis interval (52 days) was twice as long as the recommended timeframes from the UK, Australia, and the World Health Organization (<28 days). CONCLUSIONS Interval targets should be defined to encourage health systems to be more equitable and effective and to ensure that cancer patients are treated within a defined timeframe.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sauvaget
- Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
| | - S Boutayeb
- National Institute of Oncology, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - F Selmouni
- Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - R Belbaraka
- Oncology and Hematology Centre, CHU Mohammed VI, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - R Muwonge
- Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - K Hassouni
- Oncology Centre, CHU Hassan II, Fez, Morocco
| | - E Lucas
- Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - L Alaoui
- IQVIA Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - A Ibrahim Khalil
- Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - M Bennani
- Lalla Salma Foundation, Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Y Chami
- Lalla Salma Foundation, Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Rabat, Morocco
| | - R Bekkali
- Lalla Salma Foundation, Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Rabat, Morocco
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Kuzuu K, Misawa N, Ashikari K, Tamura S, Kato S, Hosono K, Yoneda M, Nonaka T, Matsushima S, Komatsu T, Nakajima A, Higurashi T. Changes in the Number of Gastrointestinal Cancers and Stage at Diagnosis with COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Multicenter Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4410. [PMID: 37686686 PMCID: PMC10487252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This retrospective cohort study compared the number of newly diagnosed patients, stage at diagnosis, and detection process of gastrointestinal cancers based on hospital-based cancer registry data at two tertiary Japanese hospitals. The pre-COVID-19 period was from January 2017 to February 2020, with phase 1 (midst of COVID-19 pandemic) from March to December 2020 and phase 2 (the transition period to the "new normal") from January to December 2021. Each month, the number of patients diagnosed with esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, liver, and biliary tract cancers were aggregated, classified by stage and detection process, and compared, including a total of 6453 patients. The number of colorectal Stage 0-II patients decreased significantly in phase 1 and increased in phase 2. The total number of colorectal cancer patients returned to pre-COVID-19 levels (mean monthly patients [SD]: 41.61 [6.81] vs. 36.00 [6.72] vs. 46.00 [11.32]). The number of patients with gastric cancer Stage I significantly decreased in phase 2 following phase 1. The number of gastric cancer patients decreased significantly from pre-COVID-19 levels (30.63 [6.62] vs. 22.40 [5.85] vs. 24.50 [4.15]). During phase 2, the number of patients diagnosed after screening with colorectal cancer increased significantly, whereas that with gastric cancer remained considerably lower. The number of Stage III colorectal and gastric cancer patients increased significantly from the pre-COVID-19 levels. Thus, gastric cancer may not be optimally screened during phases 1 and 2. There was a significant increase in patients with Stage III colorectal and gastric cancers from the pre-COVID-19 period; hence, the stage at diagnosis may have progressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kento Kuzuu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Noboru Misawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Keiichi Ashikari
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Shigeki Tamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Shingo Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Kunihiro Hosono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Masato Yoneda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Takashi Nonaka
- National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, 3-60-2 Harazyuku, Totuka-ku, Yokohama 245-8575, Japan; (T.N.); (S.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Shozo Matsushima
- National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, 3-60-2 Harazyuku, Totuka-ku, Yokohama 245-8575, Japan; (T.N.); (S.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Tatsuji Komatsu
- National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, 3-60-2 Harazyuku, Totuka-ku, Yokohama 245-8575, Japan; (T.N.); (S.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Atsushi Nakajima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Takuma Higurashi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
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Lanas Á, Balaguer F, Sánchez‐Luengo M, Hijos‐Mallada G, Hernández‐Mesa G, Piñero M, Castillo J, Ocaña T, Cubiella J, Crespo A, Iglesias Á, Medeiros I, Cacho G, Jover‐Martínez R, Alustiza M, Diaz‐Tasende J, Poves C, Macedo G, Quintero E. Fecal occult blood and calprotectin testing to prioritize primary care patients for colonoscopy referral: The advantage study. United European Gastroenterol J 2023; 11:692-699. [PMID: 37614054 PMCID: PMC10493338 DOI: 10.1002/ueg2.12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis and screening, but endoscopy services are usually overburdened. This study aims to investigate the usefulness of fecal hemoglobin (fHb) and calprotectin (FC) for the identification of patients with high probability of CRC who need urgent referral. METHODS In a multicenter prospective study, we enrolled symptomatic patients referred from primary care for colonoscopy. Prior to bowel preparation, fHb and FC quantitative tests were performed. The diagnostic performance was estimated for each biomarker/combination. We built a multivariable predictive model based on logistic regression, translated to a nomogram and a risk calculator to assist clinicians in the decision-making process. RESULTS The study included 1224 patients, of whom 69 (5.6%) had CRC. At the fHb cut-offs of >0 and 10 μg/g, the negative predictive values for CRC were 98.8% (95% confidence interval 97.8%-99.3%) and 98.6% (95%CI 97.7%-99.1%), and the sensitivities were 85.5% (95%CI 75.0%-92.8%) and 79.7% (95%CI 68.3%-88.4%), respectively. When we added the cut-off of 150 μg/g of FC to both fHb thresholds, the sensitivity of fecal tests improved. In the multivariate logistic regression model, the concentration of fHb was an independent predictor for CRC; age and gender were also independently associated with CRC. CONCLUSIONS fHb and FC are useful as part of a triage tool to identify those symptomatic patients with high probability of CRC. This can be easily applied by physicians to prioritize high-risk patients for urgent colonoscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Lanas
