Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer survival by neighborhood socioeconomic status in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Registries

Area Socioeconomic Status is Associated with Refusal of Recommended Surgery in Patients with Metastatic Bone and Joint Disease

BACKGROUND

This study sought to identify associations between the Yost Index, a geocoded area neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) score, and race/ethnicity with patient refusal of recommended surgery for metastatic bone disease.

METHODS

Patients with metastatic bone disease were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The Yost Index was geocoded using factor analysis and categorized into quintiles using census tract-level American Community Service (ACS) 5-year estimates and seven nSES measures. Multivariable logistic regression models calculated odds ratios (ORs) of refusal of recommended surgery and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for clinical covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 138,257 patients were included, of which 14,943 (10.8%) were recommended for surgical resection. Patients in the lowest nSES quintile had 57% higher odds of refusing surgical treatment than those in the highest quintile (aOR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.30-1.91, p < 0.001). Patients in the lowest nSES quintile also had a 31.2% higher age-adjusted incidence rate of not being recommended for surgery compared with those in the highest quintile (186.4 vs. 142.1 per 1 million, p < 0.001). Black patients had 34% higher odds of refusing treatment compared with White patients (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.14-1.58, p = 0.003). Advanced age, unmarried status, and patients with aggressive cancer subtypes were associated with higher odds of refusing surgery (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

nSES and race/ethnicity are independent predictors of a patient refusing surgery for metastatic cancer to bone, even after adjusting for various clinical covariates. Effective strategies for addressing these inequalities and improving the access and quality of care of patients with a lower nSES and minority backgrounds are needed.

PM2.5, vegetation density, and childhood cancer: a case-control registry-based study from Texas 1995-2011

BACKGROUND

Air pollution is positively associated with some childhood cancers, whereas greenness is inversely associated with some adult cancers. The interplay between air pollution and greenness in childhood cancer etiology is unclear. We estimated the association between early-life air pollution and greenness exposure and childhood cancer in Texas (1995 to 2011).

METHODS

We included 6101 cancer cases and 109 762 controls (aged 0 to 16 years). We linked residential birth address to census tract annual average fine particulate matter <2.5 µg/m³ (PM2.5) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between PM2.5/NDVI interquartile range increases and cancer. We assessed statistical interaction between PM2.5 and NDVI (likelihood ratio tests).

RESULTS

Increasing residential early-life PM2.5 exposure was associated with all childhood cancers (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.15), lymphoid leukemias (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.23), Hodgkin lymphomas (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.58), non-Hodgkin lymphomas (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.51), ependymoma (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.60), and others. Increasing NDVI exposure was inversely associated with ependymoma (0- to 4-year-old OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58 to 0.97) and medulloblastoma (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.91) but positively associated with malignant melanoma (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.23 to 2.47) and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.07 to 2.28). There was evidence of statistical interaction between NDVI and PM2.5 (P < .04) for all cancers.

CONCLUSION

Increasing early-life exposure to PM2.5 increased the risk of childhood cancers. NDVI decreased the risk of 2 cancers yet increased the risk of others. These findings highlight the complexity between PM2.5 and NDVI in cancer etiology.

Racial disparities in initiation of chemotherapy among breast cancer patients with discretionary treatment indication in the state of Georgia

PURPOSE

The majority of breast cancer patients are diagnosed with early-stage estrogen receptor (ER) positive disease. Despite effective treatments for these cancers, Black women have higher mortality than White women. We investigated demographic and clinical factors associated with receipt of chemotherapy among those with a discretionary indication who are at risk for overtreatment.

METHODS

Using Georgia Cancer Registry data, we identified females diagnosed with ER positive breast cancer who had a discretionary indication for chemotherapy (2010-2017). We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associating patient demographic and clinical characteristics with chemotherapy initiation overall, and comparing non-Hispanic Black (NHB) with non-Hispanic White (NHW) women within strata of patient factors.

RESULTS

We identified 11,993 ER positive breast cancer patients with a discretionary indication for chemotherapy. NHB patients were more likely to initiate chemotherapy compared with NHW women (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.28, 1.56). Race differences in chemotherapy initiation were pronounced among those who did not receive Oncotype DX testing (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.65) and among those residing in high socioeconomic status neighborhoods (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.70, 3.61). However, we observed equitable chemotherapy receipt among patients who received Oncotype DX testing (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.71, 1.14), were diagnosed with grade 1 disease (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.74, 1.37), and those resided in rural areas (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.76, 1.36).

CONCLUSION

We observed racial disparities in the initiation of chemotherapy overall and by sociodemographic and clinical factors, and more equitable outcomes when clinical guidelines were followed.

Depression and Anxiety Among English- and Spanish-Speaking Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE

An estimated 30% and 40% of patients with breast cancer experience depression and anxiety, respectively. However, distress experienced by patients with breast cancer receiving radiation therapy may vary among patients and vary at different time points. This study sought to describe the changes in levels of depression and anxiety experienced by English- and Spanish-speaking patients throughout a course of radiation therapy for breast cancer, along with the effect of different variables to better understand potential gaps.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Eligibility criteria included English- and Spanish-speaking females, aged 18 or older, undergoing radiation therapy treatment for breast cancer at 2 institutions. Pre- and posttreatment surveys were completed before and after delivery of radiation therapy. Sociodemographic characteristics collected included race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, longest residency location, religion, housing, and food insecurity. The survey ended with the standardized PHQ-4 questionnaire to assess anxiety and depression. Results were analyzed using the analysis of covariance procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 160 participants completed pre- and posttreatment surveys, with an initial response rate of 100% (169 patients), though 9 were lost to follow-up. Most of the participants were nonwhite (50%), primarily married (42.5%), and had a high school or associate's level education (46.9%). The total baseline distress mean (BDM) was 2.96 and the final distress mean was 2.78. English-speaking patients comprised 82.5% (n = 132) of the sample and had a BDM of 2.91 with an adjusted change mean decrease of 0.45. Spanish-speaking patients comprised 17.5% (n = 28) of the sample, with a baseline distress mean of 3.21 and an adjusted change mean increase of 1.03 (P = .002). Housing (P = .017) and food insecurity (P = .0002) also showed increasing distress with increased insecurity at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who speak Spanish, identify as Hispanic, or are experiencing food and housing insecurity are at an increased risk for depression and anxiety, and could benefit from more support during their course of radiation therapy to minimize distress.

Worldwide association of the gender inequality with the incidence and mortality of cervical, ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers

Background

There is a huge disparity in cancer incidence and mortality around the globe. A considerable share of this disparity can be explained by human development. Particularly in many less developed countries, women have been hindered in their human development. In this ecological study, we hypothesize that, notwithstanding acceptable overall development in countries, gender inequalities might affect the incidence and mortality of women's malignancies, and there is a distinct association between them.

Method

The data on the incidence and mortality of gynecologic and female breast cancers were retrieved from the GLOBOCAN database, and the data on the Human Development Index (HDI), Gender Development Index (GDI), and Gender Inequality Index (GII) were obtained from the United Nations Human Development Report. The Poisson regression modeling was then used to fit four models for each cancer.

Result

GII and GDI are both significantly associated with incidences of women's cancers, except for the insignificant association between GDI and the incidence of ovarian cancer. However, the association between GDI and the mortality of women's cancer is not strong. At the same time, there are significant direct relationships between GII and the mortality of breast, cervical, and endometrial cancer.

Conclusion

The incidence and mortality of women's cancers are ecologically associated with the country-level gender inequality captured with GDI and GII.

Mediators of racial disparities in postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing complex surgery

BACKGROUND

This study sought to quantify the direct and indirect effects of race on postoperative outcomes after complex surgery.

METHODS

Medicare patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), lung resection or colectomy were identified (2014-2018). Generalized structural equation modelling was utilized to quantify the direct and indirect effects of race on Textbook outcome (TO).

RESULTS

Among 930,033 patients, 46.8% of patients achieved a TO, with Black patients less likely to achieve a TO (referent: White; Black: OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.70-0.73). Notably, 32.3% of the disparities in TO were attributable to race itself, while 67.7% was explained by other factors. Specifically, residential segregation accounted for 39.4% of the lower TO rates among Black patients, while 21.0% was attributable to a high comorbidity burden.

CONCLUSIONS

These data highlight the need to target structural racism as a policy priority to promote a more equitable healthcare system.

Observed and relative survival trends of lung cancer: A systematic review of population-based cancer registration data

BACKGROUND

Using the published survival statistics from cancer registration or population-based studies, we aimed to describe the global pattern and trend of lung cancer survival.

METHODS

By searching SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and SEER, all survival analyses from cancer registration or population-based studies of lung cancer were collected by the end of November 2022. The survival rates were extracted by sex, period, and country. The observed, relative, and net survival rates of lung cancer were applied to describe the pattern and time changes from the late 1990s to the early 21st century.

RESULTS

Age-standardized 5-year relative/net survival rate of lung cancer was typically low, with 10%-20% for most regions. The highest age-standardized relative/net survival rate was observed in Japan (32.9%, 2010-2014), and the lowest was in India (3.7%, 2010-2014). In most countries, the five-year age-standardized relative/net survival rates of lung cancer were higher in females and younger people. The patients with adenocarcinoma had a better prognosis than other groups. In China, the highest 5-year overall relative/net survival rates were 27.90% and 31.62% in men and women in Jiangyin (2012-2013).

CONCLUSION

Over the past decades, the prognosis of lung cancer has gradually improved, but significant variations were also observed globally. Worldwide, a better prognosis of lung cancer can be observed in females and younger patients. It is essential to compare and evaluate the histological or stage-specific survival rates of lung cancer between different regions in the future.

