S0221 Do Racial and Gender Disparities Exist in Young Onset Rectal Carcinoma? Untold Story of Ten Years

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Increasing incidence and mortality of young onset colorectal carcinoma (YOCRC) has become a concerning major healthcare issue in recent years. Recently published data suggests increase in incidence of YOCRC in recent years is primarily due to increase in incidence of rectal cancer especially in Non-Hispanic Whites. Also, no racial disparities were suggested in survival of young onset rectal cancer (YORC). Our study aimed to investigate recent trends in incidence and survival of rectal carcinoma in young (< 50 years) patients and investigate racial disparities. METHODS: Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 (SEER) program of cancer registries, we gathered 10 years (2007–2016) data on YORC in the US. Racial disparities in YORC incidence rate were calculated using SeerStat© and SPSS© descriptive statistics tool. Racial disparities in YORC-associated survival times were collected using SEER 13 registries (2007–2016) and calculated using Ederer II method. RESULTS: Relatively higher incidence of advanced (stage IV) malignancy was noted in Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) compared to other racial groups (Non-Hispanic Whites = 1.9%, Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) = 1.3%, Hispanic = 1.3%) (Table 1). In most racial groups, females tend to have higher incidence rate of YORC (Table 1). Relative survival rates for all the racial groups were found to be 94% at 12 months and 73% at 60 months. Significant racial disparities were noted in relative survival of minority racial groups compared to NHW (NHW = 74.2 %, NHB = 68.2%, Hispanic = 63.1%) (P < 0.05) (Figure 1, Table 2). CONCLUSION: Although minority racial groups have relatively lower incidence rates of advanced YORC, their survival rates are significantly poor compared to NHW. Different factors like access to health care, response to treatment, genetics and socioeconomic factors may be contributing to these observed differences. Further research is required to investigate these factors and help win fight against rectal carcinoma especially in young patients.Table 1.: Racial and gender disparities in different grades of rectal carcinomaTable 2.: Racial and gender disparities in 1 and 5 years survival rate of young onset rectal carcinomaFigure 1.: Graphical representation of racial disparities in 1 and 5 years survival rate of young onset rectal carcinoma.