Cervical Cancer-specific Survival Research Articles

Medicaid Expansion and Cervical Cancer Survival: A Comparative Analysis of Expansion Compared With Non-expansion States Using the SEER Registry [ID 2683647

INTRODUCTION: Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act sought to improve access to care for millions of uninsured Americans. The implications of this policy change on patients with cervical cancer, a condition disproportionately affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged women, remains underinvestigated. This study explores the effect of Medicaid expansion on cancer-specific survival. METHODS: Using the SEER registry, we retrospectively analyzed cervical cancer patients from a non-expansion state (Georgia), and states that experienced Medicaid expansion (California, Connecticut, Louisiana, etc.). The study spans from 2000 to 2020. We divided the data into pre-ACA (before 2010) and post-ACA (after 2010) periods. Cancer-specific survival was our primary outcome. A difference-in-differences analysis was conducted, adjusting for age, race, income, disease stage, marital status, and regional characteristics. RESULTS: Among 63,796 cervical cancer patients, 55,683 (87.3%) were from Medicaid expansion states and 8,184 (12.7%) from non-expansion Georgia. The 5-year survival was 68.5% in expansion states versus 68.4% in Georgia (P>.05). Difference-in-differences analysis revealed no significant effect of policy implementation on cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR] 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90–1.13). Surgical treatment significantly predicted improved survival (HR 0.46; 95% CI, 0.44–0.49). Black women had lower survival than White women (HR 1.18; 95% CI, 1.12–1.25). CONCLUSION: Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act showed no significant effect on cervical cancer-specific survival. Surgical treatment improved survival, while Black women experienced comparatively lower survival rates.

Disparities in Survival Outcomes Between Locally Advanced Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma Treated with Chemoradiotherapy.

To determine the disparities in survival outcomes between stage IIB-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) treated with chemoradiotherapy. Patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were retrospectively included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results databases. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used in this study. The primary endpoints were cervical cancer-specific survival (CCSS) and overall survival (OS). A total of 2752 patients were identified, including 87.5% (n=2408) were SCC and 12.5% (n=344) were AC. Patients with AC had inferior 5-year CCSS (67.5% vs 54.8%, P<0.001) and OS (58.4% vs 47.2%, P<0.001) compared to those with the SCC subtype. The hazard curve of cervical cancer-related death in AC peaked at 2 years (19%) and still small peaks in the 7 and 11 years of follow-up. Regarding SCC, cervical cancer-related deaths peaked at 2 years (15%) and the hazard rate was 2.0% during the six years of follow-up. The multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that histology was an independent prognostic factor associated with survival outcomes. Patients with AC had significantly poor CCSS (P<0.001) and OS (P<0.001). Similar results were found after PSM. Our study demonstrates a significantly better prognosis for cervical SCC patients compared to those with cervical AC undergoing chemoradiotherapy. These results highlight the importance of histological subtyping in predicting treatment outcomes and tailoring therapeutic strategies.

Effect of marital status on the survival outcomes of cervical cancer: a retrospective cohort study based on SEER database

BackgroundCervical cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor troubling women worldwide. Whether marital status affects the prognosis of cervical cancer is still unclear. Here, we investigate the prognostic value of marital status in patients with cervical cancer based on the seer database.Material/MethodsThe demographic and clinical data of patients with cervical cancer were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1975 to 2017. Patients were divided into two groups (married and unmarried) according to marital status, and then the clinical characteristics of each group were compared using the chi-square test. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce differences in baseline characteristics. The overall survival (OS) and cervical cancer-specific survival (CCSS) were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models, and stratified analysis. Moreover, univariate and multivariate competing risk regression models were performed to calculate hazard ratios (HR) of death risk.ResultsA total of 21,148 patients were included in this study, including 10,603 married patients and 10,545 unmarried patients. Married patients had better OS(P < 0.05) and CCSS (P < 0.05) compared to unmarried patients, and marital status was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (HR: 0.830, 95% CI: 0.798–0.862) and CCSS (HR: 0.892, 95% CI: 0.850–0.937). Moreover, after eliminating the competing risk, married patients (CCSD: HR:0.723, 95% CI: 0.683–0.765, P < 0.001) had a significantly decreased risk of death compared to unmarried patients. In stratified analysis, the married patients showed better OS and CCSS than the unmarried patients diagnosed in 1975–2000 and 2001–2017.ConclusionsBeing married was associated with a favorable prognosis of cervical cancer, and marital status was an independent prognostic factor for cervical cancer.