Temporal Trends of Stages and Survival of Biliary Tract Cancers in the United States and Associations with Demographic Factors

BACKGROUND

The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer has been increasing and decreasing respectively in the United States, whereas their mortality has been declining since 1980, which suggests improved overall survival of biliary tract cancers (BTC). We aimed to investigate temporal trends of BTC stages and survival and their associations with demographic factors.

METHODS

A total of 55,163 patients with BTC collected from 2000 to 2018 from the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 registry were included in this study. We assessed the temporal trend of BTC stages with diagnosis years using the annual percentage of change (APC) in the proportion of the stages. We estimated the association of BTC survival and stages with diagnosis years and demographic factors using the Cox regression models.

RESULTS

While localized BTC proportion remained little changed from 2006 to 2018, the proportion of regional and distant BTCs significantly decreased (APC = -2.3%) and increased (APC = 2.7%), respectively, through the years. The overall and cancer-specific survival increased from 41.0% and 47.3% in 2000 to 2004 to 51.2% and 53.8% in 2015 to 2018, respectively. Patients with BTC who were older, Black, unmarried, or had lower socioeconomic status (SES) had significantly poorer overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that distant and regional BTC significantly increased and decreased, respectively, and the BTC survival significantly improved over time. Age, sex, race, SES, and marital status were significantly associated with overall survival and less evidently with cancer-specific survival of patients with BTC.

IMPACT

Our findings suggest that demographic factors were associated with BTC stages and BTC survival.

Effects of neighborhood disadvantage on cortisol and interviewer-rated anxiety symptoms in breast cancer patients initiating treatment

PURPOSE

Shorter breast cancer (BC) survival outcomes persist by neighborhood disadvantage independent of patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. This suggests unaccounted mechanisms by which neighborhood disadvantage "gets under the skin" to impact BC survival outcomes. Here, we evaluate the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and clinical and neuroendocrine markers of stress in BC patients.

METHODS

Women with stage 0-III BC were enrolled 2-10 weeks post-surgery and before initiating adjuvant treatment in a study examining stress and stress management processes. Women provided an afternoon-evening (PM) serum cortisol sample and were administered the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Home addresses were used to determine the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a validated measure of neighborhood disadvantage. Multiple regression assessed the relationship between ADI and PM serum cortisol and the presence of elevated HAM-A symptoms.

RESULTS

Our sample (n = 225) was predominately middle-aged (M = 50.4 years; range 23-70 years), non-Hispanic White (64.3%), with stage I (38.1%), or II (38.6%) disease. The majority (n = 175) lived in advantaged neighborhoods (ADI 1-3). After controlling for age, stage, and surgery type, women from high ADI (4-10) (vs low ADI) neighborhoods had higher PM cortisol levels (β = 0.19, 95% CI [0.24, 5.00], p = 0.031) and were nearly two times as likely to report the presence of elevated anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.00, 3.86], p = 0.050).

CONCLUSION

Neighborhood disadvantage is significantly associated with higher levels of PM cortisol and elevated anxiety symptoms suggesting stress pathways could potentially contribute to relationships between neighborhood disadvantage and BC survival.

Socioeconomic disparities in treatment and survival in patients with hypopharyngeal malignancy

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study utilizes The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to investigate socioeconomic factors leading to treatment disparities in hypopharyngeal malignancy.

METHODS

Treatment was compared to National Cancer Care Network guidelines. Novel analyses, including logistic modeling, allowed survival analysis and identification of socioeconomic variables not previously considered in staging and management guidelines.

RESULTS

Black and older patients, and residence in low-income areas predict lower likelihood of standard therapy (p < 0.05). Early-stage disease and standard therapy correlate with improved survival (p < 0.001). Medicaid, advanced age, advanced disease, and treatment outside of consensus guidelines correlated with lower survival (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

There are clear socioeconomic factors impacting treatment and survival in hypopharyngeal malignancies. Standard therapy affords superior survival rate. Black, low socioeconomic status, and older patients are less likely to receive standard therapy. Education and language isolation do not predict treatment or survival. Understanding these discrepancies is paramount to palliating disparities in healthcare.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Prostate Cancer 5-Year Survival: The Role of Health-Care Access and Disease Severity

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer (PCa) exhibits one of the widest racial and socioeconomic disparities. PCa disparities have also been widely linked to location, as living in more deprived regions was associated with lower healthcare access and worse outcomes. This study aims to examine PCa survival across various USA counties in function of different socioeconomic profiles and discuss the role of potential intermediary factors.

METHODS

The SEER database linked to county-level SES was utilized. Five-year PCa-specific survival using the Kaplan-Meier method was performed for five racial/ethnic categories in function of SES quintiles. Multilevel Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to assess the relationship between county-level SES and PCa survival. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the role of healthcare utilization and severity.

RESULTS

A total of 239,613 PCa records were extracted, and 5-year PCa-specific survival was 94%. Overall, living in counties in the worst poverty/income quintile and the worst high-school level education increased PCa mortality by 38% and 33%, respectively, while the best bachelor's-level education rates decreased mortality risk by 23%. Associations varied considerably upon racial/ethnic stratification. Multilevel analyses showed varying contributions of individual and area-level factors to survival within minorities. The relationship between SES and PCa survival appeared to be influenced by healthcare utilization and disease stage/grade.

DISCUSSION

Racial/ethnic categories responded differently under similar county-level SES and individual-level factors to the point where disparities reversed in Hispanic populations. The inclusion of healthcare utilization and severity factors may provide partial early support for their role as intermediaries. Healthcare access (insurance) might not necessarily be associated with better PCa survival through the performance of biopsy and or/surgery. County-level education plays an important role in PCa decision making as it might elucidate discussions of other non-invasive management options.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study demonstrate that interventions need to be tailored according to each group's needs. This potentially informs the focus of public health efforts in terms of planning and prioritization. This study could also direct further research delving into pathways between area-level characteristics with PCa survival.

A real-world data analysis of predictors of early mortality after a diagnosis of multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

Despite the increased availability and use of novel therapies for multiple myeloma, early mortality is a pervasive challenge with a significant impact on older adults. Reported rates and predictors of early mortality have varied in the literature, with most studies seldom focusing on community-treated patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort analysis of a real-world electronic health record-derived deidentified database of 7512 patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma between January 1, 2011, and February 2, 2021, and treated primarily in US-based community oncology practices, factors associated with early mortality (defined as death within 6 months after the multiple myeloma diagnosis) were examined with the use of binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

The median age was 70 years overall. We found an overall early mortality rate of 8.3%, with 73% of early deaths occurring in those aged ≥70 years. Among the early deaths, only 49 patients (8.7%) had documented disease progression before death (median time to progression, 30 days [interquartile range, 7-53 days]). Baseline factors associated with higher odds of early mortality included an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≥ 2, Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) stage III, an age ≥ 70 years, receipt of proteasome inhibitor-doublet therapy, a light-chain isotype, and the presence of renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min). Among those aged ≥70 years, ECOG PS ≥ 2 and R-ISS stage III remained the strongest predictors of early mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Early mortality disproportionately affects older adults (aged ≥70 years) with multiple myeloma. Interventions to support this population are needed to reduce disparate survival outcomes.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Factors associated with an increased risk of dying within 6 months (early mortality) of a new diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) among 7512 mostly community-treated patients with MM were evaluated. The early mortality rate was 8.3%; among those deaths, 49 patients (8.7%) had documented evidence of MM progression before death. The risk of early mortality was greatest for older patients (aged ≥70 years) and those with a poor performance status, poor kidney function, a higher disease stage, and light-chain MM and those receiving two-drug MM therapies. These findings highlight the need for supportive interventions geared toward older adults with MM.

Risk analysis of subsequent therapies after first-line chemotherapy in advanced testicular cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Testicular cancer is the most common solid cancer diagnosed among young men. Despite good response to chemotherapy and a high survival rate, subsequent salvage therapies may still be required for some patients in advanced stages. The predictive and prognostic markers are crucial unmet needs.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed advanced testicular cancer patients who had received first-line chemotherapy between January 2002 and December 2020. The associations between baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 68 included patients, the median age was 29 years. Among them, 40 patients received only first-line chemotherapy while the remaining 28 received subsequent chemotherapy or surgeries. Data reveal that 82.5% (33/40) of the patients in the chemotherapy-only group were recorded as a good prognostic risk using the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group classification when compared with 35.7% (10/28) in the second-line therapy group. In the chemotherapy-only group, 53.8% of patients were presented with lymph node metastasis compared with 78.6% in the second-line therapy group ( p = 0.068). Fifteen percent of patients (6/40) were recorded as S stage 2-3 in the chemotherapy-only group, whereas 85.2% (23/28) were recorded as such in the second-line therapy group ( p < 0.001). The 5-year overall survival estimation was 92.9% in the chemotherapy-only group and 77.3% in the second-line therapy group. Univariate analysis for overall survival revealed that those patients at the S 2-3 stage and those receiving second-line therapies showed a trend of having an increased death risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.26, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99-68.67, p = 0.051; HR = 7.76, 95% CI, 0.93-64.99, p = 0.059, respectively). The S 2-3 stage was also independently associated with the risk of subsequent therapy (HR = 33.13; 95% CI, 2.55-430.64, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Our real-world data show the predictive role of serum tumor marker stage 2-3 to be associated with any subsequent therapies after first-line chemotherapy. This can facilitate clinical decision making during the testicular cancer treatment process.

Differences in incidence, staging, and survival of urologic cancers in patients under 65 living in the US-Mexico border region

Objectives

To describe and compare the incidence, stage at diagnosis, and survival for genitourinary cancers in the border regions and in Hispanic-Americans.

