Disentangling Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Treatment for Colorectal Cancer

Social Vulnerability and Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Care among Patients with Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Cancer outcome disparities have been reported in highly vulnerable communities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of social vulnerability with receipt of guideline-concordant care (GCC) and mortality risk for patients with colorectal cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective observational study identified patients with stage I to III colon or stage II to III rectal cancer between 2018 and 2020 from the National Program of Cancer Registries Database. Data were merged with the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) at the county level. GCC was defined as stage-appropriate lymphadenectomy, radiation therapy, or systemic therapy. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression investigated associations of SVI, as a continuous and categorical variable stratified into quartiles, with GCC and 3-year cancer-specific mortality risk, respectively.

RESULTS

Among 124,950 patients (colon, 102,399; rectal, 22,551), median SVI was 60.9 (interquartile range 35.0 to 79.5). Patients in the highest SVI quartile had 21% decreased odds of receiving GCC (95% CI 0.76 to 0.83). Treatment at Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited hospitals was associated with increased GCC (odds ratio 1.79; 95% CI 1.72 to 1.85). Although there was an inverse, decreasing association between SVI and probability of GCC, probability at non-CoC-accredited hospitals declined faster than at CoC-accredited hospitals (p < 0.05). After adjusting for receipt of GCC, highly vulnerable patients treated at CoC-accredited hospitals had decreased mortality risk (hazard ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.83 to 0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

For highly vulnerable patients, treatment at CoC-accredited hospitals was associated with increased receipt of GCC and decreased mortality risk, which may reflect CoC accreditation requirements for treatment guideline adherence, community engagement, and addressing barriers to care.

Typology of solutions addressing diagnostic disparities: gaps and opportunities

OBJECTIVES

Diagnostic disparities are preventable differences in diagnostic errors or opportunities to achieve diagnostic excellence. There is a need to summarize solutions with explicit considerations for addressing diagnostic disparities. We aimed to describe potential solutions to diagnostic disparities, organize them into an action-oriented typology with illustrative examples, and characterize these solutions to identify gaps for their further development.

METHODS

During four human-centered design workshops composed of diverse expertise, participants ideated and clarified potential solutions to diagnostic disparities and were supported by environmental literature scan inputs. Nineteen individual semi-structured interviews with workshop participants validated identified solution examples and solution type characterizations, refining the typology.

RESULTS

Our typology organizes 21 various types of potential diagnostic disparities solutions into four primary expertise categories needed for implementation: healthcare systems' internal expertise, educator-, multidisciplinary patient safety researcher-, and health IT-expertise. We provide descriptions of potential solution types ideated as focused on disparities and compare those to existing examples. Six types were characterized as having diagnostic-disparity-focused examples, five as having diagnostic-focused examples, and 10 as only having general healthcare examples. Only three solution types had widespread implementation. Twelve had implementation on limited scope, and six were mostly hypothetical. We describe gaps that inform the progress needed for each of the suggested solution types to specifically address diagnostic disparities and be suitable for the implementation in routine practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous opportunities exist to tailor existing solutions and promote their implementation. Likely enablers include new perspectives, more evidence, multidisciplinary collaborations, system redesign, meaningful patient engagement, and action-oriented coalitions.

Racial and ethnic disparities in access to total neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Total neoadjuvant therapy has revolutionized the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer and quickly become the new standard of care. Whether patients from all racial and ethnic groups have had equal access to these potential benefits, however, remains unknown.

METHODS

We identified all adults diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer in California who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation from 2010 to 2020 using the California Cancer Registry. We used logistic regression to estimate the predicted probability of receiving total neoadjuvant therapy as opposed to traditional chemoradiotherapy for each racial and ethnic group and used a time-race interaction to evaluate trends in access to total neoadjuvant therapy over time. We also compared survival by racial and ethnic group and total neoadjuvant therapy status using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

In total, 6,856 patients met inclusion criteria. Overall, 36.6% of patients received total neoadjuvant therapy in 2010 compared with 66.3% in 2020. Latino patients were significantly less likely than non-Latino White patients to undergo total neoadjuvant therapy ; however, there was no difference in the rate of growth in total neoadjuvant therapy over time between racial and ethnic groups. Non-Latino Black patients appeared to have lower risk-adjusted survival compared with non-Latino White patients, although not among patients who underwent total neoadjuvant therapy .

