Differences between rural and urban prostate cancer patients

Association between sociodemographic and clinical features, health behaviors, and health literacy of patients with prostate cancer and prostate cancer prognostic stage

Patient characteristics may influence access and acceptance of Prostate Specific Antigen test, and therefore, the timing of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. A group of 361 patients from a cohort (n = 451) diagnosed with PCa in 2018-2020 at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto was evaluated before treatment, using a structured interview, the Medical Term Recognition Test, and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire QLQ-PR25. PCa prognostic stages (I, II, III, IV) were attributed according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compute the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (OR [95% CI]), considering PCa stage II, the most frequent, as reference. Older age (OR = 4.21 [2.24-7.93]), living outside the Porto Metropolitan Area while having low income (OR = 6.25 [1.53-25.62]), and erectile dysfunction (OR = 2.22 [0.99-4.99]) were associated with stage III, while urination during the night (OR = 3.02 [1.42-6.41]) was associated with stage IV. Urine leakage was less frequent in stage III (OR = 0.23 [0.08-0.68]), and living with a partner (OR = 0.41 [0.19-0.88]) and family history of cancer (OR = 0.25 [0.07-0.86]) in stage IV. Health literacy was not associated with PCa stage but lower education was less frequent in stage I (OR = 0.27 [0.11-0.69]). Patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics should be considered as targets to improve PCa early detection and prognosis.

A population-based propensity score matching analysis of risk factors and the impact on survival associated with refusal of cancer-directed surgery in patients with prostate cancer

Cancer-directed surgeries (CDS) play a crucial role in prostate cancer (PCa) management along with possible survival and therapeutic benefits. However, barriers such as socioeconomic factors may affect patients' decision of refusing recommended CDS. This study aimed to uncover risk factors and the impact on survival associated with CDS refusal. We retrospectively reviewed the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database for patients diagnosed with PCa between 2000 and 2019. Multiple sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were extracted to assess predictors for physicians' surgical recommendations and patients' surgical refusal, respectively. Propensity score matching was performed to balance the covariates. The impact of surgical refusal on mortality risk was also investigated. A total of 185,540 patients were included. The physician's recommendation of CDS was significantly influenced by the patient's age, race, income, home location, diagnosis year, Gleason score, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and TNM stage. About 5.6% PCa patients refused CDS, most of whom were older, non-White race, lack of partners, living outside of metropolitan areas, with higher PSA or lower clinical TNM stage. Patients who refused CDS had an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality and overall mortality than those who performed CDS. Physicians may weigh a host of sociodemographic and clinical factors prior to making a CDS recommendation. Patients' refusal of recommended CDS affected survival and was potentially modifiable by certain sociodemographic factors. Physicians should fully consider the hindrances behind patients' CDS refusal to improve patient-doctor shared decision-making, guide patients toward the best alternative and achieve better outcomes.

Differences in cancer presentation, treatment, and mortality between rural and urban patients diagnosed with kidney cancer in the United States

INTRODUCTION

Rural-urban discrepancies in care and outcomes for kidney cancer (KCa) in the United States remains poorly understood. Our study aims to improve our understanding of the influence of rurality on KCa outcomes in the United States by analyzing differences in presentation, treatment, and mortality between urban areas (UAs) and rural areas (RAs) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEERs) database.

METHODS

SEERs data was queried from 2000 to 2019 for KCa patients. Patient counties were classified as UAs, rural adjacent areas (RAAs), or rural nonadjacent areas (RNAs) using Rural Urban Continuum Codes. Demographic, tumor characteristics, and treatment variables were compared. Propensity score matching was performed to create matched UA-RAA and UA-RNA cohorts. Multivariate regression evaluated rural-urban status as a predictor of treatment selection. Multivariate cox regression assessed the predictive value of rural-urban status for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to generate survival curves for OS and CSS.

RESULTS

179,509 KCa patients were identified (UA = 87.0%, RAA = 7.7%, RNA = 5.3%). Patients in RAs were more likely to present with tumors of higher grade and stage than UAs. Following multivariate analysis, rural residency predicted undergoing nephrectomy (RAA: OR = 1.177, RNA: OR = 1.210) but was a negative predictor of receiving partial nephrectomy (RAA: OR = 0.744, RNA: OR = 0.717), all P < 0.001. Multivariate cox regression demonstrated that RAA or RNA residency was predictive of overall and cause-specific mortality. After matching, median OS was 151, 124, and 118 months for UA, RAA, and RNA cohorts respectively; mean CSS was 152, 147, and 144 months for UA, RAA, and RNA cohorts, respectively, all P < 0.001. Stage-specific analysis of CSS demonstrated significantly poorer CSS among RNA patients for localized, regionalized, and distant KCa after matching. Only RAA patients with localized KCa experienced significantly lower CSS than UA patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients in RAs are more likely to present with advanced KCa at diagnosis compared to those in UAs and may also experience different treatment options including a lesser likelihood of undergoing partial nephrectomy. Rural patients with KCa also demonstrated significantly worse OS and CSS compared to their urban counterparts. Further patient-level studies are required to better understand the discrepancy in CSS between urban and rural patients diagnosed with KCa.