- University Clinic Hospital Lozano Blesa. University of Zaragoza. IIS Aragón. CIBERHEDZaragozaSpain
| | - Francesc Balaguer
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Clínic de BarcelonaInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD)University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Marta Sánchez‐Luengo
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Clínico Universitario Lozano BlesaZaragozaSpain
| | - Gonzalo Hijos‐Mallada
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Clínico Universitario Lozano BlesaZaragozaSpain
| | - Goretti Hernández‐Mesa
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Universitario de CanariasInstituto Universitario de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB) & Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Canarias (CIBICAN)Universidad de La LagunaTenerifeSpain
| | - Melisa Piñero
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Universitario de CanariasInstituto Universitario de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB) & Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Canarias (CIBICAN)Universidad de La LagunaTenerifeSpain
| | - Joaquin Castillo
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Clínic de BarcelonaInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD)University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Teresa Ocaña
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Clínico Universitario Lozano BlesaZaragozaSpain
| | - Joaquín Cubiella
- Department of GastroenterologyComplexo Hospitalario Universitario de OurenseOurenseSpain
| | - Anais Crespo
- Department of GastroenterologyComplexo Hospitalario Universitario de OurenseOurenseSpain
| | - Águeda Iglesias
- Department of GastroenterologyComplexo Hospitalario Universitario de OurenseOurenseSpain
| | - Isabel Medeiros
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Espirito Santo de ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
| | - Guillermo Cacho
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Universitario Fundación AlcorcónMadridSpain
| | | | - Miren Alustiza
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital General Universitario de AlicanteMadridSpain
| | - José Diaz‐Tasende
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Universitario 12 de OctubreMadridSpain
| | - Carmen Poves
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Clínico Universitario San CarlosMadridSpain
| | - Guilherme Macedo
- Department of GastroenterologyCentro Hospitalar São JoãoPortoPortugal
| | - Enrique Quintero
- Department of GastroenterologyHospital Universitario de CanariasInstituto Universitario de Tecnologías Biomédicas (ITB) & Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Canarias (CIBICAN)Universidad de La LagunaTenerifeSpain
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Janopaul‐Naylor JR, Corriher TJ, Switchenko J, Hanasoge S, Esdaille A, Mahal BA, Filson CP, Patel SA. Disparities in time to prostate cancer treatment initiation before and after the Affordable Care Act. Cancer Med 2023; 12:18258-18268. [PMID: 37537835 PMCID: PMC10523962 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delayed access to care may contribute to disparities in prostate cancer (PCa). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed at increasing access and reducing healthcare disparities, but its impact on timely treatment initiation for PCa men is unknown. METHODS Men with intermediate- and high-risk PCa diagnosed 2010-2016 and treated with curative surgery or radiotherapy were identified in the National Cancer Database. Multivariable logistic regression modeled the effect of race and insurance type on treatment delay >180 days after diagnosis. Cochran-Armitage test measured annual trends in delays, and joinpoint regression assessed if 2014, the year the ACA became fully operationalized, was significant for inflection in crude rates of major delays. RESULTS Of 422,506 eligible men, 18,720 (4.4%) experienced >180-day delay in treatment initiation. Compared to White patients, Black (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.72-1.87, p < 0.001) and Hispanic (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.28-1.48, p < 0.001) patients had higher odds of delay. Compared to uninsured, those with Medicaid had no difference in odds of delay (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.84-1.06, p = 0.31), while those with private insurance (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.52-0.63, p < 0.001) or Medicare (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.58-0.70, p < 0.001) had lower odds of delay. Mean time to treatment significantly increased from 2010 to 2016 across all racial/ethnic groups (trend p < 0.001); 2014 was associated with a significant inflection for increase in rates of major delays. CONCLUSIONS Non-White and Medicaid-insured men with localized PCa are at risk of treatment delays in the United States. Treatment delays have been consistently rising, particularly after implementation of the ACA.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Janopaul‐Naylor
- Department of Radiation OncologyWinship Cancer Institute at Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Department of Radiation OncologyMemorial Sloan Kettering CancerNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Taylor J. Corriher
- Department of Radiation OncologyWinship Cancer Institute at Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Jeffrey Switchenko
- Department of Biostatistics and BioinformaticsRollins School of Public HealthAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Sheela Hanasoge
- Department of Radiation OncologyWinship Cancer Institute at Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Ashanda Esdaille
- Department of UrologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Brandon A. Mahal
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of Miami Miller School of MedicineMiamiFloridaUSA
| | | | - Sagar A. Patel
- Department of Radiation OncologyWinship Cancer Institute at Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
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Wanjarkhedkar P, Kulkarni P, Hingmire S, Deshmukh C, Pawar S, Melinkeri S, Prabhakaran A, Baheti A, Pingley S, Shende S, Kelkar D. Integrative Cancer Care Unit: An institutional experiment towards Integrative Oncology. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2023; 14:100714. [PMID: 37202298 PMCID: PMC10692370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Wanjarkhedkar
- Ayurveda & Integrative Cancer Care, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India.
