US Cancer Research Articles

RE: A population-based study of COVID-19 mortality risk in US cancer patients.

RE: A population-based study of COVID-19 mortality risk in US cancer patients.

Genomic alterations associated with early-stage disease and early recurrence in patients with colorectal cancer.

The molecular characterization of early-stage (1-3) colorectal cancer (CRC) remains incomplete, as opposed to metastatic disease, where comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is routinely performed. This study aimed to characterize the genomics of stages 1-3 versus IV CRC, and the genomics of patients recurring within 1 year of diagnosis. Patients from a de-identified CRC clinico-genomic database who received Foundation Medicine testing (FoundationOne/FoundationOne CDx) during routine clinical care at approximately 280 US cancer clinics between March 2014 and June 2023 were included. Genomic alterations (GA) were compared by Fisher's exact test. A total of 4702 patients were included; 1902 with stages 1-3 and 2800 with stage 4 disease. Among patients with stages 1-3 disease, 546 recurred within 1 year. Patients staged 1-3 had higher prevalence of microsatellite instability (MSI-H, 11.4% vs 4.5%, P < .001), tumor mutational burden (TMB) ≥ 10 Mut/Mb (14.6% vs 6.8%, P < .001), GA in RNF43 (11.2% vs 5.7%, P < .001), MSH6 (3.9% vs 1.7%, P < .001), MLH1 (2.3% vs 0.7%, P < .001), and MSH2 (1.5% vs 0.6%, P < .01) compared to those with stage 4 disease. Patients who recurred within 1 year had higher prevalence of MSI-H (13.2% vs 4.4%, P < .001), TMB ≥ 10 Mut/Mb (16.2% vs 6.9%, P < .001), BRAF V600E (17.2% vs 7.9%, P < .003), GA in RNF43 (13.7% vs 5.3%, P < .001), MSH6 (4.2% vs 1.6%, P = .035), and BRCA1/2 (6.2% vs 3.0%, P = .030). On recurrence, more patients received targeted therapy when CGP was performed before versus after first-line therapy (43% vs 19%, P < .001). Early-stage CRC patients can have distinct genomic profiles and CGP in this population can help expand access to targeted therapies.

Association between depression and liver function biomarkers among US cancer survivors in NHANES 2005–2020

Association between depression and liver function biomarkers among US cancer survivors in NHANES 2005–2020

Differences in Trends in Cancer Incidence Rates Among People with HIV during 2001-2019 By Race and Ethnicity and By Risk Group in the United States.

Cancer risk among people with HIV (PWH) has declined over time as a result of antiretroviral therapy, but it is unclear whether all racial/ethnic groups and transmission risk groups have experienced equal declines. We used data on PWH aged ≥20 years old from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study during 2001-2019. We used Poisson regression to assess time trends in incidence rates for each cancer site by racial/ethnicity and risk group, adjusting for age, registry, and sex. We also estimated adjusted rate ratios across racial and ethnic and risk groups in 2001-2004 and 2015-2019. Trends in age-standardized rates differed across Black, White and Hispanic PWH, and across risk groups for some cancers. For example, liver cancer rates declined 23% per 5-year period among White PWH, 11% in Black PWH and 18% in Hispanic PWH. Anal cancer rates declined among men who have sex with men, were stable among people who inject drugs, and increased among other risk groups Between 2001-2004 and 2015-2019, relative difference in cancer incidence rates by race/ethnicity increased for HL and liver cancer but decreased for NHL; by risk group, relative differences increased for NHL and liver cancer, and decreased for HL, lung and anal cancers. Among PWH in the US, during 2001-2019, HL, lung, liver, and cervical cancer rate trends were different across racial/ethnic groups. HL, lung, anal, and liver cancer rates trends were different across risk groups. Future work should examine underlying causes of the differences in trends.

US Cancer Mortality Trends Among Asian and Pacific Islander Populations

Cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian American individuals and the second leading cause of death among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people. To evaluate longitudinal cancer mortality trends from 1999 to 2020 among Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in the US by demographic characteristics. This cross-sectional study used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database to obtain age-adjusted cancer death rates among Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals of all ages between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2020. Data were analyzed from January 12 to March 19, 2024. Age, sex, cancer type, and US census regions. Trends and average annual percent changes (AAPCs) in age-adjusted cancer-specific mortality (CSM) rates for non-Hispanic Asian American and Pacific Islander populations were estimated by cancer type, age, sex, and region using Joinpoint regression. Between 1999 and 2020, 305 386 Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals (median [IQR] age, 69.5 [58.5-79.2] years; 51.1% male) died of cancer in the US. Overall, the CSM rate decreased by 1.5% annually. Men experienced a greater CSM rate decrease (AAPC, -1.8%; 95% CI, -2.2% to -1.3%) compared with women (AAPC, -1.1%; 95% CI: -1.2% to -1.0%). For women, death rates decreased for most cancer types but increased for uterine (AAPC, 2.5%; 95% CI, 2.0%-3.0%) and brain and central nervous system (AAPC, 1.4%; 95% CI: 0.7%-2.1%) cancers. Colorectal cancer mortality rates increased among men aged 45 to 54 years (AAPC, 1.3%; 95% CI, 0.5%-2.1%). Liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer mortality increased for both men and women in all US census regions, uterine cancer mortality increased in all regions for women, and pancreatic cancer mortality increased in the Midwest for both men and women. Although these findings show an overall decrease in CSM among Asian American and Pacific Islander populations, specific cancer types exhibited increased mortality rates, with further disparities by sex and age. Targeted, culturally adapted clinical and public health interventions are needed to narrow disparities in cancer mortality.

