Health disparities are important determinants of outcome for children with solid tumor malignancies

Ambient air pollution as a time-varying covariate in the survival probability of childhood cancer patients in the upper Northern Thailand

The objective of this study is to determine the possible association between exposure to air pollution and the risk of death from cancer during childhood in upper northern Thailand. Data were collected on children aged 0-15 years old diagnosed with cancer between January 2003 and December 2018 from the Chiang Mai Cancer Registry. Survival rates were determined by using Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate associations of potential risk factors with the time-varying air pollution level on the risk of death. Of the 540 children with hematologic cancer, 199 died from any cause (overall mortality rate = 5.3 per 100 Person-Years of Follow-Up (PYFU); 95%CI = 4.6-6.0). Those aged less than one year old (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.07; 95%CI = 1.25-3.45) or ten years old or more (aHR = 1.41; 95%CI = 1.04-1.91) at the time of diagnosis had a higher risk of death than those aged one to ten years old. Those diagnosed between 2003 and 2013 had an increased risk of death (aHR = 1.65; 95%CI = 1.13-2.42). Of the 499 children with solid tumors, 214 died from any cause (5.9 per 100 PYFU; 95%CI = 5.1-6.7). Only the cancer stage remained in the final model, with the metastatic cancer stage (HR = 2.26; 95%CI = 1.60-3.21) and the regional cancer stage (HR = 1.53; 95%CI = 1.07-2.19) both associated with an increased risk of death. No association was found between air pollution exposure and all-cause mortality for either type of cancer. A larger-scale analytical study might uncover such relationships.

The Effect of Socioeconomic Status and Race/Ethnicity on the Risk of Presenting With Advanced Stage at Diagnosis in Embryonal Tumors

We evaluated whether socioeconomic status (SES), race/ethnicity, and their interaction were associated with the presentation of advanced stage at diagnosis in embryonal tumors. Children 0 to 19 years of age diagnosed with embryonal tumors between 2006 and 2018 were identified from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database specialized with Census Tract SES/Rurality. SES quintile was derived from a composite index for census tracts. We performed logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals by SES and race/ethnicity, adjusting for sex, age, and diagnosis year. Overall, no significant associations were found between either SES or race/ethnicity and the risk of presenting with advanced stage at diagnosis, although patterns of risk reductions were observed in atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with increasing SES. In the stratified analysis, decreased odds of presenting with advanced-stage embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma were observed for Hispanics with higher SES (OR: 0.24, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.08-0.75) compared with Hispanics with lower SES. Future studies incorporating individual-level SES, cancer-specific staging information, and potential demographic, clinical, epidemiological, and genetic risk factors are warranted to confirm our findings.

Investigating the Impact of Tumor Biology and Social Determinants on Time to Diagnosis and Stage at Presentation of Wilms Tumor

Delays in diagnosis and time to diagnosis generally are used interchangeably in cancer disparity research, but these terms may have important differences. Although these terms are related, we hypothesize that time to diagnosis is determined by the aggressiveness of the tumor based on intrinsic factors such as tumor biology, whereas delays in diagnosis are caused by extrinsic factors such as socioeconomic status, leading to presentation at higher stage of disease due to barriers of care. We conducted a retrospective study of 306 patients diagnosed with Wilms tumor at Children's Hospital Colorado between 1971 and 2016 identifying patient barriers as extrinsic markers and using unfavorable histology and loss of heterozygosity as markers of aggressive tumor biology. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. Patients with Medicaid were more likely to present greater than 4 days after initial symptoms compared to those with private insurance, and those with housing concerns were more likely to be diagnosed greater than 9 days from initial symptoms. Tumor biology was noted to be associated with higher stage at diagnosis, but patient barriers were not. These findings suggest the interplay between tumor biology, patient barriers, diagnostic timing, and stage at diagnosis is more complex, multifactorial, and in need of further study.

Impact of race and ethnicity on presentation and outcomes of patients treated on rhabdomyosarcoma clinical trials: A report from the Children's Oncology Group

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic disparities have been demonstrated in pediatric and adult cancers. However, there is no consensus on whether such disparities exist in the presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).

METHODS

Patient information from the seven most recent RMS clinical trials was obtained from the Children's Oncology Group (COG). Chi-squared analyses were used to compare patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics across racial and ethnic groups. Pairwise analyses comparing Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) versus Non-Hispanic White (NHW) racial groups and Hispanic versus NHW ethnic groups were conducted for significant characteristics. Kaplan-Meier method and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed to analyze outcomes.

RESULTS

In the overall cohort (n = 2157), patients' self-identified race/ethnicity was: 0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native, 2.6% Asian, 12.6% Hispanic, 0.2% Native American/other Pacific Islander, 12.8% NHB, 61.9% NHW, and 9.6% unknown. Six characteristics differed by race/ethnicity: age, histology, IRS group, invasiveness, metastatic disease, and FOXO1 fusion partner. Five were significant in pairwise comparisons: NHB patients were more likely to present at age ≥ 10 years and with invasive tumors than NHW patients; Hispanic patients were more likely to present with alveolar histology, metastatic disease, and IRS group IV disease than NHW patients. No differences were found in event free or overall survival of the entire cohort, in risk group-based subset analyses, or among patients with high-risk characteristics significant on pairwise analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

While NHB and Hispanic patients enrolled in COG trials presented with higher risk features than NHW patients, there were no outcome differences by racial or ethnic group.

Population-Based Impact of Rurality and Neighborhood-Level Socioeconomic Disadvantage on Pediatric Cancer Mortality in Washington State

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer-related mortality differs by socioeconomic factors, but the impact of residential location, including rurality and neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage, is not well-characterized.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study linked Washington State cancer registry data (1992-2013) to state birth (1974-2013) and death records (1992-2013) to identify residents <20 years diagnosed with cancer (n = 4,306). Census-based rural-urban commuting area codes and Area Deprivation Index (ADI) defined rural residence and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage at time of cancer diagnosis, respectively. Neighborhoods in the highest state ADI quintile were classified as the most disadvantaged. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox hazards models, adjusted for key characteristics, were used to compare mortality by rural and ADI classification.