Overall and Cervical Cancer Survival in Patients With and Without Mental Disorders

Individuals with a mental disorder experience substantial health disparity and are less likely to participate in cervical screening and human papillomavirus vaccination. Additionally, this population may benefit less from tertiary cancer prevention. To compare clinical characteristics and survival patterns between patients with cervical cancer with and without a preexisting diagnosis of a mental disorder at the time of cervical cancer diagnosis. This cohort study obtained data from Swedish population-based (Swedish Cancer Register, Swedish Cause of Death Register, Swedish Total Population Register, Swedish Patient Register, and Swedish Longitudinal Integration Database for Health Insurance and Labor Market Studies) and quality registries (Swedish Quality Register of Gynecologic Cancer and Swedish National Cervical Screening Register) on patients with cervical cancer. Patients who were included in the analysis were identified using the Swedish Cancer Register and were diagnosed with cervical cancer between 1978 and 2018. The Swedish Patient Register was used to identify patients with mental disorders using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Eighth Revision and Ninth Revision and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision. Because data on clinical characteristics at the time of cancer diagnosis were available for only for part of the study population, 2 patient groups were created: those with cervical cancer diagnosed from 2002 to 2016 and all patients diagnosed with cervical cancer (1978-2018). Data analyses were carried out between March and September 2022. Clinical diagnoses of a mental disorder, including substance abuse, psychotic disorders, depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, and intellectual disability, prior to cervical cancer. Death due to any cause or due to cervical cancer as ascertained from the Swedish Cause of Death Register. The sample included 20 177 females (mean [SD] age, 53.4 [17.7] years) diagnosed with cervical cancer from 1978 to 2018. In a subgroup of 6725 females (mean [SD] age, 52.2 [18.0] years) with cervical cancer diagnosed from 2002 to 2016, 893 (13.3%) had a preexisting diagnosis of a mental disorder. Compared with patients with no preexisting mental disorder diagnosis, those with a preexisting mental disorder had a higher risk of death due to any cause (hazard ratio [HR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.17-1.48) and due to cervical cancer (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07-1.42). These risks were lower after adjustment for cancer characteristics at the time of cancer diagnosis (death due to any cause: HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.06-1.34] and death due to cervical cancer: HR, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.97-1.30]). Risk of death was higher for patients with substance abuse, psychotic disorders, or mental disorders requiring inpatient care. Among patients with cervical cancer diagnosed from 1978 to 2018, the estimated 5-year survival improved continuously during the study period regardless of preexisting diagnosis of a mental disorder status. For example, in 2018, the estimated 5-year overall survival proportion was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.60-0.71) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.72-0.76) for patients with and without a preexisting diagnosis of a mental disorder, respectively. Findings of this cohort study suggest that patients with cervical cancer and a preexisting diagnosis of a mental disorder have worse overall and cervical cancer-specific survival than patients without a preexisting mental disorder diagnosis, which may be partly attributable to cancer and sociodemographic characteristics at diagnosis. Hence, individuals with mental disorders deserve special attention in the tertiary prevention of cervical cancer.

