Effect of prior cancer on trial eligibility and treatment outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Implications for clinical trial accrual

Prognostic effects of previous cancer history on patients with major salivary gland cancer

OBJECTIVES

To explore the prognostic effects of previous cancer history on patients with major salivary gland cancer (SGC).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

SGC patients with (sec-SGC) and without (one-SGC) a previous cancer from the SEER database were identified. Cox proportional hazards regression (CoxPH) models were used to compare the prognosis between sec-SGC and one-SGC patients. Subgroup analyses for sec-SGC patients by gender, previous cancer types, previous cancer histology, and cancer diagnosis interval (CDI) were performed. Two CoxPH models were constructed to distinguish sec-SGC patients with different prognostic risks.

RESULTS

9098 SGC patients were enrolled. Overall, sec-SGC patients (adjusted HR [aHR] = 1.26, p < 0.001), especially those with a CDI ≤ 5 years (aHR = 1.47, p < 0.001), had worse overall survival (OS) than one-SGC patients. In subgroup analysis, only sec-SGC patients with a previous head and neck cancer who were female (aHR = 2.38, p = 0.005), with a CDI ≤ 5 years (aHR = 1.65, p = 0.007) or with a previous squamous cell carcinoma (aHR = 6.52, p < 0.001) had worse OS. Our models successfully differentiated all sec-SGC patients into high-, intermediate- and low-risk groups with different prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Sec-SGC patients with different previous cancer types, gender, CDI and previous cancer histology had varied prognosis. The models we constructed could help differentiate the prognosis of sec-SGC patients with different risks.

Impact of prior cancer history on survival of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

The impact of prior cancer history on survival of hypopharyngeal cancer patients remains unknown. The present study assessed the impact of prior cancer history on survival of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.

METHODS

Patients with primary hypopharyngeal cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to balance baseline characteristics. One-to-one PSM, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test were performed for survival analysis.

RESULTS

We included 5017 patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. Prior cancer history had no significant impact on overall survival of hypopharyngeal cancer patients in comparison with those without prior cancer history (p = 0.845, after PSM). Subgroup analysis showed that prior cancer history had no significant effect on overall survival of hypopharyngeal cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

More hypopharyngeal cancer patients with prior cancer history should be considered for clinical trials. However, further prospective studies are needed.

Effect of Previous Cancer History on Survival of Patients with Different Subtypes of Breast Cancer

Patients with a previous cancer history (PCA) are routinely excluded from most clinical trials, which may limit the accuracy and universality of clinical trials. We aimed to explore the association between PCA and survival of patients with different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015 were included in this retrospective cohort study. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), which was calculated from date of diagnosis to date of death or censor date during this period. The relationship between PCA and OS of patients with different molecular subtypes of breast cancer was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model. A total of 35,640 primary breast cancer patients were included, and 2,038 (5.72%) patients had a PCA. Female genital system cancer (491 cases, 24.09%) was the largest proportion type of previous cancer, and HER2-positive (24,754 cases, 69.46%) breast cancer was the most common subtype. Patients with previous female genital/endocrine system cancer history and other cancers history were associated with a poorer OS in overall patients, and in patients with triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes (P < 0.05). In patients with Luminal A and Luminal B subtypes, previous other cancers history was related to poor OS (P < 0.05), while female genital/endocrine system cancer history may not influence the OS (P > 0.05). Subgroup analyses presented that PCA was related to poor OS in patients aged 40-64 years and ≥65 years (P <0.05), while prognosis in patients aged 18-40 years may not be influenced by PCA (P > 0.05). The impact of PCA on the prognosis of breast cancer patients was related to molecular type, patient age, and type of PCA. In clinical trials of breast cancer, the exclusion criteria for PCA patients may be modified according to the above variables.

Prior cancer history predicts the worse survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE

Previous cancers can be observed in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, whether prior cancer diagnosis affects survival outcomes remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the impact of prior cancer on the survival of patients with NPC.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected data from 666 NPC patients between 2006 and 2018. The patients in this study were divided into those without prior cancer, with prior head and neck cancer, and prior non-head and neck cancer. The demographic data and survival of these groups were then analyzed. The independent prognostic factors for NPC were determined using multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 25 NPC patients with prior cancer in our case series, most of whom had a history of colorectal cancer. Patients with a history of cancer were older than those without a history of cancer (p = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis stratified by the timing of prior cancer, NPC patients with prior non-head and neck cancer within 24, 36, 60, and 120 months showed worse survival than patients without prior cancer (all p < 0.05). When stratified by cancer stage, stage III NPC patients with prior non-head and neck cancer showed worse survival than patients without prior cancer (p < 0.001). Prior cancer and diabetes can predict worse survival in patients with stage III NPC.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that prior cancer and diabetes are independent prognostic factors in patients with stage III NPC.