| | - Padmaj Kulkarni
- Medical Oncology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Sachin Hingmire
- Medical Oncology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Chetan Deshmukh
- Medical Oncology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Satyajit Pawar
- Medical Oncology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Sameer Melinkeri
- Clinical Hematology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Anushree Prabhakaran
- Clinical Hematology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Abhijit Baheti
- Clinical Hematology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Sonali Pingley
- Radiation Oncology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Shaileshkumar Shende
- Radiation Oncology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
| | - Dhananjay Kelkar
- Surgical Oncology, VLM Cancer Center, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, MH, India
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Salazar SMDC, Dino MJS, Macindo JRB. Social connectedness and health-related quality of life among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A mixed method approach using structural equation modelling and photo-elicitation. J Clin Nurs 2023; 32:6298-6309. [PMID: 36894524 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop and test the model of association of social connectedness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and to describe their social connectedness through photo-elicitation. BACKGROUND Social connectedness has been empirically associated with several well-being outcomes. However, little is known on the association of social connectedness among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS Employing a mixed-methods design following the good reporting of a mixed methods study guideline, the quantitative approach involved 230 consecutively-selected patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy who answered a three-part survey. From these patients, six informants participated in the photo-elicitation and key informant interview sessions. Gathered data were quantitatively analyzed using structural equation modelling and qualitatively processed using polytextual thematic analysis. RESULTS AND FINDINGS Social connectedness had a positive influence on social well-being (β = .22, p = .008) and emotional well-being (β = .20, p = .023); however, it had a negative effect on functional well-being (β = -.20, p = .007). The overall model revealed good model indices: χ2 /df = .82, RMSEA = .01, GFI = 1.00. Qualitative analysis culled from photo-elicitation uncovered five interconnected themes yielding the Honeycomb model of social connectedness which was composed of correspondence, cohesion, constitution, convergence and corroboration. CONCLUSION HRQoL among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy is a multi-factorial health construct affected by social connectedness. The presented model emphasises the importance of social connectedness and paves way for the development of appropriate strategies to promote social connectedness among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The findings provide impetus in the modification and development of appropriate practices, policies and strategies in promoting social connectedness. These approaches are geared towards patient-family empowerment and health education techniques to ascertain that assistance from significant others is provided without limiting the patient's autonomy or independence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John Rey B Macindo
- Faculty of Management and Development Studies, University of the Philippines - Open University, Los Baños, Philippines
- Nursing Service Division, AMOSUP Seamen's Hospital, Manila, Philippines
- TOP UP Training Center and Research Consultancy Inc, Manila, Philippines
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Guadamuz JS, Wang X, Ryals CA, Miksad RA, Snider J, Walters J, Calip GS. Socioeconomic status and inequities in treatment initiation and survival among patients with cancer, 2011-2022. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2023; 7:pkad058. [PMID: 37707536 PMCID: PMC10582690 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkad058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lower neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with suboptimal cancer care and reduced survival. Most studies examining cancer inequities across area-level socioeconomic status tend to use less granular or unidimensional measures and pre-date the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we examined the association of area-level socioeconomic status on real-world treatment initiation and overall survival among adults with 20 common cancers. METHODS This retrospective cohort study used electronic health record-derived deidentified data (Flatiron Health Research Database, 2011-2022) linked to US Census Bureau data from the American Community Survey (2015-2019). Area-level socioeconomic status quintiles (based on a measure incorporating income, home values, rental costs, poverty, blue-collar employment, unemployment, and education information) were computed from the US population and applied to patients based on their mailing address. Associations were examined using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for diagnosis year, age, sex, performance status, stage, and cancer type. RESULTS This cohort included 291 419 patients (47.7% female; median age = 68 years). Patients from low-SES areas were younger and more likely to be Black (21.9% vs 3.3%) or Latinx (8.4% vs 3.0%) than those in high-SES areas. Living in low-SES areas (vs high) was associated with lower treatment rates (hazard ratio = 0.94 [95% confidence interval = 0.93 to 0.95]) and reduced survival (median real-world overall survival = 21.4 vs 29.5 months, hazard ratio = 1.20 [95% confidence interval = 1.18 to 1.22]). Treatment and survival inequities were observed in 9 and 19 cancer types, respectively. Area-level socioeconomic inequities in treatment and survival remained statistically significant in the COVID-19 era (after March 2020). CONCLUSION To reduce inequities in cancer outcomes, efforts that target marginalized, low-socioeconomic status neighborhoods are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny S Guadamuz
- Flatiron Health, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Program on Medicines and Public Health, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Rebecca A Miksad
- Flatiron Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Gregory S Calip
- Flatiron Health, New York, NY, USA