Rural–Urban Disparities in Patient Care Experiences among Prostate Cancer Survivors: A SEER-CAHPS Study

Background: We sought to evaluate rural–urban disparities in patient care experiences (PCEs) among localized prostate cancer (PCa) survivors at intermediate-to-high risk of disease progression. Methods: Using 2007–2015 Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data linked to Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys, we analyzed survivors’ first survey ≥6 months post-diagnosis. Covariate adjusted linear regressions were used to estimate associations of treatment status (definitive treatment vs. none) and residence (large metro vs. metro vs. rural) with PCE composite and rating measures. Results: Among 3779 PCa survivors, 1798 (53.2%) and 370 (10.9%) resided in large metro and rural areas, respectively; more rural (vs. large metro) residents were untreated (21.9% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.017). Untreated (vs. treated) PCa survivors reported lower scores for doctor communication (ß = −2.0; p = 0.022), specialist rating (ß = −2.5; p = 0.008), and overall care rating (ß = −2.4; p = 0.006). While treated rural survivors gave higher (ß = 3.6; p = 0.022) scores for obtaining needed care, untreated rural survivors gave lower scores for obtaining needed care (ß = −7.0; p = 0.017) and a lower health plan rating (ß = −7.9; p = 0.003) compared to their respective counterparts in large metro areas. Conclusions: Rural PCa survivors are less likely to receive treatment. Rural–urban differences in PCEs varied by treatment status.

Incidence and Predicting Factors of Histopathological Features at Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy in the mpMRI Era: Results of a Single Tertiary Referral Center

Background and Objectives: To describe the predictors of cribriform variant status and perineural invasion (PNI) in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) histology. To define the rates of upgrading between biopsy specimens and final histology and their possible predictive factors in prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing RARP. Material and Methods: Within our institutional database, 265 PCa patients who underwent prostate biopsies and consecutive RARP at our center were enrolled (2018-2022). In the overall population, two independent multivariable logistic regression models (LRMs) predicting the presence of PNI or cribriform variant status at RARP were performed. In low- and intermediate-risk PCa patients according to D'Amico risk classification, three independent multivariable LRMs were fitted to predict upgrading. Results: Of all, 30.9% were low-risk, 18.9% were intermediate-risk and 50.2% were high-risk PCa patients. In the overall population, the rates of the cribriform variant and PNI at RARP were 55.8% and 71.1%, respectively. After multivariable LRMs predicting PNI, total tumor length in biopsy cores (>24 mm [OR: 2.37, p-value = 0.03], relative to <24 mm) was an independent predictor. After multivariable LRMs predicting cribriform variant status, PIRADS (3 [OR:15.37], 4 [OR: 13.57] or 5 [OR: 16.51] relative to PIRADS 2, all p = 0.01) and total tumor length in biopsy cores (>24 mm [OR: 2.47, p = 0.01], relative to <24 mm) were independent predicting factors. In low- and intermediate-risk PCa patients, the rate of upgrading was 74.4% and 78.0%, respectively. After multivariable LRMs predicting upgrading, PIRADS (PIRADS 3 [OR: 7.01], 4 [OR: 16.98] or 5 [OR: 20.96] relative to PIRADS 2, all p = 0.01) was an independent predicting factor. Conclusions: RARP represents a tailored and risk-adapted treatment strategy for PCa patients. The indication of RP progressively migrates to high-risk PCa after a pre-operative assessment. Specifically, the PIRADS score at mpMRI should guide the decision-making process of urologists for PCa patients.

A Rapid Systematic Review on the Experiences of Cancer Survivors Residing in Rural Areas during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable disruption to cancer care and may have exacerbated existing challenges already faced by cancer survivors from rural areas. This has created a need for a rapid evidence synthesis to inform the development of tailored interventions that address the specific needs of rural cancer survivors who continue to be affected by the pandemic. The review was conducted following guidance from the Cochrane Rapid Review Methods Group. Database searches were performed via the EBSCOHost interface (includes MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) on 25 May 2022 and supplemented with searches on Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed articles published after March 2020 that reported primary data on the experiences of cancer survivors residing in rural and remote settings during the pandemic were included. Findings were tabulated and written up narratively. Fourteen studies were included. The COVID-19 pandemic had a mostly detrimental impact on the experiences of rural cancer survivors. People's individual coping mechanisms were challenging for a range of reasons. Specifically, the pandemic impacted on their ability to access testing, treatment, check-ups and supportive care, their ability to maintain and access social support with close friends and family, as well as negative consequences to their finances and emotional wellbeing with some reporting feelings of psychological distress including depression and anxiety. This review provides important insight into the experiences of rural cancer survivors that may help inform tailored support in line with the needs and challenges faced because of the pandemic.