CONCLUSION

Access to total neoadjuvant therapy has increased significantly over time in California with no apparent difference in the rate of growth between racial and ethnic groups. We found no evidence of racial or ethnic disparities in survival among patients treated with total neoadjuvant therapy, suggesting that increasing access to high-quality cancer care may also improve health equity.

Cancer research funding in South Asia

BACKGROUND

The rising burden of cancer significantly influences the global economy and healthcare systems. While local and contextual cancer research is crucial, it is often limited by the availability of funds. In South Asia, with 1.7 million new cancer cases and 1.1 million deaths due to cancer in 2020, understanding cancer research funding trends is pivotal.

METHODS

We reviewed funded cancer studies conducted between January 1, 2003, and Dec 31, 2022, using ClinicalTrials.gov, International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP) Database, NIH World RePORT, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). We included funded studies related to all cancer types, conducted in South Asian countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

RESULTS

We identified 6561 funded cancer studies from South Asia between 2003 and 2022, increasing from 400 studies in 2003-2007 to 3909 studies in 2018-2022. India had the highest number of funded cancer studies, while Afghanistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives had minimal or no funded cancer research output. Interventional studies (67.3%) were the most common study type funded. The most common cancer sites funded were breast (17.8%), lung (9.9%), oropharyngeal (6.2%), and cervical (5.0%) cancers. On the WHO ICTRP, international funding agencies contributed to a majority of studies (57.5%), except in India where local funding agencies (58.2%) funded more studies.

CONCLUSION

This study identified gaps in research funding distribution across cancer types and geographic areas in South Asia. This data can be used to optimize the distribution of cancer research funding in South Asia, fostering equitable advancement in cancer research.

Colon Cancer Survival Among South Asian Americans: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a National Dataset

INTRODUCTION

Colon cancer (CC) is one of the most common cancers among South Asian Americans (SAAs). The objective of this study was to measure differences in risk-adjusted survival among SAAs with CC compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) using a representative national dataset from the United States.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients with CC in the National Cancer Database (2004-2020) was performed. Differences in presentation, management, median overall survival (OS), three-year survival, and five-year survival between SAAs and NHWs were compared. Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable Cox regression were used to assess differences in survival outcomes, adjusting for demographics, presentation, and treatments received.

RESULTS

Data from 2873 SAA and 639,488 NHW patients with CC were analyzed. SAAs were younger at diagnosis (62.2 versus 69.5 y, P < 0.001), higher stage (stage III [29.0% versus 26.2%, P = 0.001] or Stage IV [21.4% versus 20.0%, P = 0.001]), and experienced delays to first treatment (SAA 5.9% versus 4.9%, P = 0.003). SAAs with CC had higher OS (median not achieved versus 68.1 mo for NHWs), three-year survival (76.3% versus 63.4%), and five-year survival (69.1% versus 52.9%). On multivariable Cox regression, SAAs with CC had a lower risk of death across all stages (hazard ratio: 0.64, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this national study, SAA patients with CC presented earlier in life with more advanced disease, and a higher proportion experienced treatment delay compared to NHW patients. Despite these differences, SAAs had better adjusted OS than NHW, warranting further exploration of tumor biology and socioeconomic determinants of cancer outcomes in SAAs.