- Program on Medicines and Public Health, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Holmes D, Iyengar G. Breast Cancer Cryoablation in the Multidisciplinary Setting: Practical Guidelines for Patients and Physicians. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1756. [PMID: 37629613 PMCID: PMC10456083 DOI: 10.3390/life13081756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer cryoablation has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to lumpectomy for treating early-stage breast cancer. However, no consensus exists on what should be considered the standard of care for the multidisciplinary management of patients treated with breast cancer cryoablation. In lieu of national guidelines, this review of the literature provides a multidisciplinary framework and an evidence-based discussion of the integration of "standard of care practices" in the comprehensive management of breast cancer cryoablation patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Holmes
- Adventist Health Glendale, 1505 Wilson Terrace, Suite 370, Glendale, CA 91206, USA
| | - Geeta Iyengar
- Medical Imaging Center of Southern California, 8727 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90048, USA
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Pavelić K, Pavelić SK, Bulog A, Agaj A, Rojnić B, Čolić M, Trivanović D. Nanoparticles in Medicine: Current Status in Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12827. [PMID: 37629007 PMCID: PMC10454499 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is still a leading cause of deaths worldwide, especially due to those cases diagnosed at late stages with metastases that are still considered untreatable and are managed in such a way that a lengthy chronic state is achieved. Nanotechnology has been acknowledged as one possible solution to improve existing cancer treatments, but also as an innovative approach to developing new therapeutic solutions that will lower systemic toxicity and increase targeted action on tumors and metastatic tumor cells. In particular, the nanoparticles studied in the context of cancer treatment include organic and inorganic particles whose role may often be expanded into diagnostic applications. Some of the best studied nanoparticles include metallic gold and silver nanoparticles, quantum dots, polymeric nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and graphene, with diverse mechanisms of action such as, for example, the increased induction of reactive oxygen species, increased cellular uptake and functionalization properties for improved targeted delivery. Recently, novel nanoparticles for improved cancer cell targeting also include nanobubbles, which have already demonstrated increased localization of anticancer molecules in tumor tissues. In this review, we will accordingly present and discuss state-of-the-art nanoparticles and nano-formulations for cancer treatment and limitations for their application in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krešimir Pavelić
- Faculty of Medicine, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
| | - Sandra Kraljević Pavelić
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Ulica Viktora Cara Emina 5, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Aleksandar Bulog
- Teaching Institute for Public Health of Primorsko-Goranska County, Krešimirova Ulica 52, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Andrea Agaj
- Faculty of Medicine, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
| | - Barbara Rojnić
- Faculty of Medicine, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
| | - Miroslav Čolić
- Clear Water Technology Inc., 13008 S Western Avenue, Gardena, CA 90429, USA;
| | - Dragan Trivanović
- Faculty of Medicine, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, General Hospital Pula, Santorijeva 24a, 52200 Pula, Croatia
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Grannec F, Meddeb L, Tissot-Dupont H, Gentile S, Brouqui P. Pre-Hospital Management of Patients with COVID-19 and the Impact on Hospitalization. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1440. [PMID: 37629730 PMCID: PMC10456276 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59081440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, patient care was mainly organized around the hospital. Pre-hospital care has, to our knowledge, never been evaluated. We aimed to study the impact of pre-hospital pathways on hospitalization during the last part of the pandemic. Materials and Methods: This was a monocentric, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected medical records. Data from patients admitted to our institute between 1 February and 7 March 2022 were analyzed. The primary outcomes were defined as the number of hospitalizations, resuscitations, and deaths at the time of interview and in the subsequent 30 days. The main explanatory variables were times from onset of symptoms to care, age, gender, News2 score, comorbidities, and pre-hospital pathways and their duration. Results: Three pre-hospital pathways were identified: a pathway in which the patient consults a general practitioner for a test (PHP1); a pathway in which the patient consults for care (PHP2); and no pre-hospital pathway and direct admission to hospital (PHP3). Factors independently associated with outcome (hospitalization) were being male (OR 95% CI; 2.21 (1.01-4.84), p = 0,04), News2 score (OR 95% CI; 2.04 (1.65-2.51), p < 0.001), obesity (OR 95% CI; 3.45 (1.48-8.09), p = 0.005), D-dimers > 0.5 µg/mL (OR 95% CI; 3.45 (1.47-8.12), p = 0.005), and prolonged time from symptoms to hospital care (PHP duration) (OR 95% CI; 1.07 (1.01-1.14), p = 0.03). All things being equal, patients with a "PHP2" pre-hospital pathway had a higher probability of hospitalization compared to those with a "PHP3" pre-hospital pathway (OR 95% CI; 4.31 (1.48-12.55), p = 0.007). Conclusions: Along with recognized risk factors such as gender, News 2 score, and obesity, the patient's pre-hospital pathway is an important risk factor associated with hospitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floann Grannec
- IRD, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France;
| | - Line Meddeb
- AP-HM, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (L.M.); (H.T.-D.); (S.G.)
| | - Herve Tissot-Dupont
- AP-HM, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (L.M.); (H.T.-D.); (S.G.)
| | - Stephanie Gentile
- AP-HM, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (L.M.); (H.T.-D.); (S.G.)
- EA 3279 “Santé Publique, Maladies Chroniques et Qualité de Vie”, Aix Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Brouqui
- IRD, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France;
- AP-HM, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (L.M.); (H.T.-D.); (S.G.)