Perspectives on Telemedicine Visits Reported by Patients With Cancer.

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed rapid adoption of telemedicine visits for cancer care delivery. However, patients' experiences with telemedicine remain poorly understood. To understand patients' satisfaction with telemedicine visits at a comprehensive cancer center. This survey study included patients with cancer at a US cancer center between 2020 and 2023. Eligible patients completed surveys in English conducted after their first telemedicine appointment via an online patient portal. Data were analyzed between January and June 2024. Patient surveys about telemedicine experiences, with a specific comparison with an in-person visit. Structured items elicited satisfaction with the specific visit, preferences for future use of telemedicine, and technical ease of use; unstructured free-text responses were also elicited. Proportion of patients who indicated that telemedicine visits were superior or preferred to in-person visits. Secondary outcomes included multivariable analysis of barriers to telemedicine use and variations in patient experiences by demographic characteristics over the observation period, and free-text analysis of unstructured responses describing the telemedicine experience using the BERTopic algorithm and a language model. A total of 27 435 telemedicine users completed surveys from May 2020 to October 2023 (median [IQR] age, 65 [55-72] years; 15 072 female [54.9%]; 1771 Asian [6.7%], 1339 Black [5.1%], 22 742 White [85.9%]). Overall, 18 025 of 24 418 patients (73.8%) rated their first telemedicine visit as good as or better than an in-person visit, and 4606 (18.9%) rated it superior to an in-person visit. The proportion of patients rating a telemedicine visit superior to an in-person visit evolved from 17% in 2020 to 20% in 2023. Structured questions revealed a positive view of telemedicine, while free-text analyses highlighted issues with technology. In this survey study of perspectives on telemedicine visits, a large majority of patients at a comprehensive cancer center expressed satisfaction with telemedicine visits in proportions that remained consistent beyond the end of the pandemic. These findings challenge health care systems to integrate telemedicine into routine cancer care and to overcome remaining technical challenges and barriers to ease of use.

Geospatial Hot Spots and Cold Spots in US Cancer Disparities and Associated Risk Factors, 2004-2008 to 2014-2018.

Despite declining cancer death rates in the US, cancer remains the second deadliest disease and disparities persist. Although research has focused on identifying risk factors for cancer deaths and associated disparities, few studies have examined how these relationships vary over time and space. The primary objective of this study was to identify cancer mortality hot spots and cold spots - areas where cancer death rates decreased less than or more than neighboring areas over time. A secondary objective was to identify risk factors of cancer mortality hot spots and cold spots. We analyzed county-level cancer death rates from 2004 through 2008 and 2014 through 2018, exploring disparities in changes over time for socioeconomic and demographic variables. We used hot spot analysis to identify areas with larger decreases (cold spots) and smaller decreases (hot spots) in cancer death rates and random forest machine learning analysis to assess the relative importance of risk factors associated with hot spots and cold spots. We mapped spatial clustering areas. Geospatial analysis showed hot spots predominantly in the Plains states and Midwest and cold spots in the Southeast, Northeast, 2 Mountain West states (Utah and Idaho), and a portion of Texas. Factors with the strongest influence on hot spots and cold spots were unemployment, preventable hospital stays, mammography screening, and high school education. Geospatial disparities in changes in cancer death rates point out the critical role of access to care, socioeconomic position, and health behaviors in persistent cancer mortality disparities. Study results provide insights for interventions and policies that focus on addressing health care access and social determinants of health.