Materials and methods

A population-based search was performed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program 18 database and the Texas Cancer Registry from 2000 to 2017. Cox regression models were performed with adjusted for age, gender, race, cancer type, cancer stage, insurance status, and cause of death were used to compare cancer-specific survival.

Results

A total of 63,236 kidney and renal pelvis, 38,398 bladder, 170,640 prostate, 24,313 testicular cancer cases were identified. Cancer-specific survival was found to be improved in Hispanic-Americans in kidney and renal pelvis (hazard ratio [HR], 0.903, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.856-0.952, p = 0.0001), and bladder cancers (HR, 0.817, 95% CI, 0.743-0.898, p < 0.001), despite a more advanced stage at diagnosis in Hispanics with bladder cancer (p < 0.0074). Testicular cancer has a survival disadvantage for individuals living in the border region (HR, 1.315, 95% CI, 1.124-1.539, p = 0.0006).

Conclusions

Disparities exist between Hispanic-Americans and Non-Hispanic White and also between individuals living in the border counties when compared to other regions. This is most significant in individuals with testicular cancer residing in the border region who demonstrate worse overall survival.

Association of Social Determinants and Tumor Biology With Racial Disparity in Survival From Early-Stage, Hormone-Dependent Breast Cancer

Importance

Black women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer experience the greatest racial disparity in survival of all breast cancer subtypes. The relative contributions of social determinants of health and tumor biology to this disparity are uncertain.

Objective

To determine the proportion of the Black-White disparity in breast cancer survival from estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, axillary node-negative breast cancer that is associated with adverse social determinants and high-risk tumor biology.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A retrospective mediation analysis of factors associated with the racial disparity in breast cancer death for cases diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 with follow-up through 2016 was carried out using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Oncotype registry. The study included women in the SEER-18 registry who were aged 18 years or older at diagnosis of a first primary invasive breast cancer tumor that was axillary node-negative and ER-positive, who were Black (Black), non-Hispanic White (White), and for whom the 21-gene breast recurrence score was available. Data analysis took place between March 4, 2021, and November 15, 2022.

Exposures

Census tract socioeconomic disadvantage, insurance status, tumor characteristics including the recurrence score, and treatment variables.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Death due to breast cancer.

Results

The analysis with 60 137 women (mean [IQR] age 58.1 [50-66] years) included 5648 (9.4%) Black women and 54 489 (90.6%) White women. With a median (IQR) follow-up time of 56 (32-86) months, the age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for breast cancer death among Black compared with White women was 1.82 (95% CI, 1.51-2.20). Neighborhood disadvantage and insurance status together mediated 19% of the disparity (mediated HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.31-2.00; P < .001) and tumor biological characteristics mediated 20% (mediated HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.28-1.90; P < .001). A fully adjusted model that included all covariates accounted for 44% of the racial disparity (mediated HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.11-1.71; P < .001). Neighborhood disadvantage mediated 8% of the racial difference in the probability of a high-risk recurrence score (P = .02).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, racial differences in social determinants of health and indicators of aggressive tumor biology including a genomic biomarker were equally associated with the survival disparity in early-stage, ER-positive breast cancer among US women. Future research should examine more comprehensive measures of socioecological disadvantage, molecular mechanisms underlying aggressive tumor biology among Black women, and the role of ancestry-related genetic variants.

Area-level socioeconomic status is positively correlated with glioblastoma incidence and prognosis in the United States

In the United States, an individual’s access to resources, insurance status, and wealth are critical social determinants that affect both the risk and outcomes of many diseases. One disease for which the correlation with socioeconomic status (SES) is less well-characterized is glioblastoma (GBM), a devastating brain malignancy. The aim of this study was to review the current literature characterizing the relationship between area-level SES and both GBM incidence and prognosis in the United States. A query of multiple databases was performed to identify the existing data on SES and GBM incidence or prognosis. Papers were filtered by relevant terms and topics. A narrative review was then constructed to summarize the current body of knowledge on this topic. We obtained a total of three papers that analyze SES and GBM incidence, which all report a positive correlation between area-level SES and GBM incidence. In addition, we found 14 papers that focus on SES and GBM prognosis, either overall survival or GBM-specific survival. Those studies that analyze data from greater than 1,530 patients report a positive correlation between area-level SES and individual prognosis, while those with smaller study populations report no significant relationship. Our report underlines the strong association between SES and GBM incidence and highlights the need for large study populations to assess SES and GBM prognosis to ideally guide interventions that improve outcomes. Further studies are needed to determine underlying socio-economic stresses on GBM risk and outcomes to identify opportunities for intervention.

Area-level Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Cancer Survival in Metropolitan Detroit

BACKGROUND

Racial segregation is linked to poorer neighborhood quality and adverse health conditions among minorities, including worse cancer outcomes. We evaluated relationships between race, neighborhood social disadvantage, and cancer survival.

METHODS

We calculated overall and cancer-specific survival for 11,367 non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and 29,481 non-Hispanic White (NHW) individuals with breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer using data from the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System. The area deprivation index (ADI) was used to measure social disadvantage at the census block group level, where higher ADI is associated with poorer neighborhood factors. Associations between ADI and survival were estimated using Cox proportional hazards mixed-effects models accounting for geographic grouping and adjusting for demographic and clinical factors.

RESULTS

Increasing ADI quintile was associated with increased overall mortality for all four cancer sites in multivariable-adjusted models. Stratified by race, these associations remained among breast (NHW: HR = 1.16, P < 0.0001; NHB: HR = 1.20, P < 0.0001), colorectal (NHW: HR = 1.11, P < 0.0001; NHB: HR = 1.09, P = 0.00378), prostate (NHW: HR = 1.18, P < 0.0001; NHB: HR = 1.18, P < 0.0001), and lung cancers (NHW: HR = 1.06, P < 0.0001; NHB: HR = 1.07, P = 0.00177). Cancer-specific mortality estimates were similar to overall mortality. Adjustment for ADI substantially attenuated the effects of race on mortality for breast [overall proportion attenuated (OPA) = 47%, P < 0.0001; cancer-specific proportion attenuated (CSPA) = 37%, P < 0.0001] prostate cancer (OPA = 51%, P < 0.0001; CSPA = 56%, P < 0.0001), and colorectal cancer (OPA = 69%, P = 0.032; CSPA = 36%, P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Area-level socioeconomic disadvantage is related to cancer mortality in a racially diverse population, impacting racial differences in cancer mortality.

IMPACT

Understanding the role of neighborhood quality in cancer survivorship could improve community-based intervention practices.

Race and socioeconomic status interact with HPV to influence survival disparities in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with a favorable prognosis, yet patients of color and low socioeconomic status (SES) continue to experience inferior outcomes. We aim to understand how the emergence of HPV has impacted race and SES survival disparities in OPSCC.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort of 18,362 OPSCC cases from 2010 to 2017 was assembled using the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database. Cox proportional regression and Fine and Gray regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) adjusting for race, SES, age, subsite, stage, and treatment.

RESULTS

Black patients had lower overall survival than patients of other races in HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13-1.53 and HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.39, respectively). Higher SES was associated with improved survival in all patients. Race had a diminished association with survival among high SES patients. Low SES Black patients had considerably worse survival than low SES patients of other races.

CONCLUSION

Race and SES interact variably across cohorts. High SES was protective of the negative effects of race, although there remains a disparity in outcomes among Black and non-Black patients, even in high SES populations. The persistence of survival disparities suggests that the HPV epidemic has not improved outcomes equally across all demographic groups.

Hepatopancreaticobiliary cancer outcomes are associated with county-level duration of poverty

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic status can often dictate access to timely surgical care and postoperative outcomes. We sought to analyze the impact of county-level poverty duration on hepatopancreaticobiliary cancer outcomes.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with hepatopancreaticobiliary cancer were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare 2010 to 2015 database linked with county-level poverty from the American Community Survey and the US Department of Agriculture between 1980 to 2010. Counties were categorized as never high-poverty, intermittent high-poverty, and persistent poverty. Hierarchical generalized linear models and accelerated failure time models with Weibull distribution were used to assess diagnosis, treatment, textbook outcomes, and survival.

RESULTS

Among 41,077 patients, 1,758 (4.3%) lived in persistent poverty. Counties exposed to greater durations of poverty had increased proportions of non-Hispanic Black patients (never high-poverty: 7.6%, intermittent high-poverty: 20.4%, persistent poverty: 23.2%), uninsured patients (never high-poverty: 0.5%, intermittent high-poverty: 0.5%, persistent poverty: 0.9%), and patients with a rural residence (never high-poverty: 0.6%, intermittent high-poverty: 2.4%, persistent poverty: 11.5%). Individuals residing in persistent poverty had lower odds of undergoing resection (odds ratio 0.82, 95% confidence interval 0.66-0.98), achieving textbook outcomes (odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.34-0.84), and increased cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.00-1.15) (all P < .05). Non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to present with early-stage disease (odds ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.95) and undergo surgical treatment (odds ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.66) compared to non-Hispanic White patients (both P < .01). Notably, non-Hispanic White patients in persistent poverty were more likely to present with early-stage disease (odds ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.12-1.52) and undergo surgery for localized disease (odds ratio 1.36, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.74) compared to non-Hispanic Black patients in never high-poverty (both P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Duration of poverty was associated with lower odds of receipt of surgical treatment, achievement of textbook outcomes, and worse cancer-specific survival. Non-Hispanic Black patients were at particular risk of suboptimal outcomes, highlighting the impact of structural racism independent of socioeconomic status.

Racial disparities in overall survival after the introduction of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSE

CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) combined with endocrine therapy have improved HR + /HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC) outcomes. However, it is still unclear whether the response to CDK4/6i is similar for all races. Therefore, we aimed to assess overall survival (OS) trends stratified by race in patients with HR + /HER2- MBC after the approval of CDK4/6i, as part of the standard of care, in 2015.