Impact of prior cancer on the overall survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE

Prior cancer history is an important exclusion criterion from clinical trials and may decrease their generalizability. This study aimed to investigate the impact of prior cancer on the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to describe their characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The discrepancy in baseline characteristics was adjusted by propensity score matching. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of prior cancer on overall survival.

RESULTS

A total of 3412 individuals were identified, of which 418 (12.25%) had prior cancer. Prostate cancer was the most frequently detected type of prior cancer (18.42%). Nearly 45% of the prior cancers were diagnosed within 5 years before the nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Patients with prior cancer had an inferior survival compared to those without prior cancer (p < 0.001). Notably, patients with prior prostate, breast, hematological, and nasopharyngeal cancers had a non-inferior overall survival. Prior cancer history was an independent factor of poor overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.329, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to provide the comprehensive insight that patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and prior cancer have lower overall survival. Different prior cancer types had a different impact on the clinical outcome, suggesting that the exclusion criteria should be individually defined by unique cancer types.

The effect of prior cancer on non-small cell lung cancer trial eligibility

OBJECTIVES

Approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a history of prior (non-lung) cancer. Patients with prior cancer are frequently excluded from clinical trials. We aimed to assess the potential impact of prior cancer on commonly used clinical trial endpoints.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical trials of systemic therapy for incurable NSCLC from clinicaltrials.gov were reviewed to determine the frequency of exclusion on the basis of prior cancer. A cohort of patients with incurable NSCLC and prior cancer, treated with first-line systemic treatment at our institution were reviewed as a surrogate clinical trial population. A list of priori events was developed to capture the potential for prior cancer to negatively affect clinical trial conduct or endpoints. The proportions of patients that developed an outcome were assessed.

RESULTS

Among trials registered on clinicaltrials.gov, 66% listed prior cancer in the eligibility criteria, and of these 35% excluded patients with prior cancer in the last 5 years. Of NSCLC patients treated with systemic therapy at Princess Margaret Cancer Center, 20% had prior cancer, of these, breast (20%) and prostate (19%) were the most common malignancies. Median time between prior cancer and NSCLC was 82 months. Median survival was 20 months. For patients without evidence of active prior cancer at baseline, and not on active therapy for prior cancer, no patients had evidence of a recurrence of prior cancer during the treatment and follow-up for the NSCLC, nor died from prior cancer. However, two patients developed new primaries.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of prior cancer has a low likelihood of impacting clinical trial endpoints in patients with incurable NSCLC, if not active or requiring treatment. These findings should be validated in larger data sets.

Survival outcomes in esophageal cancer patients with a prior cancer

To achieve a deeper understanding of patients who developed esophageal cancer (EC) as a second primary malignancy, which may help guide in clinical practice for these patients in the future.In the primary cohort, EC patients with a prior malignancy were identified from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end result 18 database. The 5 most common types of prior cancers were picked out based on the frequency of occurrence. In addition, Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were performed to investigate the survival impacts of prior cancers on EC patients. Besides, a competing-risk model was constructed to explore the relationship between EC-treatment and EC-specific mortality. In the secondary cohort, patients with stage I-III (N0M0) EC from 2004 to 2014 were enrolled. After propensity score matching, univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were developed to determine the prognostic factors for EC patients.A total of 1199 EC patients with a prior cancer were identified in the primary cohort. The 5 most common sites of prior cancers were prostate, female breast, bladder, lung and bronchus, and larynx. Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that EC patients with prior prostate cancer and bladder cancer had the best overall survival (OS), while those with prior cancers of larynx and lung and bronchus had the worst OS. Fine and Gray competing risks analysis indicated that the administration of surgery was closely associated with better EC-specific survival (P < .001). In the secondary cohort, multivariate Cox analyses found that age at diagnosis, race, tumor grade, tumor extent, nodal status and metastasis stage, histology, and the administration of surgery were prognostic factors for OS and cancer-specific survival in EC patients. Besides, the existence of a prior cancer was an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival.EC remains to be the most important cause of death in EC patients with a prior cancer. EC related treatment should be actively adopted in patients with a prior cancer, as they were more likely to die from EC than the prior cancer. EC patients with a prior cancer had comparable OS than those without.

Effect of prior cancer on survival outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

A history of prior cancer commonly results in exclusion from cancer clinical trials. However, whether a prior cancer history has an adversely impact on clinical outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer (APC) remains largely unknown. We therefore aimed to investigate the impact of prior cancer history on these patients.