Multi-Institutional Evaluation of Health Disparities in Rural Cervical Cancer Patients

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Cervical cancer remains a significant concern for both rural and urban populations in the US. Overall treatment time from the start of chemoradiation to completion of brachytherapy is known to correlate with local control and overall survival. Rural populations experience health disparities which are multi-factorial and vary by region, but a commonality is lack of healthcare access and distance to tertiary care centers. The purpose of this study is to examine the health disparities due to geographic location for women with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) presenting to tertiary care facilities and identify factors that influence their treatment and outcomes. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was conducted including data from 5 tertiary care centers across the United States. Women with LACC defined as FIGO 2018 IB3-IVA treated with definitive intent RT ±chemotherapy from Jan 2011 to Jan 2021 were included. Clinical, pathologic, radiologic, demographic, and treatment parameters as well as disease outcomes were collected. Geographic location was collected, and zip code was used to determine urban (pop ≥10,000) or rural (pop <10,000) residency. Univariate analyses were used to determine the effects of these variables on disease outcomes. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. <h3>Results</h3> 613 patients were included from diverse regions of the country. Median OS was 27 months (range 0-133) and median RFS was 19.4 months (range 0-123.5). Urban (N=534, 87%) or rural (N=79, 13%) residence was not correlated with overall treatment time (p = 0.50) or cervical cancer specific survival (p = 0.32). The median time from diagnosis to start of RT was significantly shorter in the rural patient population than in the urban population (28 days v. 41 days, p = 0.002). There was no significant association between time from diagnosis to start of RT and cervical cancer specific survival (p = 0.07) or between overall treatment time and cervical cancer specific survival (p = 0.26). There was, however, a significant association between overall treatment time and time to recurrence, with each day of increase in treatment time leading to a 1.1% increased risk of recurrence (p = 0.03, HR = 1.011). <h3>Conclusion</h3> In this group of patients we found no differences in treatment time or outcomes between urban and rural residents and surprisingly, rural patients had a shorter median time from diagnosis to start of treatment when compared to the urban patient group. As is already known, there was a significant relationship between treatment time and time to recurrence, highlighting the importance of timely treatment in patients with LACC. We are adding data from several more centers and will be evaluating the populations with more granularity to identify challenges faced by our patients and resources that may be helpful.

Less extensive surgery for patients with FIGO stage IA2 cervical cancer: A population-based study

ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to study the feasibility of less extensive surgeries for stage IA2 cervical cancer and to examine the incidence of positive nodes in stage IA2 cervical cancer. MethodsPatients with stage IA2 cervical cancer treated surgically between 1998 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Overall survival (OS) and cervical cancer-specific survival (CCSS) were compared among patients who underwent different types of surgery (simple hysterectomy VS radical hysterectomy, lymphadenectomy VS without lymphadenectomy). The Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate multiple prognostic factors. Results1343 patients were included in this study. The overall incidence of positive nodes in stage IA2 was 2.53%. For well-differentiated IA2 cervical cancer, the incidence of regional lymph node involvement was as low as 1.42%. Compared with patients who underwent lymphadenectomy, the patients who did not undergo lymphadenectomy had the same OS (HR, 1.336; 95% CI, 0.923 to 1.933; P = 0.149) and CCSS (HR, 1.038; 95% CI, 0.504 to 2.140; P = 0.920). The log-rank test also indicated that simple hysterectomy was not associated with decreased OS (HR, 1.048; 95% CI, 0.750 to 1.466; P = 0.781) and CCSS (HR, 1.259; 95% CI, 0.655 to 2.420; P = 0.490). Multivariable analyses showed that lymphadenectomy and type of hysterectomy were not independent predictors of survival for patients with stage IA2 cervical cancer. ConclusionsThe incidence of nodal involvement in well-differentiated stage IA2 cervical cancer was fairly low, lymphadenectomy may be omitted in these patients. The excision range of parametrial tissue was not associated with the oncological survival of women with stage IA2 cervical cancer, simple hysterectomy may be an appropriate alternative for this group of patients.