RESULTS

Five-year overall survival for children from non-rural low ADI neighborhoods (referent) was 80.9%±0.8%, versus 66.4%±2.9% from non-rural high ADI neighborhoods, 69.4%±3.8% from rural low ADI neighborhoods, and 66.9%±3.8% from rural high ADI neighborhoods (P < 0.01 for each comparison versus referent). Compared with the referent group, children from comparator neighborhoods had a greater mortality risk: Rural low ADI [hazard ratio (HR), 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-2.02], rural high ADI (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.16-2.01), and non-rural high ADI (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.32-2.04). Associations of ADI and rurality with mortality varied in sub-analyses by cancer type.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with cancer living in rural and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods at diagnosis experienced greater mortality relative to those without either factor.

IMPACT

Future investigation is needed to examine how rurality and poverty potentially impact healthcare utilization and health-related outcomes in pediatric oncology.

Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma incidence and survival in the United States: An assessment of 5656 cases, 2001-2017

BACKGROUND

While rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents, past epidemiology studies of this malignancy used data that covered <30% of the US population. Therefore, we evaluated RMS incidence using data from U.S. Cancer Statistics (USCS) and survival trends using the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), which covers 100% and 94% of the U.S. population, respectively.

METHODS

Incidence and survival were assessed for pediatric patients diagnosed with RMS during 2003-2017 and 2001-2016, respectively. Both demographic and clinical variables were evaluated. Age-adjusted incidence rates, average annual percent change (AAPC), and 5-year relative survival (RS) were calculated, all with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Cox regression models were used to evaluate the impact of demographic and clinical variables on survival.

RESULTS

We identified 5656 primary RMS cases in USCS during 2003-2017. The age-adjusted incidence rate was 4.58 per 1 million (95% CI: 4.46-4.70) with an AAPC of 0.3% (95% CI: -0.7 to 1.2%). In NPCR, 5-year RS for all cases was 68.0% (95% CI: 66.6-69.3%). In multivariable analyses, non-Hispanic (NH) Black cases had worse survival compared with NH White cases (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01-1.33).

CONCLUSION

The incidence and survival rates were stable in the largest and most comprehensive population-based analysis for pediatric RMS cases in the U.S. Additionally, we observed a survival disparity among NH Black cases. Findings from this study could inform interventions to address disparities, risk stratification strategies, and clinical trial design.

The impact of health insurance coverage on racial/ethnic disparities in US childhood and adolescent cancer stage at diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Racial/ethnic minority children and adolescents are more likely to have an advanced cancer diagnosis compared with non-Hispanic Whites, which may relate to the lack of consistent health care access. This study aims to describe racial/ethnic disparities in cancer diagnosis stage among children and adolescents and assess whether health insurance mediates these disparities.

METHODS

Data on individuals ≤19 years of age diagnosed with primary cancers from 2007 to 2016 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between race/ethnicity and cancer diagnosis stage were calculated using Poisson regression. Analyses addressing health insurance as a potential mediator were also performed.

RESULTS

Compared with non-Hispanic Whites, racial/ethnic minorities had a higher prevalence of a distant cancer diagnosis, with PRs of 1.31 (95% CI, 1.23-1.40) for non-Hispanic Blacks, 1.14 (95% CI, 1.04-1.24) for non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 1.15 (95% CI, 1.09-1.21) for Hispanics. These associations were attenuated when adjusting for health insurance, with PRs of 1.24 (95% CI, 1.16-1.33) for non-Hispanic Blacks, 1.11 (95% CI, 1.02-1.21) for non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 1.07 (95% CI, 1.01-1.13) for Hispanics. Any Medicaid or no insurance at diagnosis mediated 49%, 22%, and 9% of the observed association with distant stage in Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities in cancer diagnosis stage in racial/ethnic minority children and adolescents may be partially explained by health insurance coverage. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms.

Social determinants of health and pediatric cancer survival: A systematic review

Despite treatment advancements and improved survival, approximately 1800 children in the United States will die of cancer annually. Survival may depend on nonclinical factors, such as economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, health and health care, social and community context, and education, otherwise known as social determinants of health (SDoH). Extant literature reviews have linked socioeconomic status (SES) and race to disparate outcomes; however, these are not inclusive of all SDoH. Thus, we conducted a systematic review on associations between SDoH and survival in pediatric cancer patients. Of the 854 identified studies, 25 were included in this review. In addition to SES, poverty and insurance coverage were associated with survival. More studies that include other SDoH, such as social and community factors, utilize prospective designs, and conduct analyses with more precise SDoH measures are needed.

Sociodemographics, Health Competence, and Transition Readiness Among Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors

OBJECTIVE

Fewer than one-third of childhood cancer survivors receive follow-up from an adult provider, and adolescent and young adults (AYAs) from structurally minoritized sociodemographic groups often face health disparities that can impact transition to adult-oriented care. The primary aim of this study was to determine the relation among sociodemographic factors, cumulative effects, and transition beliefs/expectations and goals, and the moderating role of health competence beliefs in AYA survivors of childhood cancer.

METHODS

A total of 195 AYAs (aged 15-29) reported sociodemographic information, completed the Transition Readiness Inventory assessing positive beliefs/expectations and goals related to transition, and completed the Health Competence Beliefs Inventory assessing health perceptions, healthcare satisfaction, cognitive competence, and autonomy. A cumulative sociodemographic factor variable was computed to investigate the potential additive effects of multiple sociodemographic factors associated with disparities. T-tests, Pearson correlations, and multivariate linear regressions were used.

RESULTS

Cumulative sociodemographic factors were not related to transition readiness, and insurance type was the only factor associated with health competence beliefs and transition readiness, such that AYAs with public insurance reported lower healthcare satisfaction, cognitive competence, and transition goals relative to those with private insurance. There were no interaction effects; however, health competence beliefs were significantly associated with transition beliefs/expectations and goals.

CONCLUSION

Public insurance is a barrier to holding positive beliefs/expectations and goals about transition, yet other sociodemographic factors associated with risks for poor transfer were not related to transition readiness. Multi-level interventions to reduce disparities and improve transition readiness should target health competence beliefs and barriers created by insurance.