Traditional Mexican dietary pattern and cancer risk among women of Mexican descent

PURPOSE

To examine the association of a traditional Mexican diet score with risk of total, breast, and colorectal cancer among women of Mexican ethnic descent in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

METHODS

Participants were WHI enrollees who self-identified as being of Mexican descent. Data from food frequency questionnaires self-administered at study baseline were used to calculate the MexD score, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to an a priori-defined traditional Mexican diet (high in dietary fiber, vegetables, and legumes). Incident cancers were self-reported by participants from 1993 to 2020 and adjudicated by trained physicians. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Among 2,343 Mexican descent women (median baseline age: 59 years), a total of 270 cancers (88 breast, 37 colorectal) occurred during a mean follow-up of 14.4 years. The highest tertile of MexD score was associated with a lower risk of all-cancer incidence (HR: 0.67; 95% CI 0.49-0.91; p-trend: 0.01) and colorectal cancer (HR: 0.38; 95% CI 0.14-0.998; p-trend < 0.05), with each unit increase in the MexD score associated with a 6% lower risk of all-cancer incidence (HR: 0.94; 95% CI 0.88-0.99). There was no statistically significant association with risk of breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Consumption of a traditional Mexican diet was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cancer incidence and colorectal cancer. Confirmation of these findings in future studies is important, given the prevalence of colorectal cancer and a growing U.S. population of women of Mexican descent.

African American and Hispanic Cancer Survivors' and Caregivers' Experiences in Nebraska

Racial and ethnic minority populations experience poorer cancer outcomes compared to non-Hispanic White populations, but qualitative studies have typically focused on single subpopulations. We explored experiences, perceptions, and attitudes toward cancer care services across the care continuum from screening through treatment among African American and Hispanic residents of Nebraska to identify unique needs for education, community outreach, and quality improvement. We conducted four focus groups (N = 19), April-August 2021 with people who were aged 30 or older and who self-identified as African American or Hispanic and as cancer survivors or caregivers. Sessions followed a structured facilitation guide, were audio recorded and transcribed, and were analyzed with a directed content analysis approach. Historical, cultural, and socioeconomic factors often led to delayed cancer care, such as general disuse of healthcare until symptoms were severe due to mistrust and cost of missing work. Obstacles to care included financial barriers, transportation, lack of support groups, and language-appropriate services (for Hispanic groups). Knowledge of cancer and cancer prevention varied widely; we identified a need for better community education about cancer within the urban Hispanic community. Participants had positive experiences and a sense of hope from the cancer care team. African American and Hispanic participants shared many similar perspectives about cancer care. Our results are being used in collaboration with national and regional cancer support organizations to expand their reach in communities of color, but structural and cultural barriers still need to be addressed.

Racial disparities in the relationship of regional socioeconomic status and colorectal cancer survival in the five regions of Georgia

INTRODUCTION

The study's purpose was to examine 5-year colorectal cancer (CRC) survival rates between White and Black patients. We also determined whether regional socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with CRC survival between White and Black patients in the Clayton, West Central, East Central, Southeast, and Northeast Georgia public health districts.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis using data from the 1975 to 2016 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. The 2015 United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Services county typology codes were used to identify region-level SES with persistent poverty, low employment, and low education. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard regression were performed.

RESULTS

Among 10,876 CRC patients (31.1% Black patients), 5-year CRC survival rates were lower among Black patients compared to White patients (65.4% vs. 69.9%; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, White patients living in regions with persistent poverty had a 1.1-fold increased risk of CRC death (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00-1.25) compared to those living in non-persistent poverty regions. Among Black patients, those living in regions with low education were at a 1.2-fold increased risk of CRC death (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01-1.40) compared to those living in non-low education regions.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Black patients demonstrated lower CRC survival rates in Georgia compared to their White counterparts. White patients living in regions with persistent poverty, and Black patients living in regions with low education had an increased risk of CRC death. Our findings provide important evidence to all relevant stakeholders in allocating health resources aimed at CRC early detection and prevention and timely referral for CRC treatment by considering the patient's regional SES in Georgia.

Neighborhood social vulnerability and disparities in time to kidney cancer surgical treatment and survival in Arizona

BACKGROUND

Hispanics and American Indians (AI) have high kidney cancer incidence and mortality rates in Arizona. This study assessed: (1) whether racial and ethnic minority patients and patients from neighborhoods with high social vulnerability index (SVI) experience a longer time to surgery after clinical diagnosis, and (2) whether time to surgery, race and ethnicity, and SVI are associated with upstaging to pT3/pT4, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).

