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Kakish H, Pawar O, Bhatty M, Doh S, Mulligan KM, Rothermel LD, Bordeaux JS, Mangla A, Hoehn RS. Disparities in the Receipt of Systemic Treatment in Metastatic Melanoma. Am J Clin Oncol 2024; 47:239-245. [PMID: 38251734 DOI: 10.1097/coc.0000000000001083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2011, immunotherapy and targeted therapy revolutionized melanoma treatment. However, inequities in their use may limit the benefits seen by certain patients. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of patients in the National Cancer Database for patients with stage IV melanoma from 2 time periods: 2004-2010 and 2016-2020, distinguishing between those who received systemic therapy and those who did not. We investigated the rates and factors associated with treatment omission. We employed Kaplan-Meier analysis to explore the impact of treatment on overall survival. RESULTS A total of 19,961 patients met the inclusion criteria: 7621 patients were diagnosed in 2004-2010 and 12,340 patients in 2016-2020, of whom 54.9% and 28.3% did not receive systemic treatment, respectively. The rate of "no treatment" has decreased to a plateau of ∼25% in 2020. Median overall survival was improved with treatment in both time periods (2004-2010: 8.8 vs. 5.6 mo [ P <0.05]; and 2016-2020: 25.9 vs. 4.3 mo [ P <0.05]). Nonmedical factors associated with the omission of treatment in both periods included low socioeconomic status, Medicaid or no health insurance, and treatment at low-volume centers. In the period from 2016 to 2020, patients treated at nonacademic programs were also less likely to receive treatment. CONCLUSIONS Systemic therapies significantly improve survival for patients with metastatic melanoma, but significant disparities exist with their receipt. Local efforts are needed to ensure all patients benefit from these revolutionary treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Kakish
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
| | - Omkar Pawar
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
| | - Maira Bhatty
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
| | - Susan Doh
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
| | | | - Luke D Rothermel
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
| | - Jeremy S Bordeaux
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University
| | - Ankit Mangla
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH
| | - Richard S Hoehn
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
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Bassiri A, Badrinathan A, Alvarado CE, Boutros C, Jiang B, Kwak M, Sinopoli J, Tapias Vargas L, Linden PA, Towe CW. Uncovering Health-Care Disparities Through Patient Decisions in Lung Cancer Surgery. J Surg Res 2024; 293:248-258. [PMID: 37804794 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Declining cancer surgery represents a conflict between patients' rights to autonomy and providers' perspectives of best practice. We hypothesize that, among patients with nonmetastatic lung cancer, patient demographics would be associated with different rates of declination of lung cancer surgery. METHODS Patients with nonmetastatic lung cancer from 2004 to 2018 in the National Cancer Database were identified. Patients were categorized into two groups based on surgical treatment: surgical resection and declined surgery. Patient characteristics were compared using bivariate and multivariate models to identify factors associated with surgical declination. Additionally, we performed subgroup analyses of cT1N0M0 patients with no comorbidities. Survival analysis done using multivariate cox analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS 478,757 patients were identified. In a multivariate model, declining surgery was associated with increased age (odds ratio 1.09, 1.09-1.10), non-Hispanic Black race (odds ratio 1.95, 1.73-2.21), nonprivate insurance, and lower Socioeconomic Status. In a subgroup of cT1N0M0 patients with no comorbidities, declining surgery was associated with increasing age, non-Hispanic Black race, nonprivate insurance, and socioeconomic status. Patient's that declined surgery demonstrated lower overall survival when compared to patients that underwent surgical resection (5 y overall survival: declined surgery 40% versus underwent resection 72%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Although early-stage lung cancer is potentially curable, many patients decline guideline-based surgery, and have worse overall survival. There are social and economic factors associated with patients declining lung cancer surgery. Providers have an ethical responsibility to understand the basis of patient's decision to decline recommended surgery and address endemic disparities related to race and access to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria Bassiri
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
| | - Avanti Badrinathan
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Christine E Alvarado
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Christina Boutros
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Boxiang Jiang
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Minyoung Kwak
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Jillian Sinopoli
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Leonidas Tapias Vargas
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Philip A Linden
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Christopher W Towe
- Division of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