Epidemiological characteristics and survival outcomes of children with medulloblastoma treated at the National Cancer Institute (INCA) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Medulloblastoma (MB),the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood has survival outcomes exceeding 80% for standard-risk and 60% for high-risk patients in high-income countries (HICs). These results have not been replicated in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 80% of children with cancer live.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of 114 children aged 3-18 years diagnosed with MB from 1997 to 2016 at National Cancer Institute (INCA). Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment data were extracted from the medical records and summarized descriptively. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

The male-to-female ratio was 1.32 and the median age at diagnosis was 8.2 years. Headache (83%) and nausea/vomiting (78%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Five-year OS was 59.1% and PFS was 58.4%. The OS for standard-risk and high-risk patients was 69% and 53%, respectively. The median time to diagnosis interval was 50.5 days and the median time from surgery to radiation therapy initiation was 50.4 days. Patients who lived >40 km from INCA fared better (OS = 68.2% vs. 51.1%, p = .032). Almost 20% of families lived below the Brazilian minimum wage. Forty-five patients (35%) had metastatic disease at admission. Gross total resection was achieved in 57% of the patitents.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there are considerable barriers to deliver effective MB treatment in countries like Brazil, the OS seen in the present study demonstrates that good outcomes are not only feasible but can and should be increased with appropriate interventions.

Non-inferiority of fragmented care for high-risk pediatric neuroblastoma patients: a single institution analysis

Pediatric neuroblastoma (NB) patients receive multi-modal therapy and may experience care fragmented among multiple institutions with a significant travel burden, which has been associated with poor outcomes for some adult cancers. We hypothesized that fragmented care for pediatric NB patients is associated with inferior outcomes compared to treatment consolidated at one location. We reviewed paper and electronic records for pediatric NB patients who received ≥1 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) at Duke from 1990-2017. Fragmented care was defined by treatment at >1 institution and grouped by 2 institutions vs. 3+ institutions. Distances were calculated using Google Maps. To compare all care groups, we used Fisher's Exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests for demographic and treatment characteristics, Kaplan-Meier for unadjusted overall survival (OS), and Cox proportional hazards for factors associated with OS. Of 127 eligible patients, 102 (80.3%) patients experienced fragmented care, with 17 treated at 3+ facilities. Kaplan-Meier analysis did not associate fragmented care with increased mortality (log-rank p = 0.13). With multivariate analysis, only earlier diagnostic decade and greater distance to HSCT remained significantly associated with worsened OS. In this single institutional study, we found fragmented care did not impact overall survival. Worsened overall survival was associated with increased travel distance for HSCT and further research should aim to improve supportive processes for patients undergoing HSCT for high-risk neuroblastoma.

Factors associated with 5- and 10-year survival among a recent cohort of childhood cancer survivors (France, 2000-2015)

BACKGROUND

Childhood cancer survival currently exceeds 80 % five years after diagnosis in high-income countries. In this study, we aimed to describe long-term trends and to investigate socioeconomic and spatial disparities in childhood cancer survival.

METHODS

The study included 28,073 cases recorded in the French National Registry of Childhood Cancers from 2000 to 2015. Contextual census data (deprivation indices, population density, spatial accessibility to general practitioners) were allocated to each case based on the residence at diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) and conditional 10-year OS for 5-year survivors were estimated for all cancers combined and by diagnostic group and subgroup. Comparisons were conducted by sex, age at diagnosis, period of diagnosis, and contextual indicators. Hazard ratios for death were estimated using Cox models.

RESULTS

All cancers combined, the OS reached 82.8 % [95 % CI: 82.4-83.3] at 5 years and 80.8 % [95 % CI: 80.3-81.3] at 10 years. Conditional 10-year OS of 5-year survivors reached 97.5 % [95 % CI: 97.3-97.7] and was higher than 95 % for all subgroups except osteosarcomas and most subgroups of the central nervous system. In addition to disparities by sex, age at diagnosis, and period of diagnosis, we observed a slight decrease in survival for cases living in the most deprived areas at diagnosis, not consistent across diagnostic groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm the high 5-year survival for childhood cancer and show an excellent 10-year conditional survival of 5-year survivors. Additional individual data are needed to clarify the factors underlying the slight decrease in childhood cancer survival observed in the most deprived areas.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of infants compared with children diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma: Analysis of surveillance, epidemiology and end results data from 2000 to 2016

BACKGROUND

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood, but occurs infrequently in infants (<1 year). Historically, infants with RMS have worse overall survival compared to other pediatric age groups.

AIM

This study aims to assess the clinical features and treatment factors associated with survival comparing infants to children aged 1-9 years diagnosed with RMS.

METHODS

Children aged <10 years diagnosed with RMS between 2000 and 2016 were identified using the SEER database. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of infants and children with RMS. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to assess for factors associated with survival.

RESULTS

Age <1 year was independently associated with an increased risk of mortality. Compared to children aged 1-9 years, fewer infants received standard of care therapy, that is, chemotherapy combined with local control (surgery and/or radiation; 86.8 vs. 75.7%; p = .009). In comparing the frequency of specific treatment modalities (used alone or in combination with other modalities), infants were less likely to receive radiation therapy (34.0 vs. 66.4%; p < .001) and more likely to receive surgery (68.9 vs. 57.5%; p = .02) than children aged 1-9 years. Across age groups, chemotherapy combined with local control was significantly associated with reduced mortality. Alveolar histology, metastatic disease, and Hispanic ethnicity were negatively associated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Age of <1 year was an independent risk factor for increased mortality from RMS compared to ages 1-9 years. Fewer infants were treated with chemotherapy combined with local control, the therapy associated with best survival in all age groups. Other factors contributing to differences in survival should be further explored.

Regional variation in gastroschisis: a nationwide database review of demographics and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Gastroschisis is an index neonatal malformation with an increasing incidence from earlier decades. The aim of this study was to investigate regional variations in patient demographics, outcomes, and costs in gastroschisis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 2016 kid's inpatient database (KID) obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) was used to obtain gastroschisis birth, demographic, and outcome data across four U.S. geographical regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Categorical variables were analyzed with Pearson's Chi-squared test. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported for variables with significance (p < 0.05). Appropriate logistic regressions were used for comparing categorical, cardinal, and continuous data.