METHODS

We performed a population-based study using the SEER database. Patients with HR + /HER2- MBC were divided into two time-based cohorts: 1) pre-CDK4/6i era (diagnosed in 2011-2013) and 2) post-CDK4/6i era (diagnosed in 2015-2017). We used propensity score matching and identified 2,684 patients in each cohort that matched in several characteristics. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate 2-year OS. Association between cohort and OS was evaluated using marginal Cox proportional hazards models with robust sandwich variance estimator. We conducted competing risk analysis to estimate the risk of breast cancer death in both cohorts.

RESULTS

The 2-year OS rate was 65% for the post-CDK4/6i era and 62% for the pre-CDK4/6i era (stratified log-rank p = 0.025). The 2-year OS for non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients improved in the post-CDK4/6i era compared to the pre-CDK4/6i era (67% vs. 63%, p = 0.033). However, OS did not improve for non-Hispanic Black (NHB) (54% vs. 54%, p = 0.876) or Hispanic (67% vs. 65%, p = 0.617) groups. The risk of breast cancer death decreased in the post-CDK4/6i era as compared to the pre-CDK4/6i era (2-year risk of breast cancer death: 33% vs. 30%, p = 0.015); however, this effect was observed only in NHW (sHR 0.84, p = 0.005) women, but not in NHB (sHR 0.94, p = 0.630) or Hispanic (sHR 0.91, p = 0.550) women.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that outcomes for HR + /HER2- MBC have improved after CDK4/6i were introduced in 2015. However, this effect is primarily driven by the improved OS in NHW patients, without significant improvement in OS in NHB or Hispanics.

Young Black Women May be More Likely to Have First Mammogram Cancers: A New Perspective in Breast Cancer Disparities

INTRODUCTION

Black women are diagnosed with breast cancer at earlier ages and are 42% more likely to die from the disease than White women. Recommendations for commencement of screening mammography remain discordant. This study sought to determine the frequency of first mammogram cancers among Black women versus other self-reported racial groups.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, clinical and mammographic data were obtained from 738 women aged 40-45 years who underwent treatment for breast cancer between 2010 and 2019 within a single hospital system. First mammogram cancers were defined as those with tissue diagnoses within 3 months of baseline mammogram. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to assess variables associated with first mammogram cancer detection.

RESULTS

Black women were significantly more likely to have first mammogram cancer diagnoses (39/82, 47.6%) compared with White women (162/610, 26.6%) and other groups (16/46, 34.8%) [p < 0.001]. Black women were also more likely to have a body mass index > 30 (p < 0.001), higher clinical T categories (p = 0.02), and present with more advanced clinical stages (p = 0.03). Every month delay in mammographic screening beyond age 40 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.07; p < 0.0001), Black race (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.10-4.53; p = 0.03), and lack of private insurance (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.22-4.73; p = 0.01) were associated with an increased likelihood of cancer detection on first mammogram.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggests that Black women aged 40-45 years may be more likely to have cancer detected on their first mammogram and would benefit from starting screening mammography no later than age 40 years, and for those with elevated lifetime risk, even sooner.

Effect of Insurance Status on Mortality in Adults With Sarcoma of the Extremities and Pelvis: A SEER-Medicare Study

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have highlighted the association between insurance status and poor outcomes after surgical treatment of sarcomas in the United States.1-3 It is unclear how much of this disparity is mediated by confounding factors such as medical comorbidities and socioeconomic status and how much can be explained by barriers to care caused by insurance status.

METHODS

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linkage data were procured for 7,056 patients undergoing treatment for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas in the extremities diagnosed between 2006 and 2013. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the relative contributions of insurance status, medical comorbidities, tumor factors, treatment characteristics, and other demographic factors (race, household income, education level, and urban/rural status) to overall survival.

RESULTS

Patients with Medicaid insurance had a 28% higher mortality rate over the period studied, compared with patients with private insurance (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.60, P = 0.026), even when accounting for all other confounding variables. The 28% higher mortality rate associated with having Medicaid insurance was equivalent to being approximately 10 years older at the time of diagnosis or having a Charlson comorbidity index of 4 rather than zero (hazard ratio, 1.27).

DISCUSSION

Insurance status is an independent predictor of mortality from sarcoma, with 28% higher mortality in those with pre-expansion Medicaid.4,5 This association between insurance status and higher mortality held true even when accounting for numerous other confounding factors. Additional study is necessary into the mechanism for this healthcare disparity for the uninsured and underinsured, as well as strategies to resolve this inequality.

Socioeconomic Impact of Cancer in Latin America and The Caribbean

The incidence of cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is increasing yearly and is expected to reach 2.4 million new cases by 2040, with a more pronounced effect in Central America and South America. In addition, cancer is already the most frequent cause of premature death for most countries in LAC, and the second cause of death independent of country socioeconomic status, clearly demonstrating that the cancer burden in LAC should be addressed now rather than considered as an issue to be dealt with in the future. LAC countries performed in a mid-range zone in terms of income and mortality-to-incidence ratio compared to other countries globally. The LAC continent has, in general, a median income per capita and a median availability of radiotherapy (RDT) machines per capita. Patients that have private health coverage are more likely to receive preventive care such as pap smears and mammography in many countries of the LAC. The human development index was negatively related to mortality from oral cancer in the LAC countries with medium and low Human Development Index (HDI). Cancer treatment adverse events can negatively affect survivors' workability compromising their return to work after diagnosis. In conclusion, the cancer burden can be a major public health issue with a considerable socioeconomic impact in LAC countries. It is demonstrated in several studies that unequal access to optimal care is frequent in LAC and that health insurance type may impact patients' diagnosis and outcome.

Exploring the Impact of Language Concordance on Cancer Communication

PURPOSE

Patients with cancer who have limited English proficiency are more likely to experience inequities in cancer knowledge, timely care, and access to clinical trials. Matching patients with language-concordant clinicians and working with professional interpreters can effectively reduce language-related disparities, but little data are available regarding the impact of language-concordant interactions in oncology care. This study aimed to assess the use of the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) in language-concordant and -discordant interactions for patients with non-English language preference presenting for an initial oncology visit at four New York City hospitals.

METHODS

We used the RIAS, a validated tool for qualitative coding and quantitative analysis, to evaluate interactions between 34 patients and 16 clinicians. The pairings were stratified into dyads: English language-concordant (n = 12); professionally interpreted (n = 11); partially language-concordant (n = 4, partially bilingual clinicians who communicated in Spanish and/or used ad hoc interpreters); and Spanish language-concordant (n = 7). A trained Spanish-speaking coder analyzed the recordings using established RIAS codes.

RESULTS

Spanish language-concordant clinicians had almost two-fold greater number of statements about biomedical information than English language-concordant clinicians. Spanish language-concordant patients had a higher tendency to engage in positive talk such as expressing agreement. The number of partnership/facilitation-related statements was equivalent for English and Spanish language-concordant groups but lower in professionally interpreted and partially language-concordant dyads.

CONCLUSION

Language concordance may facilitate more effective biomedical counseling and therapeutic relationships between oncology clinicians and patients. Future research should further explore the impact of language concordance on cancer-specific health outcomes.

Association of Race and Area Deprivation With Breast Cancer Survival Among Black and White Women in the State of Georgia

Importance

Increasing evidence suggests that low socioeconomic status and geographic residence in disadvantaged neighborhoods contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes. However, little epidemiological research has sought to better understand these disparities within the context of location.

Objective

To examine the association between neighborhood deprivation and racial disparities in mortality among Black and White patients with breast cancer in the state of Georgia.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based cohort study collected demographic and geographic data from patients diagnosed with breast cancer between January 1, 2004, and February 11, 2020, in 3 large health care systems in Georgia. A total of 19 580 patients with breast cancer were included: 12 976 from Piedmont Healthcare, 2285 from Grady Health System, and 4319 from Emory Healthcare. Data were analyzed from October 2, 2020, to August 11, 2022.

Exposures

Area deprivation index (ADI) scores were assigned to each patient based on their residential census block group. The ADI was categorized into quartile groups, and associations between ADI and race and ADI × race interaction were examined.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs associating ADI with overall mortality by race. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to visualize mortality stratified across racial and ADI groups.

Results

Of the 19 580 patients included in the analysis (mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 58.8 [13.2] years), 3777 (19.3%) died during the course of the study. Area deprivation index contributed differently to breast cancer outcomes for Black and White women. In multivariable-adjusted models, living in a neighborhood with a greater ADI (more deprivation) was associated with increased mortality for White patients with breast cancer; compared with the ADI quartile of less than 25 (least deprived), increased mortality HRs were found in quartiles of 25 to 49 (1.22 [95% CI, 1.07-1.39]), 50 to 74 (1.32 [95% CI, 1.13-1.53]), and 75 or greater (1.33 [95% CI, 1.07-1.65]). However, an increase in the ADI quartile group was not associated with changes in mortality for Black patients with breast cancer (quartile 25 to 49: HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.61-1.07]; quartile 50 to 74: HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.70-1.18]; and quartile ≥75: HR, 1.05 [95% CI, 0.70-1.36]). In neighborhoods with an ADI of 75 or greater, no racial disparity was observed in mortality (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.92-1.36]).