Incorporation of vaginal brachytherapy to external beam radiotherapy in adjuvant therapy for high-risk early-stage cervical cancer: A comparative study

PURPOSETo examine trends, characteristics, and outcomes related to addition of vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for adjuvant radiotherapy in high-risk early-stage cervical cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALSThis comparative study is a retrospective observational analysis of the National Cancer Institutes’ Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Surgically treated women with stage T1-2 cervical cancer who had high-risk factors (nodal metastasis and/or parametrial invasion) and received adjuvant radiotherapy from 2000 to 2018 were examined. Propensity score inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to assess the survival estimates for addition of VBT use. RESULTSAmong 2470 women with high-risk factors receiving EBRT, 760 (30.8%) had additional VBT. During the study period, there was an increasing trend of VBT use from 27.4% to 36.1% (p< 0.001). In a multivariable analysis, year of diagnosis and high-risk tumor factors: parametrial involvement, large tumor size, and use of chemotherapy remained independent characteristics associated with VBT use (all, p< 0.05). In propensity score-weighted models, VBT use with EBRT and EBRT alone had comparable overall survival (5-year rates 73.8% vs. 77.4%, hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92–1.25). Nonsignificant association was also observed in squamous or nonsquamous tumors, young or old age, low or high nodal ratio, chemotherapy use, and simple or radical hysterectomy (all, p> 0.05). Lastly, the addition of VBT was not associated with cervical cancer-specific survival (subdistribution-HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.94–1.41). CONCLUSIONSUtilization of VBT with EBRT for adjuvant radiotherapy in high-risk early-stage cervical cancer is increasing in the United States. Addition of VBT was associated with neither overall survival nor cancer-specific survival.

Impact of Marital Status on Receipt of Brachytherapy and Survival Outcomes in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer

Abstract Purpose Marriage has been associated with enhanced survival among cancer patients, but conflicting correlations have been suggested in cervical cancer. We assessed the impact of marital status on receipt of brachytherapy and survival in women with locally advanced cervical cancer. Methods and Materials Three thousand, eight hundred and twelve patients with Stage IB2–IVA cervical cancer diagnosed from 2006 to 2015 treated with external beam radiotherapy were identified from the California Cancer Registry. Chi-square tests were used to compare patient characteristics by marital status and boost type. The association of marital status with brachytherapy (BT) receipt was assessed using multiple logistic regression. Fine and Gray competing risks and Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to estimate cervical cancer–specific survival (CCSS) and overall survival (OS), respectively. Results Most women were unmarried (58.8%). Half (50.4%) received BT, while 33.1% received no boost; most (86.3%) received chemotherapy. Unmarried women had similar odds of receiving BT as married women (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.90-1.28, p = 0.4370) but were less likely to receive chemotherapy (84.3% vs. 89.1%, p Conclusions There were no differences in BT receipt in married vs. unmarried patients. However, unmarried patients had worse CCSS and OS and were less likely to receive chemotherapy. Interventions targeting social factors are needed to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Impact of marital status on receipt of brachytherapy and survival outcomes in locally advanced cervical cancer

PurposeMarriage has been associated with enhanced survival among cancer patients, but conflicting correlations have been suggested in cervical cancer. We assessed the impact of marital status on receipt of brachytherapy and survival in women with locally advanced cervical cancer. Methods and MaterialsThree thousand, eight hundred and twelve patients with Stage IB2–IVA cervical cancer diagnosed from 2006 to 2015 treated with external beam radiotherapy were identified from the California Cancer Registry. Chi-square tests were used to compare patient characteristics by marital status and boost type. The association of marital status with brachytherapy (BT) receipt was assessed using multiple logistic regression. Fine and Gray competing risks and Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to estimate cervical cancer–specific survival (CCSS) and overall survival (OS), respectively. ResultsMost women were unmarried (58.8%). Half (50.4%) received BT, while 33.1% received no boost; most (86.3%) received chemotherapy. Unmarried women had similar odds of receiving BT as married women (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.90-1.28, p = 0.4370) but were less likely to receive chemotherapy (84.3% vs. 89.1%, p < 0.0001). Singlehood was significantly associated with worse CCSS (subdistribution hazard ratio = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.03-1.42, p < 0.0174) and OS (hazard ratio = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.03-1.36, p < 0.0153). Not receiving a radiation boost was also significantly associated with worse CCSS (subdistribution hazard ratio = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.43, p = 0.0317) and OS (hazard ratio = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.40, p = 0.0100). ConclusionsThere were no differences in BT receipt in married vs. unmarried patients. However, unmarried patients had worse CCSS and OS and were less likely to receive chemotherapy. Interventions targeting social factors are needed to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Multimodal treatment including hysterectomy improves survival in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer: A population-based, propensity score–matched analysis