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Kakish HH, Loftus AW, Ahmed FA, Elshami M, Ocuin LM, Rothermel LD, Hoehn RS. Patient and provider factors predict non-surgical management for complex upper gastrointestinal cancers. Surgery 2023; 174:618-625. [PMID: 37391325 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for non-metastatic upper gastrointestinal cancers. We analyzed patient and provider characteristics associated with non-surgical management. METHODS We queried the National Cancer Database for patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers from 2004 to 2018 who underwent surgery, refused surgery, or for whom surgery was contraindicated. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with surgery being refused or contraindicated, and Kaplan-Meier curves assessed survival. RESULTS We identified 249,813 patients based on our selection criteria-86.3% had surgery, 2.4% refused, and for 11.3%, surgery was contraindicated. Median overall survival was 48.2 months for patients who underwent surgery versus 16.3 and 9.4 months for the refusal and contraindicated groups. Medical and non-medical factors predicted both surgery refusals and contraindications, such as increasing age (odds ratio = 1.07 and 1.03, respectively, P < .001), Black race (odds ratio = 1.72 and 1.45, P < .001), comorbidities (Charlson-Deyo score 2+, odds ratio = 1.18 and 1.66, P < .001), low socioeconomic status (odds ratio = 1.70 and 1.40, P < .001), no health insurance (odds ratio = 3.26 and 2.34, P < .001), community cancer programs (odds ratio = 1.43 and 1.40, P < .001), low volume facilities (odds ratio = 1.82 and 1.52, P < .001), and stage 3 disease (odds ratio = 1.51 and 6.50, P < .001). On subset analysis (excluding patients age >70, Charlson-Deyo score 2+, and stage 3 cancer), non-medical predictors of both outcomes were similar. CONCLUSION Refusal of and medical contraindications for surgery profoundly impact overall survival. The same factors (ie, race, socioeconomic status, hospital volume, and hospital type) predict these outcomes. These findings suggest variation and potential bias that may exist between physicians and patients discussing cancer surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna H Kakish
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH. https://twitter.com/HannaKakish
| | - Alexander W Loftus
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH
| | - Fasih Ali Ahmed
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH
| | - Mohamedraed Elshami
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH
| | - Lee M Ocuin
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH
| | - Luke D Rothermel
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH
| | - Richard S Hoehn
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, OH.
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Hussein MH, Toraih EA, Ohiomah IE, Siddeeque N, Comeaux M, Landau MB, Anker A, Jishu JA, Fawzy MS, Kandil E. Navigating Choices: Determinants and Outcomes of Surgery Refusal in Thyroid Cancer Patients Using SEER Data. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3699. [PMID: 37509360 PMCID: PMC10378250 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
With thyroid cancer being a prevalent endocrine cancer, timely management is essential to prevent malignancy and detrimental outcomes. Surgical intervention is a popular component of the treatment plan, yet patients often refuse to undergo such procedures even if clinicians explicitly recommend them. This study gathers data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2000-2019) to learn more about the sociodemographic factors that predict the likelihood of surgical intervention. A total of 176,472 patients diagnosed with either papillary or follicular thyroid cancer were recommended surgery, of which 470 were refused. Cancer-specific mortality and overall mortality were determined with the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. Mortality rates for patients who delayed surgery (≥4 months vs. <4 months) were determined using similar methods. The findings reveal that surgical delay or refusal increased overall mortality. The surgical refusal was associated with increased thyroid cancer-specific mortality. However, the impact on thyroid cancer-specific mortality for those who delay surgery was not as pronounced. Significant sociodemographic determinants of surgical refusal included age greater than or equal to 55 years, male sex, being unmarried, race of Asian and Pacific Islander, and advanced tumor staging. The results underscore the importance of patient education, shared decision-making, and access to surgical interventions to optimize outcomes in thyroid cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Hussein
- Division of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Eman A Toraih
- Division of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Genetics Unit, Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Ifidon E Ohiomah
- School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | | | - Marie Comeaux
- School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | | | - Allison Anker
- School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Jessan A Jishu
- School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Manal S Fawzy
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emad Kandil