Conclusions and Relevance

Black women with breast cancer had higher mortality than White women in Georgia, but this disparity was not explained by ADI: among Black patients, low ADI was not associated with lower mortality. This lack of association warrants further investigation to inform community-level approaches that may mitigate the existing disparities in breast cancer outcomes in Georgia.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Mortality Related to Access to Care for Major Cancers in the United States

Importance: The reasons underlying racial/ethnic mortality disparities for cancer patients remain poorly understood, especially regarding the role of access to care. Participants: Over five million patients with a primary diagnosis of lung, breast, prostate, colon/rectum, pancreas, ovary, or liver cancer during 2004-2014, were identified from the National Cancer Database. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for total mortality associated with race/ethnicity, and access to care related factors (i.e., socioeconomic status [SES], insurance, treating facility, and residential type) for each cancer. Results: Racial/ethnic disparities in total mortality were observed across seven cancers. Compared with non-Hispanic (NH)-white patients, NH-black patients with breast (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.29), ovarian (HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.23), prostate (HR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.33), colorectal (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.12) or pancreatic (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.05) cancers had significantly elevated mortality, while Asians (13-31%) and Hispanics (13-19%) had lower mortality for all cancers. Racial/ethnic disparities were observed across all strata of access to care related factors and modified by those factors. NH-black and NH-white disparities were most evident among patients with high SES or those with private insurance, while Hispanic/Asian versus NH-white disparities were more evident among patients with low SES or those with no/poor insurance. Conclusions and Relevance: Racial/ethnic mortality disparities for major cancers exist across all patient groups with different access to care levels. The influence of SES or insurance on mortality disparity follows different patterns for racial/ethnic minorities versus NH-whites. Impact: Our study highlights the need for racial/ethnic-specific strategies to reduce the mortality disparities for major cancers.

Systematic review of neighborhood socioeconomic indices studied across the cancer control continuum

BACKGROUND

There is extensive interest in understanding how neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) may affect cancer incidence or survival. However, variability regarding items included and approaches used to form a composite nSES index presents challenges in summarizing overall associations with cancer. Given recent calls for standardized measures of neighborhood sociodemographic effects in cancer disparity research, the objective of this systematic review was to identify and compare existing nSES indices studied across the cancer continuum (incidence, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survival/mortality) and summarize associations by race/ethnicity and cancer site to inform future cancer disparity studies.

METHODS

Using PRISMA guidelines, peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2019 containing keywords related to nSES and cancer were identified in PubMed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four nSES indices were identified from 75 studies. In general, findings indicated a significant association between nSES and cancer outcomes (n = 64/75 studies; 85.33%), with 42/64 (65.63%) adjusting for highly-correlated individual SES factors (e.g., education). However, the direction of association differed by cancer site, race/ethnicity, and nSES index.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights several methodologic and conceptual issues surrounding nSES measurement and potential associations with cancer disparities. Recommendations pertaining to the selection of nSES measures are provided, which may help inform disparity-related disease processes and improve the identification of vulnerable populations in need of intervention.

Mediators of Racial Disparity in the Use of Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging Among Patients With Prostate Cancer

Importance

Racial disparity in the use of prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presents obstacles to closing gaps in prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.

Objective

To identify clinical, sociodemographic, and structural processes underlying racial disparity in the use of prostate MRI among men with a new diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based cohort study used mediation analysis to assess claims in the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database for prostate MRI among 39 534 patients with a diagnosis of localized prostate cancer from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015. Statistical analysis was performed from April 1, 2020, to September 1, 2021.

Exposure

Diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Claims for prostate MRI within 6 months before or after diagnosis of prostate cancer were assessed. Candidate clinical and sociodemographic meditators were identified based on their association with both race and prostate MRI, including the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE), as specified to measure racialized residential segregation. Mediation analysis was performed using nonlinear multiple additive regression trees models to estimate the direct and indirect effects of mediators.

Results

A total of 39 534 eligible male patients (3979 Black patients [10.1%] and 32 585 White patients [82.4%]; mean [SD] age, 72.8 [5.3] years) were identified. Black patients with prostate cancer were less likely than White patients to receive a prostate MRI (6.3% vs 9.9%; unadjusted odds ratio, 0.62, 95% CI, 0.54-0.70). Approximately 24% (95% CI, 14%-32%) of the racial disparity in prostate MRI use between Black and White patients was attributable to geographic differences (SEER registry), 19% (95% CI, 11%-28%) was attributable to neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (residence in a high-poverty area), 19% (95% CI, 10%-29%) was attributable to racialized residential segregation (ICE quintile), and 11% (95% CI, 7%-16%) was attributable to a marker of individual-level socioeconomic status (dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid). Clinical and pathologic factors were not significant mediators. In this model, the identified mediators accounted for 81% (95% CI, 64%-98%) of the observed racial disparity in prostate MRI use between Black and White patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this this population-based cohort study of US adults, mediation analysis revealed that sociodemographic factors and manifestations of structural racism, including poverty and residential segregation, explained most of the racial disparity in the use of prostate MRI among older Black and White men with prostate cancer. These findings can be applied to develop targeted strategies to improve cancer care equity.

Time to Surgical Treatment and Facility Characteristics as Potential Drivers of Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality

BACKGROUND

Black women are more likely to die of breast cancer than White women. This study evaluated the contribution of time to primary surgical management and surgical facility characteristics to racial disparities in breast cancer mortality among both Black and White women.

METHODS

The study identified 2224 Black and 3787 White women with a diagnosis with stages I to III breast cancer (2010-2014). Outcomes included time to surgical treatment (> 30 days from diagnosis) and breast cancer mortality. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associating surgical facility characteristics with surgical delay were computed, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs associating delay and facility characteristics with breast cancer mortality.

RESULTS

Black women were two times more likely to have a surgical delay (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.92-2.41) than White women. Racial disparity in surgical delay was least pronounced among women treated at a non-profit facility (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.70-2.25). The estimated mortality rate for Black women was two times that for White women (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.83-2.46). Racial disparities in breast cancer mortality were least pronounced among women who experienced no surgical delay (HR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.28-2.56), received surgery at a government facility (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.76-2.27), or underwent treatment at a Commission on Cancer-accredited facility (HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.38-2.40).

CONCLUSIONS

Black women were more likely to experience a surgical delay and breast cancer death. Persistent racial disparities in breast cancer mortality were observed across facility characteristics except for government facilities.

Variation in Cancer Incidence Rates Among Non-Hispanic Black Individuals Disaggregated by Nativity and Birthplace, 2005-2017: A Population-Based Cancer Registry Analysis

Objectives

Compared to other racial and ethnic groups, little to no disaggregated cancer incidence data exist for subgroups of non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs), despite heterogeneity in sociodemographic characteristics and cancer risk factors within this group. Our objective was to examine age-adjusted cancer incidence by nativity and birthplace among NHB cancer cases diagnosed in New Jersey.

Methods

Race, ethnicity, and birthplace data from the New Jersey State Cancer Registry were used to classify NHB cancer cases diagnosed between 2005-2017. Thirteen waves of population estimates (by county, nativity, gender, age-group) were derived from the American Community Survey using Integrated Public-Use Microdata to approximate yearly demographics. Age-adjusted cancer incidence rates (overall and by site) by birthplace were generated using SEER*Stat 8.3.8. Bivariate associations were assessed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Trend analyses were performed using Joinpoint 4.7.

Results

Birthplace was available for 62.3% of the 71,019 NHB cancer cases. Immigrants represented 12.3%, with African-born, Haitian-born, Jamaican-born, ‘other-Caribbean-born’, and ‘other-non-American-born’ accounting for 18.5%, 17.7%, 16.5%, 10.6%, and 36.8%, respectively. Overall, age-adjusted cancer incidence rates were lower for NHB immigrants for all sites combined and for several of the top five cancers, relative to American-born NHBs. Age-adjusted cancer incidence was lower among immigrant than American-born males (271.6 vs. 406.8 per 100,000) and females (191.9 vs. 299.2 per 100,000). Age-adjusted cancer incidence was lower for Jamaican-born (114.6 per 100,000) and other-Caribbean-born females (128.8 per 100,000) than African-born (139.4 per 100,000) and Haitian-born females (149.9 per 100,000). No significant differences in age-adjusted cancer incidence were observed by birthplace among NHB males. Age-adjusted cancer incidence decreased for all sites combined from 2005-2017 among American-born males, immigrant males, and American-born females, while NHB immigrant female rates remained relatively stable.

Conclusions

There is variation in age-adjusted cancer incidence rates across NHB subgroups, highlighting the need for more complete birthplace information in population-based registries to facilitate generating disaggregated cancer surveillance statistics by birthplace. This study fills a knowledge gap of critical importance for understanding and ultimately addressing cancer inequities.

Understanding gastrointestinal cancer mortality disparities in a racially and geographically diverse population

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers represent a diverse group of diseases. We assessed differences in geographic and racial disparities in cancer-specific mortality across subtypes, overall and by patient characteristics, in a geographically and racially diverse US population.

METHODS

Clinical, sociodemographic, and treatment characteristics for patients diagnosed during 2009-2014 with colorectal cancer (CRC), pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or gastric cancer in Georgia were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database. Patients were classified by geography (rural or urban county) and race and followed for cancer-specific death. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate stratified hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between geography or race and cancer-specific mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 77% of the study population resided in urban counties and 33% were non-Hispanic Black (NHB). For all subtypes, NHB patients were more likely to reside in urban counties than non-Hispanic White patients. Residing in a rural county was associated with an overall increased hazard of cancer-specific mortality for HCC (HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.02-1.31), pancreatic (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.03-1.19), and gastric cancer (HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03-1.32) but near-null for CRC. Overall racial disparities were observed for CRC (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.11-1.25) and HCC (HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01-1.24). Geographic disparities were most pronounced among HCC patients receiving surgery. Racial disparities were pronounced among CRC patients receiving any treatment.

CONCLUSION

Geographic disparities were observed for the rarer GI cancer subtypes, and racial disparities were pronounced for CRC. Treatment factors appear to largely drive both disparities.