RESULTS

2043 gastroschisis cases were obtained from the 2016 KID database with a weighted incidence of 5.1 per 10,000 live births. Incidence of gastroschisis across regions was similar when controlling for a number of hospitals reporting to KID. Prematurity was common, with 59% (1204) of neonates with gastroschisis born at less than 37 weeks. 52% (N = 1067) of gastroschisis infants were male. 46% (955) were White, 9% (178) African American, 22% (450) Hispanic, and 8% (155) other. The overall mortality of gastroschisis in this database was 3.6% (75). The average length of stay was 39 days and average cost of treatment was $357,436. Though without significant differences in mortality, there were significant differences in demographics, costs, and lengths of stay between regions.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a significant increase in gastroschisis incidence over the last three decades. This significant increase appears to be related to an increase in socioeconomic inequality and an alteration in the population demographics in the United States. Further study of regional variations will facilitate the development of best practice guidelines that benefit all.

Examining the Effect of Travel Distance to Pediatric Cancer Centers and Rurality on Survival and Treatment Experiences: A Systematic Review

Accessing pediatric cancer treatment remains problematic for rural families or those living at increased distances from specialized centers. Rural adult cancer patients or those living far removed from treatment may present with later stage disease, receive different treatments than their closer counterparts, and experience worsened survival. While the financial and psychosocial strain of increased travel is well documented, effects of travel distance on similar outcomes for pediatric cancer patients remain ill-defined. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize literature examining the effect of travel distance and/or rurality (as a proxy for distance) on pediatric cancer treatment experiences and survival outcomes. Included studies examined travel distance to specialized centers or rural status for patients above 21 years of age. Studies were excluded if they focused on financial or quality of life outcomes. We analyzed 24 studies covering myriad malignancies and outcomes, including location of care, clinical trial participation, and likelihood of receiving specialized treatments such as stem cell transplants or proton beam therapy. Most were retrospective, and 9 were conducted outside the United States. While some studies suggest rural patients may experience worsened survival and those traveling furthest may experience shorter hospitalization times/rates, the available evidence does not uniformly assert negative effects of increased distance.

Neighborhood poverty and pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes: a CIBMTR analysis

Social determinants of health, including poverty, contribute significantly to health outcomes in the United States; however, their impact on pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes is poorly understood. We aimed to identify the association between neighborhood poverty and HCT outcomes for pediatric allogeneic HCT recipients in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database. We assembled 2 pediatric cohorts undergoing first allogeneic HCT from 2006 to 2015 at age ≤18 years, including 2053 children with malignant disease and 1696 children with nonmalignant disease. Neighborhood poverty exposure was defined a priori per the US Census definition as living in a high-poverty ZIP code (≥20% of persons below 100% federal poverty level) and used as the primary predictor in all analyses. Our primary outcome was overall survival (OS), defined as the time from HCT until death resulting from any cause. Secondary outcomes included relapse and transplantation-related mortality (TRM) in malignant disease, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, and infection in the first 100 days post-HCT. Among children undergoing transplantation for nonmalignant disease, neighborhood poverty was not associated with any HCT outcome. Among children undergoing transplantation for malignant disease, neighborhood poverty conferred an increased risk of TRM but was not associated with inferior OS or any other transplantation outcome. Among children with malignant disease, a key secondary finding was that children with Medicaid insurance experienced inferior OS and increased TRM compared with those with private insurance. These data suggest opportunities for future investigation of the effects of household-level poverty exposure on HCT outcomes in pediatric malignant disease to inform care delivery interventions.

Poverty and Targeted Immunotherapy: Survival in Children's Oncology Group Clinical Trials for High-Risk Neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Whether social determinants of health are associated with survival in the context of pediatric oncology-targeted immunotherapy trials is not known. We examined the association between poverty and event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated in targeted immunotherapy trials.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 371 children with high-risk neuroblastoma treated with GD2-targeted immunotherapy in the Children's Oncology Group trial ANBL0032 or ANBL0931 at a Pediatric Health Information System center from 2005 to 2014. Neighborhood poverty exposure was characterized a priori as living in a zip code with a median household income within the lowest quartile for the cohort. Household poverty exposure was characterized a priori as sole coverage by public insurance. Post hoc analyses examined the joint effect of neighborhood and household poverty using a common reference. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS

In multivariable Cox regressions adjusted for disease and treatment factors, household poverty-exposed children experienced statistically significantly inferior EFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28 to 2.82, P = .001) and OS (HR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.63 to 4.79, P < .001) compared with unexposed children. Neighborhood poverty was not independently associated with EFS or OS. In post hoc analyses exploring the joint effect of neighborhood and household poverty, children with dual-poverty exposure (neighborhood poverty and household poverty) experienced statistically significantly inferior EFS (HR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.48 to 3.30, P < .001) and OS (HR = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.08 to 6.59, P < .001) compared with the unexposed group.

CONCLUSIONS

Poverty is independently associated with increased risk of relapse and death among neuroblastoma patients treated with targeted immunotherapy. Incorporation of social and environmental factors in future trials as health-care delivery intervention targets may increase the benefit of targeted therapies.

Disparities in the use of antineoplastic immunotherapy in pediatric malignant adrenal tumors

Dinutuximab is a costly life-prolonging immunotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma. We used a large pediatric inpatient database to analyze the use of antineoplastic immunotherapy in patients with malignant adrenal tumors 1 year after Food and Drug Administration approval of dinutuximab for high-risk neuroblastoma. On multivariate modeling, children of Black race (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, P = .04; referent non-Black) and the lowest ZIP code income quartile (OR 0.74, P = .03; referent wealthier 3 quartiles) were significantly less like to receive antineoplastic immunotherapy. These results suggest substantial disparities in the distribution of a vital therapy in children with advanced cancer.

Pediatric cancer mortality and survival in the United States, 2001-2016

BACKGROUND

Although pediatric cancer mortality and survival have improved in the United States over the past 40 years, differences exist by age, race/ethnicity, cancer site, and economic status. To assess progress, this study examined recent mortality and survival data for individuals younger than 20 years.