METHODS

Arizona Cancer Registry (2009-2018) kidney and renal pelvis cases (n = 4592) were analyzed using logistic regression models to assess longer time to surgery and upstaging. Cox-regression hazard models were used to test DFS and OS.

RESULTS

Hispanic and AI patients with T1 tumors had a longer time to surgery than non-Hispanic White patients (median time of 56, 55, and 45 days, respectively). Living in neighborhoods with high (≥75) overall SVI increased odds of a longer time to surgery for cT1a (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.02-2.31) and cT2 (OR 2.32, 95% CI: 1.13-4.73). Race and ethnicity were not associated with time to surgery. Among cT1a patients, a longer time to surgery increased odds of upstaging to pT3/pT4 (OR 1.95, 95% CI: 0.99-3.84). A longer time to surgery was associated with PFS (HR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.17-1.99) and OS (HR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.26-2.11). Among patients with cT2 tumor, living in high SVI neighborhoods was associated with worse OS (HR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.07-2.57).

CONCLUSIONS

High social vulnerability was associated with increased time to surgery and poor survival after surgery.

Association Between Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities and Hospital Performance in Treatment and Outcomes for Patients with Colon Cancer

BACKGROUND

Disparities in colon cancer care and outcomes by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and insurance are well recognized; however, the extent to which inequalities are driven by patient factors versus variation in hospital performance remains unclear. We sought to compare disparities in care delivery and outcomes at low- and high-performing hospitals.

METHODS

We identified patients with stage I-III colon adenocarcinoma from the 2012-2017 National Cancer Database. Adequate lymphadenectomy and timely adjuvant chemotherapy administration defined hospital performance. Multilevel regression models evaluated disparities by race/ethnicity, SES, and insurance at the lowest- and highest-performance quartile hospitals.

RESULTS

Of 92,573 patients from 704 hospitals, 45,982 (49.7%) were treated at 404 low-performing hospitals and 46,591 (50.3%) were treated at 300 high-performing hospitals. Low-performing hospitals treated more non-Hispanic (NH) Black, Hispanic, low SES, and Medicaid patients (all p < 0.01). Among low-performing hospitals, patients with low versus high SES (odds ratio [OR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-0.92), and Medicare (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.96) and Medicaid (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.96) versus private insurance, had decreased odds of receiving high-quality care. At high-performing hospitals, NH Black versus NH White patients (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.95) had decreased odds of receiving high-quality care. Low SES, Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured patients had worse overall survival at low- and high-performing hospitals (all p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Disparities in receipt of high-quality colon cancer care occurred by SES and insurance at low-performing hospitals, and by race at high-performing hospitals. However, survival disparities by SES and insurance exist irrespective of hospital performance. Future steps include improving low-performing hospitals and identifying mechanisms affecting survival disparities.

The Association of Oncology Provider Density With Black-White Disparities in Cancer Mortality in US Counties

BACKGROUND

Black-White racial disparities in cancer mortality are well-documented in the US. Given the estimated shortage of oncologists over the next decade, understanding how access to oncology care might influence cancer disparities is of considerable importance. We aim to examine the association between oncology provider density in a county and Black-White cancer mortality disparities.

METHODS

An ecological study of 1048 US counties was performed. Oncology provider density was estimated using the 2013 National Plan and Provider Enumeration System data. Black:White cancer mortality ratio was calculated using 2014-2018 age-standardized cancer mortality rates from State Cancer Profiles. Linear regression with covariate adjustment was constructed to assess the association of provider density with (1) Black:White cancer mortality ratio, and (2) cancer mortality rates overall, and separately among Black and White persons.

RESULTS

The mean Black:White cancer mortality ratio was 1.12, indicating that cancer mortality rate among Black persons was on average 12% higher than that among White persons. Oncology provider density was significantly associated with greater cancer mortality disparities: every 5 additional oncology providers per 100 000 in a county was associated with a .02 increase in the Black:White cancer mortality ratio (95% CI: .007 to .03); however, the unexpected finding may be explained by further analysis showing that the relationship between oncology provider density and cancer mortality was different by race group. Every 5 additional oncologists per 100 000 was associated with a 1.6 decrease per 100 000 in cancer mortality rates among White persons (95% CI: -3.0 to -.2), whereas oncology provider density was not associated with cancer mortality among Black persons.