METHODS

We identified patients with advanced prostate cancer diagnosed from 2004 to 2010 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics. Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model were utilized for survival analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 19,772 eligible APC patients were included, of whom 887 (4.5 %) had a history of prior cancer. Urinary bladder (19 %), colon and cecum (16 %), melanoma of the skin (9 %) malignancies, and non-hodgkin lymphoma (9 %) were the most common types of prior cancer. Patients with a history of prior cancer had slightly inferior overall survival (OS) (AHR = 1.13; 95 % CI [1.02-1.26]; P = 0.017) as compared with that of patients without a prior cancer diagnosis. Subgroup analysis further indicated that a history of prior cancer didn't adversely impact patients' clinical outcomes, except in patients with a prior cancer diagnosed within 2 years, at advanced stage, or originating from specific sites, including bladder, colon and cecum, or lung and bronchus, or prior chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of APC patients with a prior cancer history had non-inferior survival to that of patients without a prior cancer diagnosis. These patients may be candidates for relevant cancer trials.

Impact of prior cancer history on survival of patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with prior cancer history are commonly excluded from clinical trial. However, the impact of prior cancer on survival of patients with gastric cancer remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of prior cancer and assess its impact on survival of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer.

METHODS

Patients with gastric cancer as the primary or second primary malignancies diagnosed from 2004 to 2010 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to balance baseline characteristics. Kaplan-Meier method, multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, and multivariate competing risk model were performed for survival analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 28,795 eligible patients with gastric cancer were included, of whom 2695 (9.35%) had a history of prior cancer. Prostate (35%), breast (12%), colon (8%), and urinary bladder (7%) malignancies were the most common prior cancer types. Patients with prior cancer history had slightly inferior overall survival (AHR = 1.06; 95% CI [1.00-1.12]; P = 0.043) but superior gastric cancer-specific survival (AHR = 0.82; 95% CI [0.76-0.88]; P < 0.001) compared with those without prior cancer. The subgroup analysis determined that a prior cancer history did not adversely affect gastric patients' clinical outcomes, except in those with prior cancer diagnosed within one year, at distant stage, or originating from lung and bronchus.

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of gastric cancer patients with a history of prior cancer had non-inferior clinical outcome to those without prior cancer. These patients should be considered in clinical trials.

Effect of prior cancer on survival of hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for clinical trial eligibility criteria

Background

Patients with cancer history are usually excluded from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinical trials. However, whether previous malignancy affects the oncological outcomes of HCC patients has not been fully assessed. This study aimed to evaluate whether prior cancer compromised the survival of HCC patients.

Methods

Patients with HCC were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2015, and then they were classified into groups with and without prior cancer. The Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analysis were adopted to evaluate whether prior cancer impacted clinical outcomes after propensity score matching (PSM) adjusting baseline differences. Validation was performed in the cohort from our institution.

Results

We identified 2642 HCC patients with prior cancer. After PSM, the median overall survival (OS) time were 14.5 and 12.0 months respectively for groups with and without prior cancer. Prior cancer did not compromise prognosis in patients with HCC (p = 0.49). The same tendency was found in subgroups stratified by tumor stages and cancer interval period: OS was similar between groups with and without prior cancer (both p values> 0.1). In the multivariate Cox regression model, prior cancer did not adversely impact patients’ survival (HR: 1.024; 95% CI: 0.961–1.092). In the validation cohort from our institution, prior cancer had no significant association with worse outcomes (p = 0.48).

Conclusion

For HCC patients, prior cancer did not compromise their survival, regardless of tumor stage and cancer interval period. Exclusion criteria for HCC clinical trials could be reconsidered.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07870-0.

Impact of prior cancer history on the survival of patients with larynx cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with a prior history of cancer are commonly excluded from clinical trial. Increasing number of studies implied that a prior cancer did not adversely affect the clinical outcome among various types of cancer patients. However, the impact of prior cancer on survival of larynx cancer patients remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of prior cancer and assess its impact on survival of patients diagnosed with larynx cancer.

METHODS

Patients with larynx cancer as the first or second primary malignancy diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to balance baseline characteristics. Kaplan-Meier method, multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, and multivariate competing risk model were performed for survival analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 24,812 eligible patients with larynx cancer were included in the study, wherein a total of 2436 patients (9.8%) had a prior history of cancer. Prostate (36%), lung and bronchus (10%), urinary bladder (7%), and breast (6%) were the most common types of prior cancer. A prior cancer history served as a risk factor for overall survival (AHR =1.30; 95% CI [1.21-1.41]; P < 0.001) but a protective factor for cancer-specific mortality (AHR = 0.83; 95% CI [0.72-0.94]; P = 0.004) in comparison with those without prior cancer. The subgroup analysis showed that a prior history of cancer adversely affected overall survival of patients with larynx cancer in most subgroups stratified by timing and types of prior cancer, as well as by different clinicopathologic features.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated an adverse survival impact of a prior history of cancer on patients with larynx cancer. Except for a few particular prior cancer, clinical trials should be considered prudently for laryngeal cancer patients with prior cancers.