METHODS

Age-adjusted death rates were calculated with the National Vital Statistics System for 2002-2016. Annual percent changes (APCs) and average annual percent changes (AAPCs) were calculated with joinpoint regression. Five-year relative survival was calculated on the basis of National Program of Cancer Registries data for 2001-2015. Death rates and survival were estimated overall and by sex, 5-year age group, race/ethnicity, cancer type, and county-based economic markers.

RESULTS

Death rates decreased during 2002-2016 (AAPC, -1.5), with steeper declines during 2002-2009 (APC, -2.6), and then plateaued (APC, -0.4). Leukemia and brain cancer were the most common causes of death from pediatric cancer, and brain cancer surpassed leukemia in 2011. Death rates decreased for leukemia and lymphoma but were unchanged for brain, bone, and soft-tissue cancers. From 2001-2007 to 2008-2015, survival improved from 82.0% to 85.1%. Survival was highest in both periods among females, those aged 15 to 19 years, non-Hispanic Whites, and those in counties in the top 25% by economic status. Survival improved for leukemias, lymphomas, and brain cancers but plateaued for bone and soft-tissue cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Although overall death rates have decreased and survival has increased, differences persist by sex, age, race/ethnicity, cancer type, and economic status. Improvements in pediatric cancer outcomes may depend on improving therapies, access to care, and supportive and long-term care.

Childhood cancer mortality and survival in immigrants: A population-based registry study in Finland

Immigration in Europe has increased considerably over the past decades with the immigrant population similarly expanding in Finland. Our aim was to study childhood cancer mortality and survival in immigrants. In all, 4,437 patients diagnosed with cancer under the age of 20 years between 1990 and 2009 were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry and their parents from the Population Register Center. Information on demographic factors was obtained from Statistics Finland. Poisson regression modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for cancer deaths. The life table method and the log rank test were used in survival analysis. Patients or parents of foreign background and born abroad had higher 5-year mortality (patient HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.18-3.49; maternal HR 2.11, 95% CI 1.46-3.04; paternal HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.29-2.66) compared to those of Finnish background and born in Finland. Childhood cancer survival in 5-year follow-up was higher if the mother (83% vs. 68%) or the father (83% vs. 70%) were of Finnish background and born in Finland. Despite equal access to public health care, we observed significant differences in childhood cancer mortality and survival by background. Cultural differences, linguistic obstacles and difficulties in navigating the health care system may contribute, along with genetic and biologic factors. Offering tailored information and taking cultural and linguistic aspects into account is necessary when diagnosing and treating patients from different ethnic backgrounds who have not yet integrated into the local culture and health care system.

Central line associated blood stream infections in gastroschisis patients: A nationwide database analysis of risks, outcomes, and disparities

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the risk of central line associated blood-stream infections (CLABSI) in neonatal gastroschisis patients, risk factors, outcomes, and financial implications.

METHODS

The 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)'s kid's inpatient database (KID), a national database of pediatric inpatient admissions across the United States, was used to obtain a large sample of gastroschisis admissions. Incidence of CLABSI in the gastroschisis patient population was compared to the incidence of CLABSI in the database. To further study the factors influencing CLABSI in gastroschisis, demographic and clinical features of patients were analyzed. Categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-squared test. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for variables found to have significance (p < 0.05) were calculated.

FINDINGS

Incidence of CLABSI in this database for pediatric inpatients was 4449 out of 298,862 central line insertions [1.48%] and was 81 out of 2032 [3.9%] (OR 2.83, 95% CI 2.26-3.54, p < 0.001) in the gastroschisis cohort. African American neonates had a significantly higher risk of CLABSI with gastroschisis. Prematurity and low birth-weight in gastroschisis were protective from CLABSI, along with patients from suburban areas or admitted in the Southern USA. Average costs were greater in gastroschisis patients with CLABSI, increasing from $281,779 to $421,970 (p = 0.008). The average length of stay increased from 31 days to 38 days with a CLABSI (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In gastroschisis patients, CLABSI incidence is high and adds great morbidity and expense. For uncertain reasons, premature and low birth weight babies appear to be protected.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

A retrospective evaluation of the impact of patient ethnicity on the use of epidural analgesia or blood transfusions in children undergoing major oncologic surgery

Background

The impact of patient ethnicity on healthcare delivery is well documented. In this study of children who had undergone open abdominal or pelvic surgery for tumor resection, we sought to compare the use of epidural analgesia or intraoperative blood transfusions between Caucasian and non-Caucasian children.

Methods

A retrospective study of 139 children was performed. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between the specified perioperative factors and patient ethnicity.

Results

The average age (standard deviation) was 11 years (± 5), 50% were female, and 58% were Caucasian. Compared to Caucasian children, non-Caucasian children were younger (difference in mean, − 2.6 years; 95% confidence interval [− 4.3, − 0.9], p = 0.003), underwent shorter procedures (difference in mean anesthesia minutes, − 134; 95% confidence interval [−  230, − 39], p = 0.006), and had a lower proportion of patients who received epidural analgesia (66% versus 81%, p = 0.042) or blood transfusions (48% versus 65%, p = 0.039). In the adjusted model, patient ethnicity was not associated with the receipt of epidural analgesia (odds ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval [0.23, 1.21], p = 0.132) or blood transfusions (odds ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval [0.29, 2.04], p = 0.600). The use of epidural analgesia or blood transfusions was associated with abnormal coagulation factors (odds ratio 0.32, 95% confidence interval [0.14, 0.71], p = 0.005) and the duration of surgery (odds ratio 1.007, 95% confidence interval [1.005, 1.009], p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion

In this study of children who had undergone major oncologic surgery, the use of epidural analgesia or blood transfusions was not associated with patient ethnicity.

The Relationship between Anxiety and Immunity in Pediatric Oncology Patients

Background: Pediatric onco-hematology is not a frequently encountered medical specialty, and it influences everyday life, basic activities, and the immune system, mostly through psychosocial changes, which may affect every individual and their families differently. Anxiety is the most frequently encountered mental health disorder occurring during childhood and adolescence. The effect of stress and anxiety on the immune system is suggested by the fact that stress hormones elevate proinflammatory cytokines and subsequently lower the anti-inflammatory response.