CONCLUSION

Greater oncology provider density was associated with significantly lower cancer mortality among White persons, but not among Black persons. Higher oncology provider density alone may not resolve cancer mortality disparities, thus attention to ensuring equitable care is critical.

Associations Between Patient Experience With Care, Race and Ethnicity, and Receipt of CRC Treatment Among SEER-CAHPS Patients With Multiple Comorbidities

BACKGROUND

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and multiple comorbidities are less likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment (GCT), a disparity exacerbated by racial and ethnic disparities in GCT. Yet, positive patient experiences with care are associated with more appropriate care use. We investigated associations between patient experiences with care, race and ethnicity, and receipt of GCT for CRC among older adults with multiple comorbidities.

METHODS

We used SEER-Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) data to identify participants diagnosed with CRC from 2001 to 2017 at age ≥67 years with additional chronic conditions. Stage-specific GCT was identified following recommendations in the NCCN Guidelines for Colon and Rectal Cancer. Patient experiences with care were identified from CAHPS surveys. Multivariable log-binomial regression estimated associations between race and ethnicity and receipt of GCT by experiences with care.

RESULTS

A total of 2,612 patients were included. Those reporting excellent experience with getting care quickly were 5% more likely to receive GCT than those reporting less-than-excellent experience (relative risk [RR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04-1.05). When reporting less-than-excellent experience with getting care quickly, non-Hispanic Black (NHB) patients were less likely than non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients to receive GCT (RR, 0.80; 99.38% CI, 0.78-0.82), yet NHB patients were more likely to receive GCT than NHW patients when reporting excellent experience (RR, 1.05; 99.38% CI, 1.02-1.09). When reporting less-than-excellent experience with getting needed care, Hispanic patients were less likely than NHW patients to receive GCT (RR, 0.91; 99.38% CI, 0.88-0.94), yet Hispanic patients were more likely to receive GCT than NHW patients when reporting excellent experience (RR, 1.06; 99.38% CI, 1.03-1.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Although excellent patient experience among those with multiple comorbidities may not be strongly associated with receipt of GCT for CRC overall, improvements in experiences of accessing care among NHB and Hispanic patients with CRC and additional comorbidities may aid in mitigating racial and ethnic disparities in receipt of GCT.

Colon Cancer Disparities in Stage at Presentation and Time to Surgery for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: A Study with Disaggregated Ethnic Groups

BACKGROUND

Vast differences in barriers to care exist among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) groups and may manifest as disparities in stage at presentation and access to treatment. Thus, we characterized AANHPI patients with stage 0-IV colon cancer and examined differences in (1) stage at presentation and (2) time to surgery relative to white patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We assessed all patients in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) with stage 0-IV colon cancer from 2004 to 2016 who identified as white, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Native Hawaiian, Korean, Vietnamese, Laotian, Hmong, Kampuchean, Thai, Asian Indian or Pakistani, and Pacific Islander. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression defined adjusted odds ratios (AORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CI), of (1) patients presenting with advanced stage colon cancer and (2) patients with stage 0-III colon cancer receiving surgery at ≥ 60 days versus 30-59 days versus < 30 days postdiagnosis, adjusting for sociodemographic/clinical factors.