Survival of Adolescents and Young Adults with Prevalent Poor-Prognosis Metastatic Cancers: A Population-Based Study of Contemporary Patterns and Their Implications

BACKGROUND

Although survival has improved dramatically for most adolescents and young adults (AYA; 15-39 years old) with cancer, it remains poor for those presenting with metastatic disease. To better characterize this subset, we conducted a landscape survival comparison with older adults (40-79 years).

METHODS

Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data from 2000 to 2016, we examined incident cases of poor-prognosis metastatic cancers (5-year survival < 50%) among AYAs (n = 11,518) and older adults (n = 345,681) and compared cause-specific survival by sociodemographic characteristics (race/ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status). Adjusted HRs (aHR) for death from metastatic disease [95% confidence intervals (95% CI)] were compared between AYAs and older adults (Pint).

RESULTS

AYAs had significantly better survival than older adults for every cancer site except kidney, where it was equivalent (range of aHRs = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.82-1.02 for kidney cancer to aHR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.26-0.42 for rhabdomyosarcoma). Compared with their older adult counterparts, greater survival disparities existed for AYAs who were non-Hispanic Black with uterine cancer (aHR = 2.20; 95% CI, 1.25-3.86 versus aHR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.28-1.54; Pint = 0.049) and kidney cancer (aHR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.15-1.98 versus aHR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03-1.17; Pint = 0.04); non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders with ovarian cancer (aHR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.12-1.93 versus aHR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.95; Pint<0.001); and males with colorectal cancer (aHR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.10-1.32 versus aHR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10; Pint = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

AYAs diagnosed with these metastatic cancers have better survival than older adults, but outcomes remain dismal.

IMPACT

Overcoming the impact of metastasis in these cancers is necessary for continuing progress in AYA oncology. Sociodemographic disparities affecting AYAs within kidney, uterine, ovarian, and colorectal cancer could indicate plausible effects of biology, environment, and/or access and should be explored.

Receipt of breast conservation over mastectomy in Black women- does breast cancer subtype matter?

BACKGROUND

Breast conservation surgery (BCS) and mastectomy have equivalent survivability. However, perception of surgical benefit may be affected by breast cancer subtypes, impacting procedure choice. We evaluate surgical management among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and White (NHW) breast cancer patients based on subtypes.

METHODS

Queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) including BCS eligible women with T1 (<2cm) breast cancer between 2011 and 2016. We selected NHB and NHW women and evaluated differences in sociodemographic variables and treatment including surgery. To determine factors associated with receipt of BCS, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed adjusting for age, race, surgery type and breast cancer subtypes.

RESULTS

Analyzed 390,278 women with 89.7% NHW and 10.3% NHB, of mean age 63 years. 55.4% vs. 53.5% of NHW compared to NHB women had BCS (p<.001) as initial cancer therapy. Statistically significant differences between NHB and NHW in surgery were found on univariate analysis in all breast cancer subtypes except Luminal B. NHB women with TNBC and Luminal A subtypes were more likely to undergo BCS on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences are found in the surgical management of breast cancer with Black women more likely to receive BCS, less likely to undergo mastectomy compared to White counterparts even with TNBC or her-2+ subtypes. Understanding surgical decision making and how knowledge of subtype is applied deserves further study in women of diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Impact of including second and later cancers in cause-specific survival estimates using population-based registry data

BACKGROUND

Second or later primary cancers account for approximately 20% of incident cases in the United States. Currently, cause-specific survival (CSS) analyses exclude these cancers because the cause of death (COD) classification algorithm was available only for first cancers. The authors added rules for later cancers to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cause-specific death classification algorithm and evaluated CSS to include individuals with prior tumors.

METHODS

The authors constructed 2 cohorts: 1) the first ever primary cohort, including patients whose first cancer was diagnosed during 2000 through 2016) and 2) the earliest matching primary cohort, including patients with any cancer who matched the selection criteria irrespective of whether it was the first or a later cancer diagnosed during 2000 through 2016. The cohorts' CSS estimates were compared using follow-up through December 31, 2017. The new rules were used in the second cohort for patients whose first cancers during 2000 through 2016 were their second or later cancers.

RESULTS

Overall, there were no statistically significant differences in CSS estimates between the 2 cohorts. Estimates were similar by age, stage, race, and time since diagnosis, except for patients with leukemia and those aged 65 to 74 years (3.4 percentage point absolute difference).

CONCLUSIONS

The absolute difference in CSS estimates for the first cancer ever cohort versus earliest of any cancers cohort in the study period was small for most cancer types. As the number of newly diagnosed patients with prior cancers increases, the algorithm will make CSS more inclusive and enable estimating survival for a group of patients with cancer for whom life tables are not available or life tables are available but do not capture other-cause mortality appropriately.

Pre-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a biomarker of frailty and predictor of survival among older adults with multiple myeloma

INTRODUCTION

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) combines a marker of inflammation and reduced cell turnover to reflect age related alterations in the immune system. Whether NLR can serve as a biomarker of frailty and predict survival among older adults with Multiple Myeloma (MM) is unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used an electronic health record-derived database to identify older adults (age ≥ 60y) with incident MM diagnosed between 1/2011 and 2/2020, with known pre-treatment absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte count up to 90 days before the start of therapy. The calculated NLR values were stratified into quartiles (Q1-Q4). We constructed a previously validated, simplified frailty index combining age, comorbidity and ECOG performance status. We measured the association between NLR quartiles and this frailty index using a logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex and race/ethnicity. We used Kaplan Meier methods and multivariable Cox regression to assess the impact of NLR on overall survival adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

We identified 1729 older adults with newly diagnosed MM, at a median age of 73y (IQR: 67-78y). The median NLR was 2.13 (IQR: 1.44 to 3.31). Of the 1135 evaluable patients, 55% met criteria for frailty. Multivariable analysis revealed a 2.1-fold higher odds of frailty (95%CI = 1.42-3.10, p < 0.001) for patients in the NLR Q4 group vs. NLR Q1 group. In a multivariable analysis, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, M-protein type, stage, high risk cytogenetics, baseline creatinine, LDH and type of first line therapy, patients in NLR Q4 group had a 1.51 times increased hazards of death (95%CI = 1.15-1.98, p 0.002) when compared to those in NLR Q1 group.

CONCLUSION

NLR, a readily available laboratory biomarker, is associated with frailty measured using a simplified frailty index as well as inferior overall survival among older adults with MM. Future studies should explore its value as a screening tool to identify frail older adults with MM.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation and Mortality in Children with Central Nervous System Tumors

BACKGROUND

Although there is evidence of socioeconomic disparities in survival of children diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation on the survival of these malignancies has not been adequately studied. We investigated the association between area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, and pediatric CNS tumor survival.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical characteristics, geocoded addresses at diagnosis, and vital status of pediatric CNS tumor cases (n = 5,477) for the period 1995 to 2017 were obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry. ADI scores were computed for census tracts in Texas using the U.S. Census Bureau 2010 geography. Tracts were classified into quartiles as least, third-most, second-most, and most disadvantaged. Children were mapped to quartiles based on residency at diagnosis. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

The results showed a significantly increased HR for death among children in the most (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.51), second-most (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01-1.38), and third-most disadvantaged census tracts (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.37) compared with children in the least disadvantaged tracts.

CONCLUSIONS

Children living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods experienced a significantly higher risk of mortality, indicating the important role of socioeconomic disparities in the survival of pediatric CNS tumors.

IMPACT

The demographic and socioeconomic disparities identified by this study should be considered when planning treatment strategies for these susceptible groups and thus, lead to a better outcome in socioeconomically disadvantaged children diagnosed with CNS tumors.

Neighborhood and Individual Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Survival Among Patients With Nonmetastatic Common Cancers

IMPORTANCE

Disadvantaged neighborhood-level and individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) have each been associated with suboptimal cancer care and inferior outcomes. However, independent or synergistic associations between neighborhood and individual socioeconomic disadvantage have not been fully examined, and prior studies using simplistic neighborhood SES measures may not comprehensively assess multiple aspects of neighborhood SES.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations of neighborhood SES (using a validated comprehensive composite measure) and individual SES with survival among patients with nonmetastatic common cancers.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective, population-based cohort study was derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2011, with follow-up ending on December 31, 2017. Participants included older patients (≥65 years) with breast, prostate, lung, or colorectal cancer.

EXPOSURES

Neighborhood SES was measured using the area deprivation index (ADI; quintiles), a validated comprehensive composite measure of neighborhood SES. Individual SES was assessed by Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility (yes vs no), a reliable indicator for patient-level low income.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was overall mortality, and the secondary outcome was cancer-specific mortality. Hazard ratios (HRs) for the associations of ADI and dual eligibility with overall and cancer-specific mortality were estimated via Cox proportional hazards regression. Statistical analyses were conducted from January 23 to April 15, 2021.