Objective: Our main objective was to analyze the relationship between anxiety disturbance and cytokine levels in oncologic pediatric patients from Târgu Mureș in order to answer the following question: does anxiety influence immunity?

Material and methods: After testing pediatric oncology patients from the Pediatrics Clinic no. 2 of Târgu Mureș, Romania with the SCARED child test, we took blood samples from each participant. IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-12p40 and TNF-α levels were evaluated with a Human Cytokine Magnetic Panel using the xMAP technique on Flexmap 3D platform (Luminex Corporation, Austin, USA). C-reactive protein levels were determined with the BN Pro Spec nephelometer with CardioPhase hsCRP (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, GmbH, Marburg, Germany) reagent.

Results: The 46 pediatric oncology patients had 6 main diagnostic groups, the most frequent pathology was acute leukemia (58.7%) followed by malignant solid tumors (21.74%) and lymphomas (6.52%). In the anxious group (45.65%) we observed 4 of the 5 studied anxiety types: panic disorder, separation, social, and generalized anxiety. We measured the cytokine levels of all the participants from the two main groups: anxious/non-anxious. Statistical analysis (linear regression) showed statistically significant positive correlations in the anxious group related to the IL-1β and IL-6, a moderate/weak correlation related to IL-12p40, as well as a negative moderate correlation between IL-10 values in the anxious group and a positive trend in the non-anxious group.

Conclusions: Psycho-oncology is a relatively young specialty with few studies in the last two decades. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α present high levels in anxious patients, while IL-10 and IL-12p40 have low serum levels in mental disorders. C-reactive protein levels are not influenced by anxiety.

Social determinants of health affecting treatment of pediatric brain tumors

OBJECTIVE

Little is understood about the role that health disparities play in the treatment and management of brain tumors in children. The purpose of this study was to determine if health disparities impact the timing of initial and follow-up care of patients, as well as overall survival.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective study of pediatric patients (< 18 years of age) previously diagnosed with, and initially treated for, a primary CNS tumor between 2005 and 2012 at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Primary outcomes included time from symptom presentation to initial neurosurgery consultation and percentage of missed follow-up visits for ancillary or core services (defined as no-show visits). Core services were defined as healthcare interactions directly involved with CNS tumor management, whereas ancillary services were appointments that might be related to overall care of the patient but not directly focused on treatment of the tumor. Statistical analysis included Pearson's chi-square test, nonparametric univariable tests, and multivariable linear regression. Statistical significance was set a priori at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The analysis included 198 patients. The median time from symptom onset to initial presentation was 30.0 days. A mean of 7.45% of all core visits were missed. When comparing African American and Caucasian patients, there was no significant difference in age at diagnosis, timing of initial symptoms, or tumor grade. African American patients missed significantly more core visits than Caucasian patients (p = 0.007); this became even more significant when controlling for other factors in the multivariable analysis (p < 0.001). African American patients were more likely to have public insurance, while Caucasian patients were more likely to have private insurance (p = 0.025). When evaluating survival, no health disparities were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant health disparities were identified when evaluating the timing of presentation and survival. A racial disparity was noted when evaluating missed follow-up visits. Future work should focus on identifying reasons for differences and whether social determinants of health affect other aspects of treatment.

Racial and ethnic differences in survival of pediatric patients with brain and central nervous system cancer in the United States

BACKGROUND

Brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among children and adolescents in the United States. Data from earlier studies suggested racial and ethnic differences in survival among pediatric patients with brain tumor. This study examined racial/ethnic difference in survival using national data and considered the effects of demographic and clinical factors.

METHODS

Using National Program of Cancer Registries data, 1-, 3-, and 5-year relative survival (cancer survival in the absence of other causes of death) was calculated for patients with brain and CNS cancer aged < 20 years diagnosed during 2001-2008 and followed up through 2013. Racial and ethnic differences in survival were measured by sex, age, economic status, stage, anatomic location, and histology. Adjusted racial and ethnic difference in 5-year cancer specific survival was estimated using multivariable Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Using data from 11 302 patients, 5-year relative survival was 77.6% for non-Hispanic white patients, 69.8% for non-Hispanic black patients, and 72.9% for Hispanic patients. Differences in relative survival by race/ethnicity existed within all demographic groups. Based on multivariable analysis, non-Hispanic black patients had a higher risk of death at 5 years after diagnosis compared to non-Hispanic white patients (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.2, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric brain and CNS cancer survival differed by race/ethnicity, with non-Hispanic black patients having a higher risk of death than non-Hispanic white patients. Future investigation of access to care, social and economic barriers, and host genetic factors might identify reasons for disparities in survival.

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) in Pediatric Cancer

Objective

Family psychosocial risk screening is an important initial step in delivering evidence-based care and in addressing health disparities. There is currently no validated measure of family psychosocial risk in Spanish. The Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) is a brief parent report screener based on the trilevel Pediatric Preventative Psychosocial Risk Model (PPPHM; Universal, Targeted, and Clinical). The current article validates a Spanish version of the PAT (Version 3.0) in pediatric oncology.

Method

Spanish-speaking Hispanic primary caregivers of 79 children newly diagnosed with cancer participated in this 4-institution multisite investigation, completing Spanish versions of the PAT and validation measures using REDCap.

Results

Over 60% of the sample had a high school or lower level of education and they primarily identified as Hispanic in terms of acculturation. Internal consistency for the total score (KR20 = 0.76) and the Social Support, Child Problems, Sibling Problems, and Family Problems subscales was strong (KR20 = 0.69-0.79). Stress Reactions, Family Structure, and Family Beliefs subscales were lower (KR20 = 0.43-0.55). Moderate to strong correlations with the criteria measures provided validation for the total and subscale scores. Nearly two-thirds of the sample scored in the Targeted or Clinical range of the PPPHM. The PAT was successful in identifying clinical cases.

Conclusions

The Spanish version of the PAT can be used with families of children newly diagnosed with cancer. Elevated psychosocial risks were found and warrant particular attention in providing psychosocial care attentive to the needs of Spanish-speaking families.