RESULTS

Among 694,876 patients, Japanese [AOR 1.08 (95% CI 1.01-1.15), p < 0.05], Filipino [AOR 1.17 (95% CI 1.09-1.25), p < 0.001], Korean [AOR 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.18), p < 0.05], Laotian [AOR 1.51 (95% CI 1.17-1.95), p < 0.01], Kampuchean [AOR 1.33 (95% CI 1.04-1.70), p < 0.01], Thai [AOR 1.60 (95% CI 1.22-2.10), p = 0.001], and Pacific Islander [AOR 1.41 (95% CI 1.20-1.67), p < 0.001] patients were more likely to present with more advanced colon cancer compared with white patients. Chinese [AOR 1.27 (95% CI 1.17-1.38), p < 0.001], Japanese [AOR 1.23 (95% CI 1.10-1.37], p < 0.001], Filipino [AOR 1.36 (95% CI 1.22-1.52), p < 0.001], Korean [AOR 1.16 (95% CI 1.02-1.32), p < 0.05], and Vietnamese [AOR 1.55 (95% CI 1.36-1.77), p < 0.001] patients were more likely to experience greater time to surgery than white patients. Disparities persisted when comparing among AANHPI subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal key disparities in stage at presentation and time to surgery by race/ethnicity among AANHPI subgroups. Heterogeneity upon disaggregation underscores the importance of examining and addressing access barriers and clinical disparities.

Towards a Race-Neutral System of Pulmonary Function Test Results Interpretation

It has been observed widely that, on average, Black individuals in the United States have lower FVC than White individuals, which is thought to reflect a combination of genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors that are difficult to disentangle. Debate therefore persists even after the American Thoracic Society's 2023 guidelines recommending race-neutral pulmonary function test (PFT) result interpretation strategies. Advocates of race-based PFT results interpretation argue that it allows for more precise measurement and will minimize disease misclassification. In contrast, recent studies have shown that low lung function in Black patients has clinical consequences. Furthermore, the use of race-based algorithms in medicine in general is increasingly being questioned for its risk of perpetuating structural health care disparities. Given these concerns, we believe it is time to adopt a race-neutral approach, but note that more research is urgently needed to understand how race-neutral approaches impact PFT results interpretation, clinical decision-making, and patient outcomes. In this brief case-based discussion, we offer a few examples of how a race-neutral PFT results interpretation strategy will impact individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups at different scenarios and stages of life.

A Multi-Omics Overview of Colorectal Cancer to Address Mechanisms of Disease, Metastasis, Patient Disparities and Outcomes

Human colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in men and women across the globe, albeit CRC incidence and mortality shows a substantial racial and ethnic disparity, with the highest burden in African American patients. Even with effective screening tools such as colonoscopy and diagnostic detection assays, CRC remains a substantial health burden. In addition, primary tumors located in the proximal (right) or distal (left) sides of the colorectum have been shown to be unique tumor types that require unique treatment schema. Distal metastases in the liver and other organ systems are the major causes of mortality in CRC patients. Characterizing genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic and proteomic (multi-omics) alterations has led to a better understanding of primary tumor biology, resulting in targeted therapeutic advancements. In this regard, molecular-based CRC subgroups have been developed that show correlations with patient outcomes. Molecular characterization of CRC metastases has highlighted similarities and differences between metastases and primary tumors; however, our understanding as to how to improve patient outcomes based on metastasis biology is lagging and remains a major obstacle to improving CRC patient outcomes. In this review, we will summarize the multi-omics features of primary CRC tumors and their metastases across racial and ethnic groups, the differences in proximal and distal tumor biology, molecular-based CRC subgroups, treatment strategies and challenges for improving patient outcomes.

Lymph node metastasis in T1-2 colorectal cancer: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

We performed this study to identify predictive factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) and analyze the impact of LNM on the prognosis of patients with T1-2 colorectal cancer (CRC), with the intention of providing guidance for the treatment.

METHODS

The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result database was used to identify 20,492 patients diagnosed with T1-2 stage CRC between 2010 and 2019, who underwent surgery and lymph node evaluation and had complete prognostic information. Clinicopathological data of patients with T1-2 stage colorectal cancer treated with surgery at Peking University People's Hospital from 2017 to 2021 with complete clinical information were retrieved. We identify and confirm the risk factors for positive lymph node involvement, and the results of follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS

Age, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, perineural invasion, and primary tumor site were independent risk factors for LNM in T1-2 CRC based on the analysis of the SEER database, while tumor size and histology of mucinous carcinoma were also independent risk factors in T1 CRC. We then make the nomogram model for predicting LNM risk and showed an acceptable consistency and calibration capability. Survival analysis showed that LNM was an independent prognostic indicator of 5-year disease-specific survival (P = 0.013) and disease-free survival (P < 0.001) in patients with T1 and T2 CRC.