RESULTS

A total of 96 978 patients were analyzed, including 25 968 with breast, 35 150 with prostate, 16 684 with lung, and 19 176 with colorectal cancer. Median age at diagnosis was 76 years (IQR, 71-81 years) for breast cancer, 73 years (IQR, 70-77 years) for prostate cancer, 76 years (IQR, 71-81 years) for lung cancer, and 78 years (IQR, 72-84 years) for colorectal cancer. Among lung and colorectal cancer patients, 8412 (50.4%) and 10 486 (54.7%), respectively, were female. The proportion of non-Hispanic White individuals among breast cancer patients was 83.7% (n = 21 725); prostate cancer, 76.8% (n = 27 001); lung cancer, 83.5% (n = 13 926); and colorectal cancer, 81.1% (n = 15 557). Neighborhood-level and individual-level SES were independently associated with overall mortality, and no interactions were detected. Compared with the most affluent neighborhoods (ADI quintile 1), living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (ADI quintile 5) was associated with higher risk of overall mortality (breast: HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.26-1.43; prostate: HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.42-1.62; lung: HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.14-1.28; and colorectal: HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.17-1.32). Individual socioeconomic disadvantage (dual eligibility) was associated with higher risk of overall mortality (breast: HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.15-1.29; prostate: HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.21-1.38; lung: HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09-1.20; and colorectal: HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.29). A similar pattern was observed for cancer-specific mortality.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cohort study, neighborhood-level deprivation was associated with worse survival among patients with nonmetastatic breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer, even after accounting for individual SES. These findings suggest that, in order to improve cancer outcomes and reduce health disparities, policies for ongoing investments in low-resource neighborhoods and low-income households are needed.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Outcomes Among Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Scoping Review

The five-year survival rate of childhood cancer has increased substantially over the past 50 yr; however, racial/ethnic disparities in health outcomes of survival have not been systematically reviewed. This scoping review summarized health disparities between racial/ethnic minorities (specifically non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic) and non-Hispanic White childhood cancer survivors, and elucidated factors that may explain disparities in health outcomes. We used the terms “race”, “ethnicity”, “childhood cancer”, “pediatric cancer”, and “survivor” to search the title and abstract for the articles published in PubMed and Scopus from inception to February 2021. After removing duplicates, 189 articles were screened, and 23 empirical articles were included in this review study. All study populations were from North America, and the mean distribution of race/ethnicity was 6.9% for non-Hispanic Black and 4.5% for Hispanic. Health outcomes were categorized as healthcare utilization, patient-reported outcomes, chronic health conditions, and survival status. We found robust evidence of racial/ethnic disparities over four domains of health outcomes. However, health disparities were explained by clinical factors (e.g., diagnosis, treatment), demographic (e.g., age, sex), individual-level socioeconomic status (SES; e.g., educational attainment, personal income, health insurance coverage), family-level SES (e.g., family income, parent educational attainment), neighborhood-level SES (e.g., geographic location), and lifestyle health risk (e.g., cardiovascular risk) in some but not all articles. We discuss the importance of collecting comprehensive social determinants of racial/ethnic disparities inclusive of individual-level, family-level, and neighborhood-level SES. We suggest integrating these variables into healthcare systems (e.g., electronic health records), and utilizing information technology and analytics to better understand the disparity gap for racial/ethnic minorities of childhood cancer survivors. Furthermore, we suggest national and local efforts to close the gap through improving health insurance access, education and transportation aid, racial-culture-specific social learning interventions, and diversity informed training.

Genetic Contributions to Prostate Cancer Disparities in Men of West African Descent

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of death in men worldwide, after adjusting for age. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, continents such as North America and Europe report higher incidence of PCa; however, mortality rates are highest among men of African ancestry in the western, southern, and central regions of Africa and the Caribbean. The American Cancer Society reports, African Americans (AAs), in the United States, have a 1.7 increased incidence and 2.4 times higher mortality rate, compared to European American's (EAs). Hence, early population history in west Africa and the subsequent African Diaspora may play an important role in understanding the global disproportionate burden of PCa shared among Africans and other men of African descent. Nonetheless, disparities involved in diagnosis, treatment, and survival of PCa patients has also been correlated to socioeconomic status, education and access to healthcare. Although recent studies suggest equal PCa treatments yield equal outcomes among patients, data illuminates an unsettling reality of disparities in treatment and care in both, developed and developing countries, especially for men of African descent. Yet, even after adjusting for the effects of the aforementioned factors; racial disparities in mortality rates remain significant. This suggests that molecular and genomic factors may account for much of PCa disparities.

Racial Differences in Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Impact on Breast and Axillary Surgical Management

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), an increasingly used method for breast cancer patients, has the potential to downstage patient tumors and thereby have an impact on surgical options for treatment of the breast and axilla. Previous studies have identified racial disparities in tumor heterogeneity, nodal recurrence, and NAC completion. This report compares the effects of NAC response among non-Hispanic white women and black women in relation to surgical treatment of the breast and axilla.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 85,303 women with stages 1 to 3 breast cancer in the National Cancer Database who received NAC between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016 was conducted. Differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables between black patients and white patients with breast cancer were tested.

RESULTS

The study identified 68,880 non-Hispanic white and 16,423 non-Hispanic black women who received NAC. The average age at diagnosis was 54.8 years for the white women versus 52.5 years for the black women. A higher proportion of black women had stage 3 disease, more poorly differentiated tumors, and triple-negative subtype. The black women had lower rates of complete pathologic response, more breast-conservation surgery, and higher rates of axillary lymph node dissection, but fewer sentinel lymph node biopsies. Axillary management for the women who were downstaged showed more use of axillary lymph node dissection for black women compared with sentinel lymph node biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

The black patients were younger at diagnosis, had more advanced disease, and were more likely to have breast-conservation surgery. De-escalating axillary surgery is being adopted increasingly but used disproportionately for white women.

Cancer mortality in a population-based cohort of American Indians - The strong heart study

BACKGROUND

Cancer mortality among American Indian (AI) people varies widely, but factors associated with cancer mortality are infrequently assessed.

METHODS

Cancer deaths were identified from death certificate data for 3516 participants of the Strong Heart Study, a population-based cohort study of AI adults ages 45-74 years in Arizona, Oklahoma, and North and South Dakota. Cancer mortality was calculated by age, sex and region. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess independent associations between baseline factors in 1989 and cancer death by 2010.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 15.3 years, the cancer death rate per 1000 person-years was 6.33 (95 % CI 5.67-7.04). Cancer mortality was highest among men in North/South Dakota (8.18; 95 % CI 6.46-10.23) and lowest among women in Arizona (4.57; 95 % CI 2.87-6.92). Factors independently associated with increased cancer mortality included age, current or former smoking, waist circumference, albuminuria, urinary cadmium, and prior cancer history. Factors associated with decreased cancer mortality included Oklahoma compared to Dakota residence, higher body mass index and total cholesterol. Sex was not associated with cancer mortality. Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer mortality overall (1.56/1000 person-years), but no lung cancer deaths occurred among Arizona participants. Mortality from unspecified cancer was relatively high (0.48/100 person-years; 95 % CI 0.32-0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

Regional variation in AI cancer mortality persisted despite adjustment for individual risk factors. Mortality from unspecified cancer was high. Better understanding of regional differences in cancer mortality, and better classification of cancer deaths, will help healthcare programs address cancer in AI communities.

Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Care Does Not Explain Breast Cancer Mortality Disparities by Race in Metropolitan Atlanta

BACKGROUND

Racial disparities in breast cancer mortality in the United States are well documented. Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women are more likely to die of their disease than their non-Hispanic White (NHW) counterparts. The disparity is most pronounced among women diagnosed with prognostically favorable tumors, which may result in part from variations in their receipt of guideline care. In this study, we sought to estimate the effect of guideline-concordant care (GCC) on prognosis, and to evaluate whether receipt of GCC modified racial disparities in breast cancer mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using the Georgia Cancer Registry, we identified 2,784 NHB and 4,262 NHW women diagnosed with a stage I-III first primary breast cancer in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Georgia, between 2010 and 2014. Women were included if they received surgery and information on their breast tumor characteristics was available; all others were excluded. Receipt of recommended therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and anti-HER2 therapy) as indicated was considered GCC. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the impact of receiving GCC on breast cancer mortality overall and by race, with multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

We found that NHB and NHW women were almost equally likely to receive GCC (65% vs 63%, respectively). Failure to receive GCC was associated with an increase in the hazard of breast cancer mortality (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.37-2.20). However, racial disparities in breast cancer mortality persisted despite whether GCC was received (HRGCC: 2.17 [95% CI, 1.61-2.92]; HRnon-GCC: 1.81 [95% CI, 1.28-2.91] ).

CONCLUSIONS

Although receipt of GCC is important for breast cancer outcomes, racial disparities in breast cancer mortality did not diminish with receipt of GCC; differences in mortality between Black and White patients persisted across the strata of GCC.

Integrating Electronic Health Record, Cancer Registry, and Geospatial Data to Study Lung Cancer in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Ethnic Groups

BACKGROUND

A relatively high proportion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) females with lung cancer have never smoked. We used an integrative data approach to assemble a large-scale cohort to study lung cancer risk among AANHPIs by smoking status with attention to representation of specific AANHPI ethnic groups.

METHODS

We leveraged electronic health records (EHRs) from two healthcare systems-Sutter Health in northern California and Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i-that have high representation of AANHPI populations. We linked EHR data on lung cancer risk factors (i.e., smoking, lung diseases, infections, reproductive factors, and body size) to data on incident lung cancer diagnoses from statewide population-based cancer registries of California and Hawai'i for the period between 2000 and 2013. Geocoded address data were linked to data on neighborhood contextual factors and regional air pollutants.

RESULTS

The dataset comprises over 2.2 million adult females and males of any race/ethnicity. Over 250,000 are AANHPI females (19.6% of the female study population). Smoking status is available for over 95% of individuals. The dataset includes 7,274 lung cancer cases, including 613 cases among AANHPI females. Prevalence of never-smoking status varied greatly among AANHPI females with incident lung cancer, from 85.7% among Asian Indian to 14.4% among Native Hawaiian females.

CONCLUSION

We have developed a large, multilevel dataset particularly well-suited to conduct prospective studies of lung cancer risk among AANHPI females who never smoked.

IMPACT

The integrative data approach is an effective way to conduct cancer research assessing multilevel factors on cancer outcomes among small populations.