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Cao J, Yan J, Hu J, Zhang B, Topatana W, Li S, Chen T, Jeungpanich S, Lu Z, Peng S, Cai X, Chen M. Estimating the influencing factors for T1b/T2 gallbladder cancer on survival and surgical approaches selection. Cancer Med 2023; 12:16744-16755. [PMID: 37366278 PMCID: PMC10501227 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The influencing factors, especially time to treatment (TTT), for T1b/T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC) patients remain unknown. We aimed to identify the influencing factors on survival and surgical approaches selection for T1b/T2 GBC. METHODS We retrospectively screened GBC patients between January 2011 and August 2018 from our hospital. Clinical variables, including patient characteristics, TTT, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), surgery-related outcomes, and surgical approaches were collected. RESULTS A total of 114 T1b/T2 GBC patients who underwent radical resection were included. Based on the median TTT of 7.5 days, the study cohort was divided into short TTT group (TTT ≤7 days, n = 57) and long TTT group (TTT >7 days, n = 57). Referrals were identified as the primary factor prolonging TTT (p < 0.001). There was no significance in OS (p = 0.790), DFS (p = 0.580), and surgery-related outcomes (all p > 0.05) between both groups. Decreased referrals (p = 0.005), fewer positive lymph nodes (LNs; p = 0.004), and well tumor differentiation (p = 0.004) were all associated with better OS, while fewer positive LNs (p = 0.049) were associated with better DFS. Subgroup analyses revealed no significant difference in survival between patients undergoing laparoscopic or open approach in different TTT groups (all p > 0.05). And secondary subgroup analyses found no significance in survival and surgery-related outcomes between different TTT groups of incidental GBC patients (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Positive LNs and tumor differentiation were prognostic factors for T1b/T2 GBC survival. Referrals associating with poor OS would delay TTT, while the prolonged TTT would not impact survival, surgery-related outcomes, and surgical approaches decisions in T1b/T2 GBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasheng Cao
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Jiafei Yan
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Jiahao Hu
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Win Topatana
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Shijie Li
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Tianen Chen
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Sarun Jeungpanich
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Ziyi Lu
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Shuyou Peng
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Department of General Surgerythe Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Xiujun Cai
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
| | - Mingyu Chen
- Department of General SurgerySir Run‐Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang ProvinceChina
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Awan S, Saini G, Gogineni K, Luningham JM, Collin LJ, Bhattarai S, Aneja R, Williams CP. Associations between health insurance status, neighborhood deprivation, and treatment delays in women with breast cancer living in Georgia. Cancer Med 2023; 12:17331-17339. [PMID: 37439033 PMCID: PMC10501236 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known regarding the association between insurance status and treatment delays in women with breast cancer and whether this association varies by neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation status. METHODS In this cohort study, we used medical record data of women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2004 and 2022 at two Georgia-based healthcare systems. Treatment delay was defined as >90 days to surgery or >120 days to systemic treatment. Insurance coverage was categorized as private, Medicaid, Medicare, other public, or uninsured. Area deprivation index (ADI) was used as a proxy for neighborhood-level socioeconomic status. Associations between delayed treatment and insurance status were analyzed using logistic regression, with an interaction term assessing effect modification by ADI. RESULTS Of the 14,195 women with breast cancer, 54% were non-Hispanic Black and 52% were privately insured. Compared with privately insured patients, those who were uninsured, Medicaid enrollees, and Medicare enrollees had 79%, 75%, and 27% higher odds of delayed treatment, respectively (odds ratio [OR]: 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-2.43; OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.43-2.13; OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.06-1.51). Among patients living in low-deprivation areas, those who were uninsured, Medicaid enrollees, and Medicare enrollees had 100%, 84%, and 26% higher odds of delayed treatment than privately insured patients (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.44-2.78; OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.48-2.30; OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05-1.53). No differences in the odds of delayed treatment by insurance status were observed in patients living in high-deprivation areas. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Insurance status was associated with treatment delays for women living in low-deprivation neighborhoods. However, for women living in neighborhoods with high deprivation, treatment delays were observed regardless of insurance status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Awan
- School of Public Health, Georgia State UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Geetanjali Saini
- Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Health ProfessionsUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Keerthi Gogineni
- Department of Hematology–Medical OncologyWinship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Department of SurgeryWinship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
- Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Health SystemAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Justin M. Luningham
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public HealthUniversity of North Texas Health Science CenterFort WorthTexasUSA
| | - Lindsay J. Collin
- Department of Population Health SciencesHuntsman Cancer Institute, University of UtahSalt Lake CityUtahUSA
| | - Shristi Bhattarai
- Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Health ProfessionsUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Ritu Aneja
- Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Health ProfessionsUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - Courtney P. Williams
- Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive MedicineUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
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Zidane M, Makky A, Bruhns M, Rochwarger A, Babaei S, Claassen M, Schürch CM. A review on deep learning applications in highly multiplexed tissue imaging data analysis. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 3:1159381. [PMID: 37564726 PMCID: PMC10410935 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2023.1159381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its introduction into the field of oncology, deep learning (DL) has impacted clinical discoveries and biomarker predictions. DL-driven discoveries and predictions in oncology are based on a variety of biological data such as genomics, proteomics, and imaging data. DL-based computational frameworks can predict genetic variant effects on gene expression, as well as protein structures based on amino acid sequences. Furthermore, DL algorithms can capture valuable mechanistic biological information from several spatial "omics" technologies, such as spatial transcriptomics and spatial proteomics. Here, we review the impact that the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) with spatial omics technologies has had on oncology, focusing on DL and its applications in biomedical image analysis, encompassing cell segmentation, cell phenotype identification, cancer prognostication, and therapy prediction. We highlight the advantages of using highly multiplexed images (spatial proteomics data) compared to single-stained, conventional histopathological ("simple") images, as the former can provide deep mechanistic insights that cannot be obtained by the latter, even with the aid of explainable AI. Furthermore, we provide the reader with the advantages/disadvantages of DL-based pipelines used in preprocessing highly multiplexed images (cell segmentation, cell type annotation). Therefore, this review also guides the reader to choose the DL-based pipeline that best fits their data. In conclusion, DL continues to be established as an essential tool in discovering novel biological mechanisms when combined with technologies such as highly multiplexed tissue imaging data. In balance with conventional medical data, its role in clinical routine will become more important, supporting diagnosis and prognosis in oncology, enhancing clinical decision-making, and improving the quality of care for patients. Since its introduction into the field of oncology, deep learning (DL) has impacted clinical discoveries and biomarker