BackgroundTo evaluate the therapeutic value of multimodal treatment including hysterectomy in locally advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIB–III cervical SCC and received chemotherapy and radiotherapy with or without hysterectomy between 2000 and 2013 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Propensity score-matching was used to balance baseline characteristics of included patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine prognostic factors for cervical cancer specific-survival (CCSS) and overall survival (OS). ResultsWe identified 2473 patients and 522 pairs of patients were completely matched with each other. In the unmatched population, patients with younger age, non-black race, poorly/undifferentiated disease, FIGO stage IIB disease, and node-positive disease were more likely to receive additional hysterectomy. Additional hysterectomy was associated with better CCSS and OS in unmatched and matched populations. Moreover, when evaluating the survival difference by FIGO stage, only stage IIB disease retained statistical significance but not for stage III disease in unmatched and matched populations. ConclusionsOur results suggest that multimodal treatment including hysterectomy might improve survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced cervical SCC, especially for stage IIB disease.

Ovarian Conservation and Overall Survival in Young Women With Early-Stage Cervical Cancer.

To identify predictors of ovarian conservation at hysterectomy and to examine the association of ovarian conservation and survival of young women with early-stage cervical cancer. This is a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program to identify hysterectomy-based surgically treated patients with stage I cervical cancer diagnosed between 1983 and 2012 (N=16,511). Multivariable models were used to identify independent factors associated with ovarian conservation. Among the subgroup of 9,419 women younger than 50 years of age with stage I disease, survival outcomes and causes of death were examined for 3,908 (41.5%) women who underwent ovarian conservation at hysterectomy without radiotherapy. On multivariable analysis, age younger than 50 years, stage IA disease, and squamous histology were independent factors associated with ovarian conservation (all, P<.001). Among 5,526 women younger than 50 years of age with stage IA disease who underwent hysterectomy without radiotherapy, overall survival was significantly higher in patients undergoing ovarian conservation than in those undergoing oophorectomy (20-year rate, 93.5% compared with 86.8%, P<.001); cervical cancer-specific survival was similar between the patients who underwent ovarian conservation and those who underwent oophorectomy (98.8% compared with 97.8%, P=.12). On multivariable analysis, ovarian conservation remained an independent prognostic factor for improved overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-0.82, P=.001) and was independently associated with lower cumulative risks of death resulting from cardiovascular disease (20-year cumulative rate, 1.2% compared with 3.3%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.26-0.86, P=.014) and other chronic disease (0.5% compared with 1.4%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.24, 95% CI 0.09-0.65, P=.005) compared with oophorectomy. Both cervical cancer-specific survival (20-year rate, 93.1% compared with 92.0%, P=.37) and overall survival (86.7% compared with 84.6%, P=.12) were similar between ovarian conservation and oophorectomy among 3,893 women younger than 50 years of age with stage IB disease who underwent hysterectomy without radiotherapy. Among young women with stage IA cervical cancer, ovarian conservation at hysterectomy is associated with decreased all-cause mortality including death resulting from cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases.

Effect of changes in treatment practice on survival for cervical cancer: results from a population-based study in Manitoba, Canada.