Social Determinants Contribute to Disparities in Test Positivity, Morbidity and Mortality: Data from a Multi-Ethnic Cohort of 1094 GU Cancer Patients Undergoing Assessment for COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exploits existing inequalities in the social determinants of health (SDOH) that influence disease burden and access to healthcare. The role of health behaviours and socioeconomic status in genitourinary (GU) malignancy has also been highlighted. Our aim was to evaluate predictors of patient-level and neighbourhood-level factors contributing to disparities in COVID-19 outcomes in GU cancer patients. Methods: Demographic information and co-morbidities for patients screened for COVID-19 across the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) up to 10 June 2020 were included. Descriptive analyses and ensemble feature selection were performed to describe the relationships between these predictors and the outcomes of positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test, COVID-19-related hospitalisation, intubation and death. Results: Out of 47,379 tested individuals, 1094 had a history of GU cancer diagnosis; of these, 192 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Ensemble feature selection identified social determinants including zip code, race/ethnicity, age, smoking status and English as the preferred first language—being the majority of significant predictors for each of this study’s four COVID-19-related outcomes: a positive test, hospitalisation, intubation and death. Patient and neighbourhood level SDOH including zip code/ NYC borough, age, race/ethnicity, smoking status, and English as preferred language are amongst the most significant predictors of these clinically relevant outcomes for COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of these SDOH and the need to integrate SDOH in patient electronic medical records (EMR) with the goal to identify at-risk groups. This study’s results have implications for COVID-19 research priorities, public health goals, and policy implementations.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Radical Prostatectomy versus IMRT with Long-Term Hormone Therapy for Relatively Young Patients with High- to Very High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer

Simple Summary

That the definitive optimal treatments for relatively young men (aged ≤ 65 years) with high- or very high-risk localized prostate cancer (HR/VHR-LPC) are radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiation plus antiandrogen therapy (RT-ADT) is controversial. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first and largest to examine biochemical failure (BF), all-cause death, locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis in relatively young men with HR/VHR-LPC as defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk strata. After head-to-head propensity score matching was used to balance the potential confounders, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze oncologic outcomes. In relatively young men with HR/VHR-LPC, RP and RT-ADT yielded similar oncologic outcomes and RP reduced the risk of BF compared with RT-ADT.

Abstract

That intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plus antiandrogen therapy (IMRT-ADT) and radical prostatectomy (RP) are the definitive optimal treatments for relatively young patients (aged ≤ 65 years) with high- or very high-risk localized prostate cancer (HR/VHR-LPC), but remains controversial. We conducted a national population-based cohort study by using propensity score matching (PSM) to evaluate the clinical outcomes of RP and IMRT-ADT in relatively young patients with HR/VHR-LPC. Methods: We used the Taiwan Cancer Registry database to evaluate clinical outcomes in relatively young (aged ≤ 65 years) patients with HR/VHR-LPC, as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk strata. The patients had received RP or IMRT-ADT (high-dose, ≥72 Gy plus long-term, 1.5–3 years, ADT). Head-to-head PSM was used to balance potential confounders. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze oncologic outcomes. Results: High-dose IMRT-ADT had a higher risk of biochemical failure (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56–2.65, p < 0.0001) compared with RP; IMRT-ADT did not have an increased risk of all-cause death (aHR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.65–2.24, p = 0.564), locoregional recurrence (aHR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.67–1.06, p = 0.3524), or distant metastasis (aHR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.56–1.9, p = 0.9176) compared with RP. Conclusion: In relatively young patients with HR/VHR-LPC, RP and IMRT-ADT yielded similar oncologic outcomes and RP reduced the risk of biochemical failure compared with IMRT-ADT.

Stage and cancer-specific mortality differ within specific Asian ethnic groups for upper tract urothelial carcinoma: North American population-based study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effect of specific Asian ethnic subgroups on stage at presentation and cancer-specific mortality in non-metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma among North American upper tract urothelial carcinoma Asian patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy.

METHODS

We relied on the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, from 2004 to 2016. Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox regression models predicting cancer-specific mortality were used.