predictions. DL-driven discoveries and predictions in oncology are based on a variety of biological data such as genomics, proteomics, and imaging data. DL-based computational frameworks can predict genetic variant effects on gene expression, as well as protein structures based on amino acid sequences. Furthermore, DL algorithms can capture valuable mechanistic biological information from several spatial "omics" technologies, such as spatial transcriptomics and spatial proteomics. Here, we review the impact that the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) with spatial omics technologies has had on oncology, focusing on DL and its applications in biomedical image analysis, encompassing cell segmentation, cell phenotype identification, cancer prognostication, and therapy prediction. We highlight the advantages of using highly multiplexed images (spatial proteomics data) compared to single-stained, conventional histopathological ("simple") images, as the former can provide deep mechanistic insights that cannot be obtained by the latter, even with the aid of explainable AI. Furthermore, we provide the reader with the advantages/disadvantages of the DL-based pipelines used in preprocessing the highly multiplexed images (cell segmentation, cell type annotation). Therefore, this review also guides the reader to choose the DL-based pipeline that best fits their data. In conclusion, DL continues to be established as an essential tool in discovering novel biological mechanisms when combined with technologies such as highly multiplexed tissue imaging data. In balance with conventional medical data, its role in clinical routine will become more important, supporting diagnosis and prognosis in oncology, enhancing clinical decision-making, and improving the quality of care for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Zidane
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ahmad Makky
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Bruhns
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Rochwarger
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sepideh Babaei
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Manfred Claassen
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian M. Schürch
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Kerekes DM, Frey AE, Bakkila BF, Johnson CH, Becher RD, Billingsley KG, Khan SA. Hepatopancreatobiliary malignancies: time to treatment matters. J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 14:833-848. [PMID: 37201090 PMCID: PMC10186552 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-22-1067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Initiation of oncologic care is often delayed, yet little is known about delays in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers or their impact. This retrospective cohort study describes trends in time to treatment initiation (TTI), assesses the association between TTI and survival, and identifies predictors of TTI in HPB cancers. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with cancers of the pancreas, liver, and bile ducts between 2004 and 2017. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used to investigate the association between TTI and overall survival for each cancer type and stage. Multivariable regression identified factors associated with longer TTI. Results Of 318,931 patients with HPB cancers, median TTI was 31 days. Longer TTI was associated with increased mortality in patients with stages I-III extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer and stages I-II pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients treated within 3-30, 31-60, and 61-90 days had median survivals of 51.5, 34.9, and 25.4 months (log-rank P<0.001), respectively, for stage I EHBD cancer, and 18.8, 16.6, and 15.2 months for stage I pancreatic cancer, respectively (P<0.001). Factors associated with increased TTI included stage I disease (+13.7 days vs. stage IV, P<0.001), treatment with radiation only (β=+13.9 days, P<0.001), Black race (+4.6 days, P<0.001) and Hispanic ethnicity (+4.3 days, P<0.001). Conclusions Some HPB cancer patients with longer time to definitive care experienced higher mortality than patients treated expeditiously, particularly in non-metastatic EHBD cancer. Black and Hispanic patients are at risk for delayed treatment. Further research into these associations is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Caroline H. Johnson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert D. Becher
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Sajid A. Khan
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Pasli M, Kannaiyan R, Namireddy P, Walker P, Muzaffar M. Impact of Race on Outcomes of Advanced Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:4208-4221. [PMID: 37185434 PMCID: PMC10136836 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30040321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of race in advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is conflicting. Our study sought to examine racial disparities in time to treatment initiation (TTI), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) using a population that was almost equally black and white. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of stage IV NSCLC patients > 18 years receiving immunotherapy at our center between 2014 and 2021. Kaplan-Meier curves and the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model determined the predictors of OS and PFS. Analyses were undertaken using IBM PSAW (SPSS v.28). RESULTS Out of 194 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 42.3% were black (n = 82). In the multivariate analysis, there was no difference in PFS (HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.66,1.40; p = 0.846) or OS (HR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.48; p = 0.966). No difference in treatment selection was observed between white and black patients (p = 0.363), nor was there a difference observed in median time to overall treatment initiation (p = 0.201). CONCLUSIONS No difference was observed in OS and PFS in black and white patients. Black patients' reception of timelier immunotherapy was an unanticipated finding. Future studies are necessary to better understand how race impacts patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Pasli
- Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Radhamani Kannaiyan
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Eat Carolina University Health, 2100 Stantonsburg Road, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Praveen Namireddy
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | | | - Mahvish Muzaffar
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
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Sheni R, Qin J, Viswanathan S, Castellucci E, Kalnicki S, Mehta V. Predictive Factors for Cancer Treatment Delay in a Racially Diverse and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Urban Population. JCO Oncol Pract 2023:OP2200779. [DOI: 10.1200/op.22.00779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Incremental delays in time to treatment initiation (TTI) have been shown to cause a proportional, increased independent risk of disease-specific mortality for breast cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), head and neck cancer (HNC), non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and pancreatic cancer. Studies suggest that delays are associated with racial and socioeconomic disparities. We evaluated associations between patient factors and TTI to identify those associated with delay. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study at an urban community-based academic center of patients diagnosed with or referred for curative-intent treatment of breast cancer, CRC, HNC, NSCLC, and pancreatic cancer from January 2019 to December 2021. Variables of interest included Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, insurance type, language preference, and inpatient admission 30 days before diagnosis. Factors associated with TTI delay, defined as TTI ≥ 30 days, were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Among 2,543 patients (69% female), the mean age was 63.4 years and the median TTI was 25 days (IQR, 6-44). Within multivariable models, patients treated as outpatient and not admitted 30 days before diagnosis experienced statistically significant greater delay for CRC (odds ratio [OR], 2.82; 95% CI, 1.71 to 4.66) and NSCLC (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.39). Higher CCI score was associated with delay for HNC (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.04 to 6.66) and NSCLC (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.71). For breast cancer, uninsured and Spanish-speaking patients (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.67) experienced increased TTI. CONCLUSION Care coordination/compliance (eg, inpatient 30 days before diagnosis), clinical (eg, medical comorbidities), and socioeconomic (eg, uninsured status) predictors for delayed TTI were identified and may inform delay minimizing interventions. Our data support evidence that TTI delays are associated with demographic and socioeconomic disparities. Existing disparities are likely exacerbated by delays that disproportionately affect patients with care coordination/compliance issues, multiple comorbidities, and lower socioeconomic status.