BackgroundResults from clinical trials in the 1990s led to changes in the recommended treatment for the standard therapy for stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer from radiotherapy alone to chemo-radiotherapy. We conducted the first population-based study in Canada to investigate temporal treatment patterns for cervical cancer and long-term survival in relation to these changes in the treatment guidelines.MethodsDetailed information on stage and treatment for 1085 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1984–2008 and identified from the population-based Manitoba Cancer Registry (MCR) in Canada was obtained from clinical chart review and the MCR. Factors associated with receiving guideline treatment were identified using logistic regression. All cause and cervical cancer specific survival were compared in patients who were and were not treated as recommended in the guidelines, using Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 6.4 years (range: 0.05–26.5 years). The proportion of women who received guideline treatment was 79 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 76–81 %). However, the likelihood of being treated according to the guidelines over time was modified by age (p < 0.0001) and tumour stage at diagnosis (p = 0.002). Women who were treated according to the guidelines after the change in recommended clinical practice (1999–2008) had a significantly lower risk of death from all causes and from cervical cancer. This was driven by lower mortality rates in cases with stage IIB-IVA tumours (all causes of death: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.60, 95 % CI: 0.43–0.82, p = 0.002; cervical cancer related death: HR = 0.64, 95 % CI: 0.44–0.93, p = 0.02).ConclusionsThe management of cervical cancer patients in Manitoba, Canada was in good agreement with treatment guidelines although reasons for departure from the guideline recommendations could not be examined further due to lack of data. Treatment of stage IIB-IVA cervical cancers with recommended concurrent chemo-radiotherapy, which is now standard practice, was associated with substantially increased survival, although the effect of changes in clinical practice including maintenance of haemoglobin levels on improved survival cannot be ruled out as a contributing factor.

The Prognostic Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Early Cervical Cancer in Asia.

Many studies have shown that type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk for several types of cancer but not cervical cancer (CC). Although DM and insulin-like growth factor 1 have preclinical and clinical implications for CC, less is known about the prognostic impact of DM on patients with early stage CC. We used the nationwide Taiwan Cancer Registry database to collect the characteristics of stage I-IIA cervical cancer patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2008. DM and other comorbidities were retrieved from the National Health Insurance database. Cervical cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) times of patients according to DM status were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. We used a Cox proportional hazards model to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the effects of DM and other risk factors on mortality. A total of 2,946 patients had primary stage I-IIA CC and received curative treatments, and 284 (9.6%) had DM. The 5-year CSS and OS rates for patients with DM were significantly lower than those without DM (CSS: 85.4% vs. 91.5%; OS: 73.9% vs. 87.9%). After adjusting for clinicopathologic variables and comorbidities, DM remained an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for CSS (adjusted HR: 1.46) and OS (adjusted HR: 1.55). In Asian patients with early cervical cancer, DM is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor influencing both OS and CSS, even after curative treatments. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the incidence of several types of cancer but not cervical cancer (CC); however, less is known about the impact of DM on patients who already have CC. This study suggests that DM may increase the risk of cancer recurrence and death for early stage CC patients, even after curative treatments. Incorporating DM control should be considered part of the continuum of care for early stage CC patients, and close surveillance during routine follow-up in this population is recommended.

Does comorbidity explain the ethnic inequalities in cervical cancer survival in New Zealand? A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundThere are large ethnic differences in cervical cancer survival in New Zealand that are only partly explained by stage at diagnosis. We investigated the association of comorbidity with cervical cancer survival, and whether comorbidity accounted for the previously observed ethnic differences in survival.MethodsThe study involved 1,594 cervical cancer cases registered during 1994-2005. Comorbidity was measured using hospital events data and was classified using the Elixhauser instrument; effects on survival of individual comorbid conditions from the Elixhauser instrument were also assessed. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted cervical cancer mortality hazard ratios (HRs).ResultsComorbidity during the year before diagnosis was associated with cervical cancer-specific survival: those with an Elixhauser count of ≥3 (compared with a count of zero) had a HR of 2.17 (1.32-3.56). The HR per unit of Elixhauser count was 1.25 (1.11-1.40). However, adjustment for the Elixhauser instrument made no difference to the mortality HRs for Māori and Asian women (compared to 'Other' women), and made only a trivial difference to that for Pacific women. In contrast, concurrent adjustment for 12 individual comorbid conditions from the Elixhauser instrument reduced the Māori HR from 1.56 (1.19-2.05) to 1.44 (1.09-1.89), i.e. a reduction in the excess risk of 21%; and reduced the Pacific HR from 1.95 (1.21-3.13) to 1.62 (0.98-2.68), i.e. a reduction in the excess risk of 35%.ConclusionsComorbidity is associated with cervical cancer-specific survival in New Zealand, but accounts for only a moderate proportion of the ethnic differences in survival.