CONCLUSION

Age, CEA level and primary tumor site should be taken into consideration before making the surgical decision in T1-2 CRC patients. The tumor size and histology of mucinous carcinoma also need to be thought about in T1 CRC. Conventional imaging tests do not appear to provide a precise assessment for this issue.

Ethnic Disparities in Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis Outcomes: An ACS-NSQIP Study

INTRODUCTION

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the gold standard operation performed for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who require colectomy for medically refractory disease or colitis-associated neoplasia. This study aims to evaluate whether differences in surgical outcomes following IPAA creation is associated with minority ethnicity using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) surgical outcomes database.

METHODS

The ACS-NSQIP proctectomy-targeted data files (2016-2019) were reviewed to identify patients who underwent an IPAA creation (Current Procedural Terminology codes: 44157, 44158, 44211, and 45113). Demographic, comorbidity, perioperative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes, particularly total-morbidity, surgical site infection, and anastomotic leak, were compared for White, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian patients. Separate multivariable logistic regressions were calculated for each outcome of interest. Certain postoperative outcomes required collation to be analyzed due to low numbers, such as combining all surgical site infections (SSIs), anastomotic leak, and septic complications as "infection complications". For each regression, a P value of <0.05 was considered to be significant.

RESULTS

A total of 1462 patients were identified who underwent an IPAA creation. There were 1290 (88.2%) Caucasian, 66 (4.5%) African-American, 49 (3.4%) Hispanic, and 57 (3.9%) Asian patients. Minority race or ethnicity was not associated with higher odds of total morbidity, readmission, reoperation, the development of any SSI, anastomotic leak, or other septic complications as compared to White patients. African-American ethnicity was associated with higher odds of developing postoperative bleeding complications (odds ratio [OR] 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-5.21; P = 0.020) and postoperative renal dysfunction (OR 4.32, CI 1.43-13.07; P = 0.010) as compared to White patients. Elevated body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher odds of developing an SSI (OR 1.03, CI 1.00-1.06; P = 0.045), or an "infection" complication (OR 1.04, CI 1.01-1.07; P = 0.012), but was protective against bleeding complications (OR 0.94, CI 0.9-0.98; P = 0.004). Smoking was associated with higher odds of developing an SSI, anastomotic leak, or septic complications in the combined "infection" regression analysis (OR 2.02, CI 1.25-3.26; P = 0.004). In the analysis of total-morbidity, both hypertension (OR 1.64, CI 1.11-2.42; P = 0.013) and an ASA Class score >3 (OR 1.36, CI 1.03-1.79; P = 0.029) were associated with increased odds of complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis of the ACS-NSQIP national database data suggests that ethnicity is not associated with disparities in surgical outcomes following IPAA surgery. African-American ethnicity was however associated with higher odds of developing postoperative bleeding complications and renal dysfunction as compared to White patients. Elevated BMI and smoking history are associated with an increased risk of SSI, anastomotic leak and septic complications.

Human centered design workshops as a meta-solution to diagnostic disparities

OBJECTIVES

Diagnostic errors - inaccurate or untimely diagnoses or failures to communicate diagnoses - are harmful and costly for patients and health systems. Diagnostic disparities occur when diagnostic errors are experienced at disproportionate rates by certain patient subgroups based, for example, on patients' age, sex/gender, or race/ethnicity. We aimed to develop and test the feasibility of a human centered design workshop series that engages diverse stakeholders to develop solutions for mitigating diagnostic disparities.

METHODS

We employed a series of human centered design workshops supplemented by semi-structured interviews and literature evidence scans. Co-creation sessions and rapid prototyping by patient, clinician, and researcher stakeholders were used to generate design challenges, solution concepts, and prototypes.