- Division of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Kakish HH, Ahmed FA, Pei E, Dong W, Elshami M, Ocuin LM, Rothermel LD, Ammori JB, Hoehn RS. Understanding Factors Leading to Surgical Attrition for "Resectable" Gastric Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2023:10.1245/s10434-023-13469-5. [PMID: 37046129 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-13469-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We used a novel combined analysis to evaluate various factors associated with failure to surgical resection in non-metastatic gastric cancer. METHODS We identified factors associated with the receipt of surgery in publicly available clinical trial data for gastric cancer and in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients with stages I-III gastric adenocarcinoma. Next, we evaluated variable importance in predicting the receipt of surgery in the NCDB. RESULTS In published clinical trial data, 10% of patients in surgery-first arms did not undergo surgery, mostly due to disease progression and 15% of patients in neoadjuvant therapy arms failed to reach surgery. Effects related to neoadjuvant administration explained the increased attrition (5%). In the NCDB, 61.7% of patients underwent definitive surgery. In a subset of NCDB patients resembling those enrolled in clinical trials (younger, healthier, and privately insured patients treated at high-volume and academic centers) the rate of surgery was 79.2%. Decreased likelihood of surgery was associated with advanced age (OR 0.97, p < 0.01), Charlson-Deyo score of 2+ (OR 0.90, p < 0.01), T4 tumors (OR 0.39, p < 0.01), N+ disease (OR 0.84, p < 0.01), low socioeconomic status (OR 0.86, p = 0.01), uninsured or on Medicaid (OR 0.58 and 0.69, respectively, p < 0.01), low facility volume (OR 0.64, p < 0.01), and non-academic cancer programs (OR 0.79, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Review of clinical trials shows attrition due to unavoidable tumor and treatment factors (~ 15%). The NCDB indicates non-medical patient and provider characteristics (i.e., age, insurance status, facility volume) associated with attrition. This combined analysis highlights specific opportunities for improving potentially curative surgery rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna H Kakish
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Fasih Ali Ahmed
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Evonne Pei
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Weichuan Dong
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mohamedraed Elshami
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lee M Ocuin
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Luke D Rothermel
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - John B Ammori
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Richard S Hoehn
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Moodley Y, Govender K, van Wyk J, Reddy S, Ning Y, Wexner S, Stopforth L, Bhadree S, Naidoo V, Kader S, Cheddie S, Neugut AI, Kiran RP. Predictors of treatment refusal in patients with colorectal cancer: A systematic review. Semin Oncol 2022; 49:456-464. [PMID: 36754712 PMCID: PMC10023422 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review was conducted to investigate predictors of treatment refusal in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. An understanding of these predictors would inform statistical models for the identification of high-risk patients who might benefit from interventions that seek to improve treatment compliance. We performed a search of PubMed and Scopus to identify potentially relevant studies on predictors of treatment refusal in CRC patients that were published between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2021. We screened manuscripts using predefined eligibility criteria. Information on study design, study location, patient characteristics, treatments, rates and predictors of treatment refusal, and the impact of treatment refusal on mortality or survival were collected from eligible studies. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa score. The overall findings of the review process were summarized using descriptive statistics and a narrative synthesis. A total of 13 studies were included in this review. Ten studies reported on refusal of CRC surgery, refusal rate: 0.25%-3.26%; three studies reported on chemotherapy refusal (one of which reported on both surgery and chemotherapy refusal), refusal rate: 7.8%-41.5%; and one study reported on refusal of any cancer treatment, refusal rate: 8.7%. The bulk of the published literature confirmed the harmful association between treatment refusal and poor survival outcomes in CRC patients. Frequently cited predictors of treatment refusal included patient demographic characteristics (age, race, gender), clinical characteristics (disease stage, comorbidity), and factors that impact access to cancer care services (healthcare insurance, facility level). Potentially high rates of treatment refusal pose a challenge to CRC control. This review has identified several factors which must be considered when attempting to reduce treatment refusal in CRC patients. Furthermore, these factors should be tested as components of predictive risk models for this important outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshan Moodley
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Kumeren Govender
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline van Wyk
- School of Clinical Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Health Sciences Education, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Seren Reddy
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Yuming Ning
- Department of Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steven Wexner
- Ellen Leifer Shulman and Steven Shulman Digestive Disease Center, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA
| | - Laura Stopforth
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Shona Bhadree
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Vasudevan Naidoo
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Shakeel Kader
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Shalen Cheddie
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Alfred I Neugut
- Department of Medicine and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ravi P Kiran
- Department of Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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