Is there racial/ethnic variance in cervical cancer- specific survival of older women in the united states?

Purpose: To examine racial/ethnic differences in cervical carcinoma survival of older US women, as well as the impact of income, cell type (tumor histology), tumor stage and treatment on survival of this cohort. Methods: A population-based cohort of women diagnosed with incident cervical carcinoma, between 1992 and 1999, in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Data was linked with Medicare to examine the impact of race/ethnicity on overall and cancer-specific survival, using Kaplan Meier survival estimates and multivariable Cox Regression model. Results: There was no significant racial/ethnic variation in overall and cervical cancer-specific survival. However, the advanced tumor stage at diagnosis, treatment received and advanced age at tumor diagnosis were the only significant predictors of survival. Compared with no surgery, there was a significant 66% decreased risk of dying from overall cause of death (adjusted hazard ratio, AHR = 0.34, 5% Confidence Interval, CI = 0.26-0.46), and significant 51% decreased risk of dying from cervical cancer-specific cause, AHR = 0.41, 95% CI, 0.28-0.58, for women who received radical surgery. There was a dose-response effect between tumor stage at diagnosis and survival. Relative to women who were diagnosed with stage I tumor (early stage), those who were diagnosed at stage IV (late stage) were almost three times as likely to die from overall cause (AHR = 2.78, 95% CI, 2.24 – 3.45), as well as two times as likely to die from cancer-specific cause, AHR = 2.28, 95% CI, 1.76 – 2.29. The risk of dying also significantly increased with advancing age. Conclusion: There was no racial/ethnic variance in overall and cervical cancer-specific survival among older US women but survival was significantly influenced by treatment received tumor stage at diagnosis and age at diagnosis. Keywords: Cervical carcinoma; Race/ethnicity; Income; Histopathology; Survival.

Ethnic Disparities in Cervical Cancer Survival Among Texas Women

The aim of this work was to determine whether minority women are more likely to die of cervical cancer. A population-based cohort study was performed using Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) data from 1998 to 2002. A total of 5,166 women with cervical cancer were identified during 1998-2002 through the TCR. Measures of socioeconomic status (SES) and urbanization were created using census block group-level data. Multilevel logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of dying from cervical cancer by race, and Cox proportional hazards modeling was used for cervical cancer-specific survival analysis. After adjusting for age, SES, urbanization, stage, cell type, and treatment, Hispanic women were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic White women to die from cervical cancer (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.69; 95% CI [confidence interval] = 0.59-0.80), whereas Black women were more likely to die (aHR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.06-1.50). Black and Hispanic women were more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage than White women. Black women were significantly less likely to receive surgery among those diagnosed with localized disease (p = 0.001) relative to both White and Hispanic women. Relative to non-Hispanic White women, Black women were more likely to die of cervical cancer while Hispanic women were less likely to die; these survival differences were not explained by SES, urbanization, age, cell type, stage at diagnosis, or treatment.

Ethnic Disparities in Cervical Cancer Survival Among Medicare Eligible Women in a Multiethnic Population