Survival After Childhood Cancer-Social Inequalities in High-Income Countries

Despite substantial improvements in survival from childhood cancer during the last decades, there are indications that survival rates for several cancer types are no longer improving. Moreover, evidence accumulates suggesting that socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors may have an impact on survival also in high-income countries. The aim of this review is to summarize the findings from studies on social factors and survival in childhood cancer. Several types of cancer and social factors are included in order to shed light on potential mechanisms and identify particularly affected groups. A literature search conducted in PubMed identified 333 articles published from December 2012 until June 2018, of which 24 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The findings are diverse; some studies found no associations but several indicated a social gradient with higher mortality among children from families of lower socioeconomic status (SES). There were no clear suggestions of particularly vulnerable subgroups, but hematological malignancies were most commonly investigated. A wide range of social factors have been examined and seem to be of different importance and varying between studies. However, potential underlying mechanisms linking a specific social factor to childhood cancer survival was seldom described. This review provides some support for a relationship between lower parental SES and worse survival after childhood cancer, which is a finding that needs further attention. Studies investigating predefined hypotheses involving specific social factors within homogenous cancer types are lacking and would increase the understanding of mechanisms involved, and allow targeted interventions to reduce health inequalities.

A comparative analysis of clinicopathological features and survival among early adolescents/young adults and children with low-grade glioma: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

BACKGROUND

For several types of cancer, biological differences and outcome disparities have been documented in adolescents/young adults (AYAs, 15-39 years old) versus children. This study compared clinicopathological features and survival between younger AYAs and children with low-grade glioma (LGG), a common brain tumor among AYAs.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of Children's Oncology Group legacy study CCG-9891/POG-9130, which enrolled participants 0-21 years of age with newly-diagnosed LGG treated with surgery alone. For analysis, participants were categorized as children (0-14 years old) or early AYAs (eAYAs, 15-21 years old) and compared on demographics, clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, surgical outcomes, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Among 468 children and 50 eAYAs, more eAYAs presented with seizures (34.0% vs. 19.2%; p = 0.015), without other significant differences in clinicopathological features. 5-year PFS rates for children and eAYA were 80.2% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 76.1-83.7) and 83.0% (95% CI 68.8-91.1), respectively; 5-year OS rates were 97.3% (95% CI 95.2-98.5) and 95.4% (95% CI 82.7-98.8), respectively. Multivariable analysis including all participants showed presence of residual tumor to be an independent predictor of PFS (< 1.5 cm³, hazard ratio [HR] 5.93 [95% CI 3.45-10.18]) and (≥ 1.5 cm³, HR 8.38 [95% CI 4.75-14.79]) (p < 0.001), while midline-chiasmatic location (HR 9.69 [95% CI 3.05-30.75], p < 0.001) and non-pilocytic astrocytoma histology (HR 6.77 [95% CI 2.35-19.49], p < 0.001) were independent predictors of OS.

CONCLUSION

Unlike several other cancers, LGG has similar presenting features and survival for both eAYAs and children. This support continuing a unified treatment approach and enrollment of eAYAs in pediatric clinical trials for LGGs.

Persisting inequalities in survival patterns of childhood neuroblastoma in Southern and Eastern Europe and the effect of socio-economic development compared with those of the US

AIM

Neuroblastoma outcomes vary with disease characteristics, healthcare delivery and socio-economic indicators. We assessed survival patterns and prognostic factors for patients with neuroblastoma in 11 Southern and Eastern European (SEE) countries versus those in the US, including-for the first time-the Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumours (NARECHEM-ST)/Greece.

METHODS

Overall survival (OS) was calculated in 13 collaborating SEE childhood cancer registries (1829 cases, ∼1990-2016) and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER), US (3072 cases, 1990-2012); Kaplan-Meier curves were used along with multivariable Cox regression models assessing the effect of age, gender, primary tumour site, histology, Human Development Index (HDI) and place of residence (urban/rural) on survival.

RESULTS

The 5-year OS rates varied widely among the SEE countries (Ukraine: 45%, Poland: 81%) with the overall SEE rate (59%) being significantly lower than in SEER (77%; p < 0.001). In the common registration period within SEE (2000-2008), no temporal trend was noted as opposed to a significant increase in SEER. Age >12 months (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.8-4.7 in subsequent age groups), male gender (HR: 1.1), residence in rural areas (HR: 1.3), living in high (HR: 2.2) or medium (HR: 2.4) HDI countries and specific primary tumour location were associated with worse outcome; conversely, ganglioneuroblastoma subtype (HR: 0.28) was associated with higher survival rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Allowing for the disease profile, children with neuroblastoma in SEE, especially those in rural areas and lower HDI countries, fare worse than patients in the US, mainly during the early years after diagnosis; this may be attributed to presumably modifiable socio-economic and healthcare system performance differentials warranting further research.

An overview of disparities in childhood cancer: Report on the Inaugural Symposium on Childhood Cancer Health Disparities, Houston, Texas, 2016

The Inaugural Symposium on Childhood Cancer Health Disparities was held in Houston, Texas, on November 2, 2016. The symposium was attended by 109 scientists and clinicians from diverse disciplinary backgrounds with interests in pediatric cancer disparities and focused on reviewing our current knowledge of disparities in cancer risk and outcomes for select childhood cancers. Following a full day of topical sessions, everyone participated in a brainstorming session to develop a working strategy for the continued expansion of research in this area. This meeting was designed to serve as a springboard for examination of childhood cancer disparities from a more unified and systematic approach and to enhance awareness of this area of need.

Race and outcomes in gastroschisis repair: a nationwide analysis

BACKGROUND

The incidence of gastroschisis has increased 30% between the periods 1995-2005 and 2006-2012, with the largest increase in Black neonates born to Black mothers younger than 20years old.

OBJECTIVE

Racial disparities in peri- and post-operative outcomes have been previously identified in several types of adult and pediatric surgical patients. Is there an association between race and clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization in neonates with gastroschisis?

METHODS

Retrospective study using national administrative data from the Kid's Inpatient Database (KID) from 2006, 2009, and 2012 for neonates (age<28days) with gastroschisis. Multivariable logistic regression was constructed to determine the association of race and socioeconomic characteristics with complications and mortality; linear regression was used for length of stay and hospital charges.