Evaluation of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Treatment and Mortality Among Women With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Importance

To our knowledge, there is no consensus regarding differences in treatment and mortality between non-Hispanic African American and non-Hispanic White women with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Little is known about whether racial disparities vary by sociodemographic, clinical, and neighborhood factors.

Objective

To examine the differences in clinical treatment and outcomes between African American and White women in a nationally representative cohort of patients with TNBC and further examine the contributions of sociodemographic, clinical, and neighborhood factors to TNBC outcome disparities.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based, retrospective cohort study included 23 123 women who received a diagnosis of nonmetastatic TNBC between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015, followed up through December 31, 2016, and identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data set. The study was conducted from July 2019 to November 2020. The analyses were performed from July 2019 to June 2020.

Exposures

Race and ethnicity, including non-Hispanic African American and non-Hispanic White race.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Using logistic regression analysis and competing risk regression analysis, we estimated odds ratios (ORs) of receipt of treatment and hazard ratios (HRs) of breast cancer mortality in African American patients compared with White patients.

Results

Of 23 213 participants, 5881 (25.3%) were African American women and 17 332 (74.7%) were White women. Compared with White patients, African American patients had lower odds of receiving surgery (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60-0.79) and chemotherapy (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.99) after adjustment for sociodemographic, clinicopathologic, and county-level factors. During a 43-month follow-up, 3276 patients (14.2%) died of breast cancer. The HR of breast cancer mortality was 1.28 (95% CI, 1.18-1.38) for African American individuals after adjustment for sociodemographic and county-level factors. Further adjustment for clinicopathological and treatment factors reduced the HR to 1.16 (95% CI, 1.06-1.25). This association was observed in patients living in socioeconomically less deprived counties (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.39), urban patients (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.11-1.32), patients having stage II (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02-1.39) or III (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01-1.31) tumors that were treated with chemotherapy, and patients younger than 65 years (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12-1.37).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this retrospective cohort study, African American women with nonmetastatic TNBC had a significantly higher risk of breast cancer mortality compared with their White counterparts, which was partially explained by their disparities in receipt of surgery and chemotherapy.

Interaction between race and prostate cancer treatment benefit in the Veterans Health Administration

BACKGROUND

Studies have demonstrated that Black men may undergo definitive prostate cancer (CaP) treatment less often than men of other races, but it is unclear whether they are avoiding overtreatment of low-risk disease or experiencing a reduction in appropriate care. The authors' aim was to assess the role of race as it relates to treatment benefit in access to CaP treatment in a single-payer population.

METHODS

The authors used the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Corporate Data Warehouse to perform a retrospective cohort study of veterans diagnosed with low- or intermediate-risk CaP between 2011 and 2017.

RESULTS

The authors identified 35,427 men with incident low- or intermediate-risk CaP. When they controlled for covariates, Black men had 1.05 times the odds of receiving treatment in comparison with non-Black men (P < .001), and high-treatment-benefit men had 1.4 times the odds of receiving treatment in comparison with those in the low-treatment-benefit group (P < .001). The interaction of race and treatment benefit was significant, with Black men in the high-treatment-benefit category less likely to receive treatment than non-Black men in the same treatment category (odds ratio, 0.89; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although race does appear to influence the receipt of definitive treatment in the VHA, this relationship varies in the context of the patient's treatment benefit, with Black men receiving less definitive treatment in high-benefit situations. The influence of patient race at high treatment benefit levels invites further investigation into the driving forces behind this persistent disparity in this consequential group.

Changes in colorectal cancer knowledge and screening intention among Ohio African American and Appalachian participants: The screen to save initiative

African Americans and Appalachians experience greater incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer due to factors, such as reduced prevalence of screening. An educational session (the Screen to Save Initiative) was conducted to increase intent to screen for colorectal cancer among African Americans and Appalachians in Ohio. Using a community-based approach, from April to September 2017, 85 eligible participants were recruited in Franklin County and Appalachia Ohio. Participants completed a knowledge assessment on colorectal cancer before and after participating in either an educational PowerPoint session or a guided tour through an Inflatable Colon. Logistic regression models were used to determine what factors were associated with changes in colorectal cancer knowledge and intent to screen for colorectal cancer. The majority (71.79%) of participants gained knowledge about colorectal cancer after the intervention. Multivariate results showed that race (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11–0.80 for African Americans versus White participants) and intervention type (OR = 5.97; 95% CI: 1.94–18.43 for PowerPoint versus Inflatable Colon) were associated with a change in knowledge. The association between education and intent to screen was marginally statistically significant (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.16–1.13 for college graduate versus not a college graduate). A change in colorectal cancer knowledge was not associated with intent to screen. Future educational interventions should be modified to increase intent to screen and screening for colorectal cancer. Further research with these modified interventions should aim to reduce disparities in CRC among underserved populations while listening to the voices of the communities.

Using the health belief model to assess racial/ethnic disparities in cancer-related behaviors in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center catchment area

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic minorities experience well-documented disparities across the cancer trajectory. However, factors underlying these disparities may vary regionally. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was developed to explain and predict health-related prevention and early detection behaviors, particularly uptake of health services. Our goal was to use the HBM to guide an exploration of factors that contribute to racial/ethnic health disparities in the catchment area of a large National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Southeastern United States.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected by the cancer center for its triennial Community Health Needs Assessment, which sampled adults from the center's 15-county catchment area. White non-Hispanics (WNHs; n = 887), Black non-Hispanics (BNHs; n = 78), Hispanics/Latinxs (H/Ls; n = 185), and those identifying as another race/ethnicity ("Others"; n = 39) were compared across key HBM variables, including demographic/psychosocial information, perceived benefits and barriers to preventive health behaviors, risk perception, and health behavior outcomes.

RESULTS

Controlling for annual household income, relationship status, and age (for certain screening behaviors), significant differences were seen in information-seeking behaviors, risk perception, community attributes, discrimination, and distress. Non-WNH groups reported worse community attributes, higher everyday discrimination, lower health literacy, less confidence in their ability to get health information, and lower perceived risk of cancer.

CONCLUSION

This analysis presents a better understanding of how HBM factors may influence health disparities in the cancer center's catchment area. Results describe the needs of community members from racial and ethnic minority groups, which will inform future research, education, outreach, and service activities.

Poor-Prognosis Metastatic Cancers in Adolescents and Young Adults: Incidence Patterns, Trends, and Disparities

Background

For adolescents and young adults (AYAs, aged 15-39 years) with cancer, metastatic disease at diagnosis is the strongest predictor of mortality, but its associations with age and sociodemographic factors are largely unexplored.

Methods

Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data from 2000 to 2016, we collected incident cases of poor-prognosis metastatic cancer (5-year survival < 50%) and compared the proportion, incidence, time trends, and incidence rate ratios for race and ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status among AYAs, middle-aged adults (aged 40-64 years) and older adults (aged 65-79 years).

Results

From 2000 to 2016, a total of 17 210 incident cases of poor-prognosis metastatic cancer were diagnosed in AYAs, 121 274 in middle-aged adults, and 364 228 in older adults. Compared with older patients, the proportion of AYAs having metastatic disease was equivalent or substantially lower in nearly every site except stomach and breast cancers, which were statistically significantly higher for AYAs compared with middle-aged and older adults (stomach: 57.3% vs 46.4% and 39.5%; breast: 6.6% vs 4.4% and 5.6%, respectively; 2-sided P < .001 for all comparisons). Incidence rates rose significantly faster among AYAs for breast, stomach, and kidney cancers and among AYAs and middle-aged adults for colorectal cancer. Markedly higher incidence rate ratios were noted for AYA racial and ethnic minorities with breast, stomach, and especially kidney cancer, where only non-Hispanic Black AYAs were at considerably higher risk. For most sites, incidence rate ratios were higher among male patients and individuals of low socioeconomic status across age groups.

Conclusions

For most cancers, AYAs are not more likely to present with metastases than middle-aged and older adults. Further investigation is warranted for the disproportionate rise in incidence of metastatic breast, stomach, and kidney cancer among AYAs and their excess burden among AYA racial and ethnic minorities. The rising incidence of colorectal cancer among AYAs and middle-aged adults remains an additional concern.

Chromosome 1 abnormalities and survival of patients with multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents

Chromosome 1 abnormalities (C1As) are common genetic aberrations among patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We aimed to evaluate the significance of C1As among a contemporary cohort of patients with MM in the United States. We used electronic health records from the Flatiron Health database to select patients newly diagnosed with MM from January 2011 to March 2018 who were tested using fluorescence in situ hybridization within 90 days of diagnosis. We characterized patients as having documented C1As or other high-risk chromosomal abnormalities (HRCAs) as defined by the Revised-International Staging System (R-ISS) such as del(17p), t(14;16), and t(4;14). We used Kaplan-Meier methods to compare overall survival (OS) of patients with or without C1As and stratified log-rank tests (with the presence of HRCAs as a stratifying variable). We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to compare OS, adjusting for age, sex, stage, HRCAs, and type of first-line therapy. Of 3578 eligible patients, 844 (24%) had documented C1As. Compared with patients without C1As, patients with C1As were more likely to have higher stage (R-ISS stage III; 18% vs 12%), to have HRCAs (27% vs 14%), and to receive combinations of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents (41% vs 34%). Median OS was lower for patients with C1As (46.6 vs 70.1 months; log-rank P < .001). C1As were independently associated with worse OS (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.69; P < .001), as were older age, higher R-ISS stage, HRCAs, and immunoglobulin A isotype. C1As were associated with inferior OS, independent of other HRCAs, despite greater use of novel therapies. Clinical trials testing newer therapies for high-risk MM should incorporate patients with C1As.