To determine predictors of cervical cancer survival by socioeconomic status (SES), urbanization, race/ethnicity, comorbid conditions, and treatment among elderly Medicare-eligible women whose conditions were diagnosed with cervical cancer in a multiethnic population. : A total of 538 women with cervical cancer aged 65 years or older were identified from 1999 to 2001 from the Texas Cancer Registry and were linked with the state Medicare data and Texas Vital Records to determine survival times. All women had similar access to care through Medicare fee-for-services insurance. A composite measure of SES was created using census tract-level data as was urbanization. Treatment and comorbid conditions were available from the Medicare data. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used for all-cause and cervical cancer-specific survival analysis. : Increased age (P < 0.0001) and advanced tumor stage (P < 0.0001) were associated with poorer all-cause and cervical cancer-specific survival. Having a comorbid condition was associated with all-cause survival (P < 0.01) but not cervical cancer-specific mortality. After adjusting for confounders, women receiving some form of treatment were almost half as likely to die with cervical cancer (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.89). After adjustment for all confounders, Hispanic women consistently had lower all-cause and cervical cancer-specific mortality rates relative to non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women. : Among women with similar health care coverage, Hispanic women had consistently lower all-cause and cervical cancer-specific mortality rates than other older women whose conditions were diagnosed with this disease in Texas. The presence of comorbid conditions and treatment were important predictors of survival, yet these factors do not explain the survival advantage for Hispanic women.

Socioeconomic status and cervical cancer survival among older women: Findings from the SEER–Medicare linked data cohorts

Objectives Tumor stage, age, and cell type are well-characterized predictors for cervical cancer survival; socioeconomic factors may also play an important role. The purpose of this study is to estimate cervical cancer survival by socioeconomic indicators and race/ethnicity among elderly women diagnosed with cervical cancer. Methods We studied 1251 women with cervical cancer aged 65 or older, identified between 1992 and 1999 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results [SEER]-Medicare linked data. All women had similar access to care through Medicare fee-for-services insurance. A composite measure of socioeconomic status was created using census tract level data for poverty, education, and income. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used for all-cause and cervical cancer-specific survival analysis. Results Increased age ( P < 0.0001) and advanced tumor stage (<0.0001) were associated with poorer all-cause and cervical cancer-specific survival. After adjustment for age, stage, and treatment, increased co-morbidity scores and having non-squamous cervical cancer were associated with poorer all-cause survival ( P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounders, women receiving hysterectomy vs. no surgery or any treatment had significantly better all-cause and cervical cancer-specific survival. Socioeconomic factors were not associated with either all-cause ( P for trend = 0.79) or cervical cancer-specific ( P for trend = 0.81) survival. No racial/ethnic differences in all-cause or cervical cancer-specific survival were observed after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Conclusion Among women with similar access to care, neither minority race/ethnicity nor poorer socioeconomic status were associated with poorer survival in this large sample of older women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer. Presence of co-morbid conditions and treatment were important predictors of cervical cancer survival.

Impact of multiple HPV infection on response to treatment and survival in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

To obtain information on the incidence and the clinical significance of infection with various types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in cancer of the uterine cervix, we retrospectively examined the HPV status of 106 patients who had received radical radiotherapy for cervical cancer stages IB to IIIB. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsies and PCR was carried out to identify HPV types 16, 18, 31, 35, 33 and 45. To detect additional HPV types, consensus PCR products were cloned and sequenced. A catalyzed signal-amplified colorimetric in situ hybridization was carried out in 84 of 106 specimens as a positive control. Response to therapy, progression-free survival (PFS) and cervical cancer-specific survival (CCSS) were the statistical endpoints. Survival analysis was carried out using univariate and multivariate analysis (Cox regression). Ninety-six patients (90.6%) were HPV-positive and 42/96 (43.7%) were positive for multiple HPV types. Eight patients had persistent disease after radiotherapy. From these 8 patients, 7 were infected with multiple HPV types and only 1 patient had an infection with a single HPV type. After a median follow up period of 50 months, patients with multiple HPV infection had a significantly shorter PFS and CCSS compared to those with single HPV infection (24.8% and 34.9% vs. 64% and 60.8%, Log rank, p < 0.01 and 0.04). In multivariate analysis, the presence of multiple HPV types (RR 1.9), node status (RR 2.3), tumor size (RR 3.2) and histologic type (RR 4.8) were independent prognostic factors of CCSS. Our results demonstrate that the presence of multiple HPV types is associated with poor response and with reduced survival in cervical cancer patients who receive radiotherapy as the primary treatment.