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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated disparities of race and socioeconomic status (SES) with outcomes in patients with rectal cancer. We hypothesize that disparities exist in the treatment and outcomes among patients with rectal cancer. METHODS: Medical records of all patients with rectal cancer treated from 2000 to 2009 at an NCI cancer center (Fox Chase Cancer Center) and an urban academic center (Temple University Hospital) were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively maintained tumor registry database. SES was estimated using census data. Quartiles of income and education based on zip codes were calculated. Lowest vs other quartiles were compared. Clinicopathologic variables included: initial stage, chemotherapy refusal, sphincter preservation, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 748 patients were included in the analysis (581 white, 135 black, 6 other, 26 unknown). No difference in race, SES, or insurance status was seen with regard to stage at presentation. Chemotherapy and radiation refusal was rare. After excluding stage IV patients; sphincter preservation was more common among those with higher income. Median OS for all stages was worse for nonwhite patients (31 vs 50 months, p < .001), and those with low income and education. OS disparities were most pronounced among nonwhite patients with advanced disease. Insurance was not associated with a survival difference. Age, stage, and race were independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Disparity exists in outcomes of patients with rectal cancer. Nonwhite race is associated with worse OS, and lower SES is associated with lower OS and sphincter preservation among patients with rectal cancer.
Annals of Surgical Oncology 01/2013; · 4.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) has been observed in 15-30% of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). The objective of this study was to determine whether PET/CT can predict pCR and disease-free survival in patients receiving CRT with LARC.
This is a retrospective review of patients with EUS-staged T3-T4, N+rectal tumors treated with CRT, who underwent pre/post-treatment PET/CT from 2002-2009. All patients were treated with CRT and surgical resection. Standardized uptake value (SUV) of each tumor was recorded. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of pre-CRT SUV, post-CRT SUV, %SUV change, and time between CRT and surgery, compared with pCR. Kaplan-Meier estimation evaluated significant predictors of survival.
Seventy patients (age 62 years; 42M:28F) with preoperative stage T3 (n=61) and T4 (n=9) underwent pre- and post-CRT PET/CT followed by surgery. The pCR rate was 26%. Median pre-CRT SUV was 10.8, whereas the median post-CRT SUV was 4 (P=0.001). Patients with pCR had a lower median post-CRT SUV compared with those without (2.7 vs. 4.5, P=0.01). Median SUV decrease was 63% (7.5-95.5%) and predicted pCR (P=0.002). Patients with a pCR had a greater time interval between CRT and surgery (median, 58 vs. 50 days) than those without (P=0.02). Patients with post-CRT SUV<4 had a lower recurrence compared with those without (P=0.03). Patients with SUV decrease≥63% had improved overall survival at median follow-up of 40 months than those without (P=0.006).
PET/CT can predict response to CRT in patients with LARC. Posttreatment SUV, %SUV decrease, and greater time from CRT to surgery correlate with pCR. Post-CRT, SUV<4, and SUV decrease≥63% were predictive of recurrence-free and overall survival.
Annals of Surgical Oncology 03/2012; 19(7):2178-85. · 4.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There is a trend toward nonsurgical management of patients with nonobstructing metastatic (stage IV) colorectal cancer (CRC), although some will eventually undergo surgery. We examined patients with metastatic CRC who were managed with an intact primary tumor.
An institutional review board (IRB)-approved database was retrospectively reviewed. All patients presenting with stage IV CRC from 2000 to 2008 were identified and analyzed.
Among the 255 patients identified, 112 were taken directly to the operating room for either primary tumor resection or colostomy/bypass. Among the remaining 143 patients, 97 were managed without developing primary tumor-related symptoms, and 14 (9.8%) developed significant primary tumor-related symptoms necessitating operative or endoscopic management. Of the patients who developed symptoms, oxaliplatin and/or irinotecan was used among 71.4% of patients, and bevacizumab in 50%. Forty-two patients in the series underwent elective primary tumor resection after receiving chemotherapy. No independent predictors for development of primary tumor-related symptoms could be identified after controlling for age, gender, tumor location, number of metastatic sites, and type of chemotherapy. Median overall survival was 34 months for those who underwent elective primary tumor resection after chemotherapy, and 16 months for those who failed chemotherapy and developed symptoms.
Among patients with metastatic CRC without an initial indication for surgery, incidence of obstruction or perforation after initiating chemotherapy was low (9.8%). No predictors of primary tumor-related complications could be identified. Survival was favorable among the highly selected cohort of patients who underwent elective primary tumor resection after chemotherapy.
Annals of Surgical Oncology 08/2011; 19(2):379-83. · 4.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Despite significant advancement in the multimodality approach to lung cancer, the optimal management of patients with stage
IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to be a challenge. Identifying pathological N2 disease is of importance
because it significantly affects outcomes and potential treatment strategies. More widespread utilization of endobronchial
ultrasound techniques and refinements in fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) imaging have considerably
increased our ability to accurately stage patients with advanced lung cancer, consequently increasing the number of patients
in the IIIA “borderline” resectable category. Improved stratification of patients in this category enables surgeons to select
surgery for those most likely to benefit, improving outcomes and eliminating unnecessary thoracic morbidity. Recent phase
III clinical trials demonstrate improved survival after surgical resection in patients who had mediastinal node clearance
after induction therapy.1–4 These data emphasize the potential utility of a highly accurate test to preoperatively identify those patients who have achieved
clearance of their mediastinal nodal metastases after induction therapy. Such a test would allow surgeons to limit resection
to those patients with the greatest likelihood of long term benefit.
12/2010: pages 61-66;