RESULTS

Of 584 upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients, 173 (29.6%) were Chinese versus 130 (22.3%) Japanese versus 68 (11.6%) Korean versus 64 (11.0%) Filipino versus 40 (6.8%) Vietnamese versus 109 (18.7%) other. Vietnamese and Chinese patients showed the highest rates of T₄ N₀ M₀ and/or T_1-4 N_1-2 M₀ (25.0% and 18.5%, respectively), relative to other Asian ethnic subgroups. In Kaplan-Meier plots, Vietnamese patients showed the highest cancer-specific mortality rate. In multivariable models, Vietnamese ethnicity also independently predicted higher cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio 2.15, P = 0.02 and hazard ratio 1.96, P = 0.03), relative to Japanese and Chinese patients. All other Asian ethnic subgroups showed similar cancer-specific mortality patterns.

CONCLUSION

Vietnamese and Chinese patients are at a stage disadvantage at upper tract urothelial carcinoma diagnosis, relative to all other Asian ethnicities. After adjustment for stage, only Vietnamese patients showed a survival disadvantage relative to all other Asian ethnic subgroups. As a result, it appears that Vietnamese patients not only present at a higher upper tract urothelial carcinoma stage, but additionally appear to harbor upper tract urothelial carcinoma that progresses at a faster rate than in other Asian ethnic subgroups.

Epidemiology and genomics of prostate cancer in Asian men

Prostate cancer is a global health problem, but incidence varies considerably across different continents. Asia is traditionally considered a low-incidence area, but the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer have rapidly increased across the continent. Substantial differences in epidemiological features have been observed among different Asian regions, and incidence, as well as mortality-to-incidence ratio, is associated with the human development index. Prostate cancer mortality decreased in Japan and Israel from 2007 to 2016, but mortality has increased in Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan over the same period. Genomic analyses have shown a low prevalence of ERG oncoprotein in the East Asian population, alongside a low rate of PTEN loss, high CHD1 enrichments and high FOXA1 alterations. Contributions from single-nucleotide polymorphisms to prostate cancer risk vary with ethnicity, but germline mutation rates of DNA damage repair genes in metastatic prostate cancer are comparable in Chinese and white patients from the USA and UK. Pharmacogenomic features of testosterone metabolism might contribute to disparities seen in the response to androgen deprivation between East Asian men and white American and European men. Overall, considerable diversity in epidemiology and genomics of prostate cancer across Asia defines disease characteristics in these populations, but studies in this area are under-represented in the literature. Taking into account this intracontinental and intercontinental heterogeneity, translational studies are required in order to develop ethnicity-specific treatment strategies.

Recent evidence for anatomic endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP) in patients with benign prostatic obstruction on antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy

INTRODUCTION

Due to demographic changes in today's society, the number of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is increasing. Similarly, the proportion of patients with cardiovascular risk factors undergoing antiplatelet (AP) or anticoagulation (AC) therapy is growing as well.

METHODS

This review discusses the current literature on various techniques used for anatomic endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP) in patients on AC/AP therapy.

RESULTS

The large number of energy sources used for AEEP makes it difficult to compare them. Overall, fewer bleeding-associated complications arise in patients under AP compared to AC or bridging therapy with low molecular weight heparin. However, perioperatively both AP and AC therapy lead to a higher risk of bleeding complications compared to patients not taking anticoagulants.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature shows that AEEP is possible and efficacious in patients under AC/AP therapy, with only slight differences compared to patients not taking AC/AP drugs, on a short and long-term basis. Nevertheless, the sparse data, the retrospective nature of many studies and the inclusion of prostate sizes between 50 and 110 ml only, make it difficult to come to strong conclusions.

Higher Cancer Mortality in Rural Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate differences in the stage at presentation and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) between rural area (RA) and urban area (UA) residence status in nonmetastatic upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed T1-3N0M0 UTUC patients with available residence status were abstracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2004-2016). Propensity score (PS) matching (1 RA vs. 3 UA) accounted for age (interval ≤2 years), T stage (exact matching: T1, T2, and T3), and tumor grade (exact matching: high grade, low grade/unknown). Cumulative incidence plots and multivariable competing risk regression models focused on CSM, after adjustment for other-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Of 6,012 patients, 125 (2.1%) resided in RAs and 5,887 (97.9%) in UAs. RA patients were younger than UA patients (median age 72 vs. 75 years, p = 0.03). No differences were recorded in tumor location, T stage, tumor grade, or surgical treatment between RA and UA patients. After 1:3 PS matching, 125 RA patients and 375 UA patients were assessable. At 5 years of follow-up, CSM rates were 26.7 versus 15.7% according to RA versus UA, respectively. After additional multivariable adjustment for age, sex, tumor location, and surgical treatment, RA remained an independent predictor of higher CSM (hazard ratio 1.75, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite no differences in cancer characteristics, UTUC patients in RA are at higher risk of CSM than their UA counterparts. This suggests suboptimal care delivery and compliance as possible causes. Complex and/or rare disease should be centralized to expert centers, which are often in UAs.