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Epistola R, Ho B, Leong S, Ali S, Germono R, Kummerfeldt C, Gutierrez G, Shim J, Lee JM, Yeh JJ. Applying Lean Kaizen to Improve Timely Computed Tomography Scan Appointments for Oncology Patients in a Safety Net Hospital. JCO Oncol Pract 2023; 19:e465-e469. [PMID: 36800555 DOI: 10.1200/op.22.00393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Timely radiographic studies are essential to oncology care. At our institution, a safety net hospital in a large metropolitan area, baseline assessment determined that the overwhelming majority of outpatient computed tomographic (CT) scans for oncology patients were overdue and not scheduled within 2 weeks of their first requested date. METHODS We conducted a series of structured, interdisciplinary meetings including staff from radiology, oncology, scheduling, and administration to critically review the scheduling process utilizing Lean Kaizen quality improvement methods. A new workflow was developed in which clinic staff scheduled CT scans before clinic discharge. Three months after our initial meeting, the new workflow was launched. We set a target of decreasing the percentage of overdue scans to below 20%. RESULTS At baseline, 87% (65 of 75) of CT scans awaiting scheduling were overdue. Data were gathered at 5 and 10 weeks after implementation of our workflow. The percentage of CT scans overdue for scheduling was 17% (9 of 53) at 5 weeks and 0.97% (1 of 103) at 10 weeks after implementation. Clinic visit durations were not affected. CONCLUSION The Lean Kaizen QI model was successful in decreasing the rate of oncology patients overdue for CT scan scheduling with minimal effects on clinic visit durations. This study demonstrated the importance of interdepartmental collaboration and continuous monitoring for improvement. Given the success of this project, this workflow will be expanded to other outpatient clinics within our institution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Ho
- Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, West Carson, CA
| | | | - Sana Ali
- Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, West Carson, CA
| | | | | | | | - John Shim
- Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, West Carson, CA
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Blum TG, Morgan RL, Durieux V, Chorostowska-Wynimko J, Baldwin DR, Boyd J, Faivre-Finn C, Galateau-Salle F, Gamarra F, Grigoriu B, Hardavella G, Hauptmann M, Jakobsen E, Jovanovic D, Knaut P, Massard G, McPhelim J, Meert AP, Milroy R, Muhr R, Mutti L, Paesmans M, Powell P, Putora PM, Rawlinson J, Rich AL, Rigau D, de Ruysscher D, Sculier JP, Schepereel A, Subotic D, Van Schil P, Tonia T, Williams C, Berghmans T. European Respiratory Society guideline on various aspects of quality in lung cancer care. Eur Respir J 2023; 61:13993003.03201-2021. [PMID: 36396145 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.03201-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This European Respiratory Society guideline is dedicated to the provision of good quality recommendations in lung cancer care. All the clinical recommendations contained were based on a comprehensive systematic review and evidence syntheses based on eight PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) questions. The evidence was appraised in compliance with the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. Evidence profiles and the GRADE Evidence to Decision frameworks were used to summarise results and to make the decision-making process transparent. A multidisciplinary Task Force panel of lung cancer experts formulated and consented the clinical recommendations following thorough discussions of the systematic review results. In particular, we have made recommendations relating to the following quality improvement measures deemed applicable to routine lung cancer care: 1) avoidance of delay in the diagnostic and therapeutic period, 2) integration of multidisciplinary teams and multidisciplinary consultations, 3) implementation of and adherence to lung cancer guidelines, 4) benefit of higher institutional/individual volume and advanced specialisation in lung cancer surgery and other procedures, 5) need for pathological confirmation of lesions in patients with pulmonary lesions and suspected lung cancer, and histological subtyping and molecular characterisation for actionable targets or response to treatment of confirmed lung cancers, 6) added value of early integration of palliative care teams or specialists, 7) advantage of integrating specific quality improvement measures, and 8) benefit of using patient decision tools. These recommendations should be reconsidered and updated, as appropriate, as new evidence becomes available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Gerriet Blum
- Department of Pneumology, Lungenklinik Heckeshorn, HELIOS Klinikum Emil von Behring, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rebecca L Morgan
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Valérie Durieux
- Bibliothèque des Sciences de la Santé, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko
- Department of Genetics and Clinical Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
| | - David R Baldwin
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Corinne Faivre-Finn
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | - Bogdan Grigoriu
- Intensive Care and Oncological Emergencies and Thoracic Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Georgia Hardavella
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, King's College Hospital London, London, UK
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Hauptmann
- Institute of Biostatistics and Registry Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane and Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Neuruppin, Germany
| | - Erik Jakobsen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Paul Knaut
- Department of Pneumology, Lungenklinik Heckeshorn, HELIOS Klinikum Emil von Behring, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gilbert Massard
- Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg and Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hôpitaux Robert Schuman, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - John McPhelim
- Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist, Hairmyres Hospital, NHS Lanarkshire, East Kilbride, UK
| | - Anne-Pascale Meert
- Intensive Care and Oncological Emergencies and Thoracic Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Milroy
- Scottish Lung Cancer Forum, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK
| | - Riccardo Muhr
- Department of Pneumology, Lungenklinik Heckeshorn, HELIOS Klinikum Emil von Behring, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luciano Mutti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- SHRO/Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marianne Paesmans
