Acute lymphocytic leukemia incidence and survivability trends in the United States over the last two decades: SEER data set from 2000-2019.

Abstract

e19050 Background: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate how race, age at which patients were diagnosed, sex, and phenotype affect incidence and survivability for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients in the United States. Keeping these factors in consideration this study was developed to see how existing cancer registry data can assist us in early detection of ALL in patients. Our hypothesis was that statistically significant correlations exist between race, age at which patients were diagnosed, sex, and phenotype of the ALL patients. Methods: The rate of incidence and survivability data were evaluated using SEER*Stat statistical software from National Cancer Institute. For incidence calculation we used the SEER 22 registry that covered approximately 47.99% of the U.S. population, while survival statistics were calculated using the SEER 17 registry that covered 26.5% of the U.S. population, both containing records from 2000 through 2019. In calculating the incidence statistics only the first primary tumor and reported diagnosis of the disease was accounted for. Results: There were statistically significant correlations between sex, race/ethnicity, age at which patients were diagnosed, phenotype of the ALL patient, and their rate of incidence. Analysis of All incidence data showed that the disease was more prevalent among Caucasian population. Among ALL patients, 59% patients were between 0 to 19 years of age when diagnosed, and 56% were male. ALL are mostly associated in patients with B-cell phenotype (73%). Evaluation of survivability data showed a slightly higher 5-year survival rate than 10-year survival rate. Conclusions: Survivability rates of African Americans patients were the lowest compared to Caucasian, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Native, Native Americans and others. Survivability rates progressively decreased for older patients. Additionally, this study looked into the common treatment approaches that were administered in ALL patients which primarily included chemotherapy supplemented with some form of radiation therapy, as and when needed. The study showed chemotherapy was quite effective in improving patients’ survival probabilities, while the prognosis from the disease was not quite good for those who did not receive any treatment. This updated study on ALL incidence, survival rate, and common treatment options will further assist the health care professionals in effectively screening potential patients, their early detection, and in implementing a successful treatment regimen. This could potentially improve survival rates among those diagnosed at an older age who have a far greater mortality rate from ALL compared to younger patients.