RESULTS

A series of four workshops attended by 25 unique participants was convened in 2019-2021. Workshops generated eight design challenges, envisioned 29 solutions, and formulated principles for developing solutions in an equitable, patient-centered manner. Workshops further resulted in the conceptualization of 37 solutions for addressing diagnostic disparities and prototypes for two of the solutions. Participants agreed that the workshop processes were replicable and could be implemented in other settings to allow stakeholders to generate context-specific solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

The incorporation of human centered design through a series of workshops promises to be a productive way of engaging patient-researcher stakeholders to mitigate and prevent further exacerbation of diagnostic disparities. Healthcare stakeholders can apply human centered design principles to guide thinking about improving diagnostic performance and to center diverse patients' needs and experiences when implementing quality and safety improvements.

Racial disparities in treatments and mortality among a large population-based cohort of older men and women with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

There were racial disparities in treatment and mortality among patients with colorectal cancer, but few studies incorporated information on hypertension and diabetes and their treatment status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study identified 101,250 patients from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database in the United States who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age ≥65 years between 2007 and 2015 with follow-up to December 2016.

RESULTS

There were substantial racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in patients with colorectal cancer, in receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and in receiving antihypertensive and antidiabetic treatment. Racial disparities in receiving these therapies remained significant in this large cohort of Medicare beneficiaries after stratifications by private health insurance status at the time of cancer diagnosis and by tumor stage. Non-Hispanic black patients had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04-1.10), which remained significantly higher (1.05, 1.02-1.08) after adjusting for patient sociodemographics, tumor factors, comorbidity and treatments as compared to non-Hispanic white patients. The adjusted risk of colorectal cancer-specific mortality was also significantly higher (1.08, 1.04-1.12) between black and white patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There were substantial racial disparities in prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in men and women diagnosed with colorectal cancer and in receipt of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, antihypertensive and antidiabetic treatment. Black patients with colorectal cancer had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality and colorectal cancer-specific mortality than whites, even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, tumor factors, comorbidity scores, and treatments.

Dostarlimab: A breakthrough in the field of oncology

Of the 19 million cancer cases reported worldwide in 2020, colorectal cancer (CRC) has a 10% prevalence and 9.4% mortality. A critical lack of cancer treatment facilities in third-world countries like Pakistan where a significant prevalence of CRC has been detected. The five FDA-approved drugs used for CCR therapy (Durvalumab, Atezolizumab, Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, and Avelumab) have been associated with a high occurrence of grade 3-4 adverse side effects. Dostarlimab is a new drug previously used to treat endometrial cancers and has a mechanism of action that is in accordance with other PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. A recent clinical trial has found Dostarlimab to cure 100% of the CRC patients who were given this drug while also showing no adverse events of grade 3 or higher in any patient. The recent clinical trial has opened up doors for future clinical trials perhaps with bigger sample sizes and ones that also include CRC patients belonging to wider geo-economic backgrounds such as those of Pakistan and other Asian countries.

An assessment of left-digit bias in the treatment of older patients with potentially curable rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Patient age is associated with poorer rectal cancer treatment compliance. However, it is unknown whether left-digit bias (disproportionate influence of leftmost age digit) influences this association.

METHODS

The patients diagnosed with stage I-III rectal cancer between 2006 to 2017 in the National Cancer Database were identified. The association between age and receipt of guideline-adherent care was assessed using mixed-effects multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

Among 97,960 patients, 46.2% received guideline-adherent overall treatment and 73.3% underwent guideline-adherent surgical resection. Of those who underwent guideline-adherent surgery, 86.4% received guideline-adherent radiotherapy and 56.6% received guideline-adherent chemotherapy. After risk-adjustment, each decade increase in age was associated with 36% decreased odds of guideline-adherent therapy (odds ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval = 0.63-0.65). Patients aged 58 to 59 (odds ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.27) and 78 to 79 (odds ratio = 1.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.08-1.51) had higher odds of guideline-adherent overall treatment compared with patients aged 60 and 80, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in the receipt of guideline-adherent treatment between patients aged 60 vs 61-62 and 80 vs 81-82.

CONCLUSION

Older patients with rectal cancer are less likely to receive guideline-adherent care, and a left-digit bias is present. Geriatric assessment-guided treatment decisions could help mitigate this bias.