RESULTS

We identified 3846 neonates with gastroschisis that underwent surgical repair, including 676 patients with complex gastroschisis. When controlling for birth weight, payer status, socioeconomic status, and hospital characteristics, Black neonates had increased odds of having complex gastroschisis and associated atresias. Mortality was higher in patients with complex gastroschisis, patients from the lowest income quartiles, and patients with Medicaid as primary payer (compared to those with private insurance). Length of stay (LOS) was increased in patients with complex gastroschisis, birth weight <2500g, and Medicaid patients. Hospital charges were higher in complex gastroschisis, Black and Hispanic neonates (as compared to Whites), males, birth weight <2500g, and Medicaid patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an association between race and complex gastroschisis, associated intestinal atresias, and total charges in neonates with gastroschisis. In addition, income status is associated with mortality and hospital charges while payer status is associated with complications, mortality, LOS, and hospital charges. Public health and prenatal interventions should target at-risk populations to improve clinical outcomes.

PROGNOSIS STUDY

Level of Evidence: II.

The impact of racial/ethnic disparities on survival for children and adolescents with extremity sarcomas: A population-based study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in disease presentation, treatment, and survival among children and adolescents with extremity sarcoma.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data were analyzed for patients <20years old with soft-tissue extremity sarcomas from 1973 to 2013. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the association between race/ethnicity and disease stage at presentation and likelihood of surgical resection. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated using hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

1261 cases were identified: 650 (52%) non-Hispanic whites (NHW), 313 (25%) Hispanics, 182 (14%) non-Hispanic blacks (NHB), and 116 (9%) other race/ethnicity. Logistic regression results showed that Hispanics and NHB were 51% and 44%, respectively, less likely to undergo surgical resection compared to NHW (OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.30-0.80; OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.98, respectively). Factors associated with failure to undergo surgical resection included histology, lower extremity site, tumor size, and distant metastases. OS based on race/ethnicity significantly differed using the log-rank test, with NHB having the worst survival (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that NHB, Hispanics, and other race/ethnicity were less likely to undergo surgical resection for extremity sarcoma. Further work is needed to better characterize and eliminate disparities in the management and outcomes of children with extremity sarcomas.

TYPE OF STUDY

Prognosis study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Infection-related mortality in Hispanic and non-Hispanic children with cancer

BACKGROUND

Hispanic children with cancer experience poorer survival than their White counterparts. Infection is a known cause of cancer-related mortality; however, little is known about the risk of infection-related death among Hispanic children with cancer. We examine the association of Hispanic ethnicity with infection-related mortality and life-threatening events among children with cancer.

PROCEDURE

For a cohort of all pediatric cancer patients diagnosed from 1986 to 2012 and treated at a single tertiary care center, we obtained national death records to determine all-cause mortality and infection-related mortality, as well as intensive care unit (ICU) admissions as a surrogate for life-threatening events. Cox proportional hazard models assessed all-cause mortality and infection-related mortality using ethnicity as the main independent variable. ICU admission rates were modeled using a zero-inflated Poisson regression model. Models were adjusted for gender, diagnosis year, age, residential location, and diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 6,198 patients, 741 (12%) were Hispanic. Mean follow-up was 11 years (SD = 8.04). There were 1,205 deaths, with 193 attributable to infection. Differences in all-cause mortality between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients did not reach significance (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.96-1.36). However, Hispanic patients were 68% (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.16-2.43) more likely to have an infection-related cause of death. Hispanic ethnicity was statistically associated with a higher rate of ICU admissions (rate ratio = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.12-1.56).

CONCLUSION

Hispanic pediatric cancer patients were more likely to have an infection-related death and higher rates of ICU admissions than non-Hispanic patients. Infection may be an overlooked contributor to poorer outcomes among Hispanic patients.

Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status on Outcome in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

With modern therapy, overall survival (OS) for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia approaches 90%. However, inferior outcomes for minority children have been reported. Data on the effects of ethnicity/race as it relates to socioeconomic status are limited. Using state cancer registry data from Texas and Florida, we evaluated the impact of neighborhood-level poverty rate and race/ethnicity on OS for 4719 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. On multivariable analysis, patients residing in neighborhoods with the highest poverty rate had a 1.8-fold increase in mortality compared with patients residing in neighborhoods with the lowest poverty rate (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-2.30). Hispanic and non-Hispanic black patients also had increased risk of mortality compared with non-Hispanic white patients (Hispanic: HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.39; non-Hispanic black: HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.66). On subgroup analysis, there was a 21.7% difference in 5-year OS when comparing non-Hispanic white children living in the lowest poverty neighborhoods (5-year OS, 91.2%; 95% CI, 88.6-93.2) to non-Hispanic black children living in the highest poverty neighborhoods (5-year OS, 69.5%; 95% CI, 61.5-76.1). To address such disparities in survival, further work is needed to identify barriers to cancer care in this pediatric population.

Socioeconomic status does not affect prognosis in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

Background:

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive malignancy, but there is marked heterogeneity in survival time. Health care disparities have demonstrated significance in oncologic outcomes but have not been clearly examined in this patient population. We investigated the role of sociodemographic variables in the prognosis of adult patients diagnosed with GBM.

Methods:

This retrospective analysis included patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of GBM, who underwent resection or biopsy at a single institution from 2000 to 2014. Socioeconomic status (SES) was determined by household income according to the US Census zip code tabulation areas and the US national poverty level. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis calculated effects on patient survival.

Results:

Thirty percent of 218 subjects were of low SES, 57% mid, and 13% high. Low SES patients tended to be male (62%), Caucasian (92%), unmarried (91%), have dependents (100%), and limited to high school education (55%). SES did not predict insurance or employment status. SES was associated with marital status and number of cohabitants (P < 0.0001) but not clinical trial enrollment. Multivariate analysis demonstrated no relationship between SES and survival. Shorter prognosis was associated with history of military service (hazard ratio [HR] 2.06, P = 0.0125), elderly patients (HR 1.70, P = 0.0158), and multifocal disease (HR 1.75, P = 0.0119). Longer prognosis was associated with gross total resection (HR 0.49, P = 0.0009), radiation therapy (HR 0.12, P < 0.0001), and temozolomide (HR 0.28, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

SES alone does not predict prognosis in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. Sociodemographic variables such as old age, military service record, and insurance type may have a prognostication role.