- Data Centre, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Paul Martin Putora
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St Gallen, St Gallen and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Anna L Rich
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - David Rigau
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dirk de Ruysscher
- Maastricht University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro Clinic), GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Paul Sculier
- Intensive Care and Oncological Emergencies and Thoracic Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Schepereel
- Pulmonary and Thoracic Oncology, Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille, France
| | - Dragan Subotic
- Clinic for Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paul Van Schil
- Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Thomy Tonia
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Thierry Berghmans
- Thoracic Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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Cano-Valderrama O, Sánchez-Santos R, Vigorita V, Paniagua M, Flores E, Garrido L, Facal C, Ruano A, San-Ildefonso A, Moncada E. Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the clinical picture and tumour stage at the time of presentation of patients with colorectal cancer? A retrospective cohort study. Cir Esp 2023; 101:90-96. [PMID: 35169328 PMCID: PMC8831139 DOI: 10.1016/j.ciresp.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Treatment of patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to compare the diagnosis delay, symptoms, and stage of patients with CRC during the pandemic with a control cohort. Material and methods Patients referred to the CRC multidisciplinary team between September 2019 and January 2020 (cohort 1, control group) were compared with those who presented between September 2020 and March 2021 (cohort 2, pandemic group). Results 389 patients were included, 169 in cohort 1 and 220 in cohort 2. No differences were observed in the main characteristics of the patients. CRC screening and anaemia were the most common causes leading to the diagnosis of the tumour in cohort 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001). Diagnostic and therapeutic delay was longer in cohort 2 [6.4 (95% CI 5.8-6.9) vs. 4.8 (95% CI 4.3-5.3) months, p < 0.001]. More patients required non-elective treatment in the pandemic cohort (15.5% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.080). The tumour stage was more advanced in patients in cohort 2 [positive nodes in 52.3% vs. 36.7% (p = 0.002), and metastatic disease in 23.6% vs. 16.6% (p = 0.087)]. Conclusion CRC patients in the pandemic cohort had a longer diagnostic and therapeutic delay and less patients were diagnosed because of CRC screening. In addition, patients with CRC during the pandemic needed non-elective treatment more frequently than patients in the control cohort, and their tumour stage tended to be more advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Cano-Valderrama
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain,Corresponding author
| | - Raquel Sánchez-Santos
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Vincenzo Vigorita
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Marta Paniagua
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Erene Flores
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Lucia Garrido
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Cristina Facal
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Alejandro Ruano
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Alberto San-Ildefonso
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Enrique Moncada
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain,Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
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Cano-Valderrama O, Sánchez-Santos R, Vigorita V, Paniagua M, Flores E, Garrido L, Facal C, Ruano A, San-Ildefonso A, Moncada E. Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the clinical picture and tumour stage at the time of presentation of patients with colorectal cancer? A retrospective cohort study. Cir Esp 2023; 101:90-96. [PMID: 36774002 PMCID: PMC9909381 DOI: 10.1016/j.cireng.2022.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Treatment of patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected the management of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to compare the diagnosis delay, symptoms, and stage of patients with CRC during the pandemic with a control cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients referred to the CRC multidisciplinary team between September 2019 and January 2020 (cohort 1, control group) were compared with those who presented between September 2020 and March 2021 (cohort 2, pandemic group). RESULTS 389 patients were included, 169 in cohort 1 and 220 in cohort 2. No differences were observed in the main characteristics of the patients. CRC screening and anaemia were the most common causes leading to the diagnosis of the tumour in cohort 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). Diagnostic and therapeutic delay was longer in cohort 2 [6.4 (95% CI 5.8-6.9) vs. 4.8 (95% CI 4.3-5.3) months, p<0.001]. More patients required non-elective treatment in the pandemic cohort (15.5% vs. 9.5%, p=0.080). The tumour stage was more advanced in patients in cohort 2 [positive nodes in 52.3% vs. 36.7% (p=0.002), and metastatic disease in 23.6% vs. 16.6% (p=0.087)]. CONCLUSION CRC patients in the pandemic cohort had a longer diagnostic and therapeutic delay and less patients were diagnosed because of CRC screening. In addition, patients with CRC during the pandemic needed non-elective treatment more frequently than patients in the control cohort, and their tumour stage tended to be more advanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Cano-Valderrama
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain.
| | - Raquel Sánchez-Santos
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Vincenzo Vigorita
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Marta Paniagua
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Erene Flores
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Lucia Garrido
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Cristina Facal
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Alejandro Ruano
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Alberto San-Ildefonso
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
| | - Enrique Moncada
- Department of Surgery, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Galicia Sur, Vigo, Spain
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