Association of Life's Essential 8 metrics with mortality outcomes in US cancer survivors

Abstract Aims The increased in global cancer survivors and treatment complications has created an unmet need for effective long-term health strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between LE8 and all-cause, cancer-specific, and non-cancer mortality in cancer survivors in the US. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted using a nationally representative sample of cancer survivors, age 40 years or older (n = 2205), derived from the US. Cancer diagnoses were determined through face-to-face interviews, while health status was gauged using the LE8 score on a scale of 0-100. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations of overall and individual component of LE8 with overall, cancer-specific, and noncancer mortality, respectively. Result Among the 2205 participants (mean [SE] age, 66.4 [0.4] years; 54.1% females; 87.4% non-Hispanic White ethnicity), the average LE8 score was 65.5 ± 0.4, with diet having the lowest (45.5 ± 1.0) and the highest scores attributed to sleep (85.1 ± 0.7). During the up to 5.7 years follow-up period, 526 deaths were documented, comprising 174 cancer-related, 123 cardiovascular disease-related, and 229 from other causes. A high LE8 score was linked to a 71% reduction in all-cause mortality risk (HR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.16-0.54) as well as significant reduction in the risk of cancer deaths (HR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13-0.88) and non-cancer deaths (HR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13-0.52). Higher LE8 scores were still correlated with reduced mortality in cancer survivors without cardiovascular conditions, while adherence to certain health behaviors was tied to a lower death risk. Conclusions In this study, high LE8 scores, especially the health behaviors component, were strongly associated with extended life expectancy and lower mortality rates.

Disparities in receipt of 1-st line CDK4/6 inhibitors with endocrine therapy for treatment of hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer in the real-world setting

ObjectiveThis study used real-world observational data to compare profiles of patients receiving different first-line treatment for hormone receptor positive (ER+), HER2 negative, metastatic breast cancer (MBC): CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) versus ET alone.MethodFrom a nationwide electronic health record-derived Flatiron Health de-identified database including 280 US cancer clinics, we identified patients with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative, metastatic breast cancer receiving 1st -line therapy with ET alone or CDK4/6i plus ET between February 2015 and November 2021. Patient sociodemographic status, MBC treatment regimen and outcomes were the focus of this analysis. Patient characteristics were compared using t-tests and chi-square tests. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association of patient characteristics with the likelihood of receiving 1st -line CDK4/6i plus ET vs. ET alone. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards were used to test the impact of 1st -line treatment regimen on real-world progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Baseline characteristics were balanced using inverse probability weighting (IPW).ResultsThe study population included 3,917 patients receiving CDK4/6i plus ET (n = 2170) and ET alone (n = 1747) for their MBC. Compared to patients receiving ET alone, those receiving CDK4/6i plus ET were younger (mean age 66.8 vs. 68.6, p < 0.001), more likely to present with de novo MBC (p < 0.001), had better performance status (50.2% vs. 40.5% patients with ECOG value 0, p = 0.001) and lower number of comorbidities (29.7% vs. 26.6% ≥ 1 comorbidity, p < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed increased odds of CDK4/6i plus ET in individuals aged 50–64 (OR: 3.42, 95% CI [2.41, 4.86]) and 65–74 (OR: 3.18, 95% CI [1.68, 6.02]) versus those aged 18–49 years of age. Black individuals had lower odds of CDK4/6i plus ET (OR: 0.76, 95% CI [0.58, 1.00]) compared to White individuals. Other characteristics associated with lower odds of CDK4/6i plus ET included patients with stage III disease (OR: 0.69, 95% CI [0.52, 0.92]), lower performance status (OR: 0.50, 95% CI [0.40, 0.62]), and Medicare insurance (OR: 0.73, 95% CI [0.30, 1.78]) compared to those with commercial and Medicaid insurance. After IPW adjustment, use of CDK4/6i plus ET as 1st -line treatment was associated with significantly longer median PFS compared to ET alone (27 vs. 17 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.61, p < 0.001). Median OS was 52 months in the CDK4/6i plus ET group and was 42 months with ET alone (HR = 0.74, p < 0.001).ConclusionIn this real-world database, disparities in receiving 1st -line CDK4/6 inhibitors were seen by age, diagnosis stage, baseline performance status, comorbidity, and insurance status. In adjusted analysis, the use of 1st -line CDK4/6i plus ET yielded better PFS and OS rates than ET alone. Further efforts are essential to enhance equitable use of and access to this crucial drug class.

State of Geographic Access to Cancer Treatment Trials in the United States: Are Studies Located Where Patients Live?

In this study, we describe the geographic distribution of US cancer treatment trials to identify disparities and opportunities for targeted improvements in access to research for people with cancer. US-based phase I-III cancer treatment trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov were tabulated for the years they were open to enrollment (2017-2022), overall and by county, and supplemented with data from the US Census Bureau, National Cancer Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and US Department of Agriculture. We evaluated geographic differences in trial availability. We assessed 5-year trends in trials per capita and mapped 1-hour drive time areas around sites. A total of 6,710 trials were open to enrollment in 2022 across 1,836 sites. Trials increased by 4%, whereas sites decreased by 3% annually per capita from 2017. Seventy percent of US counties had no reported active trials in 2022 (2,211/3,143), representing 19% of people age ≥55 years. Eighty-six percent of nonmetropolitan counties had no trials versus 44% of metropolitan counties. Trial availability varied by county-level cancer mortality and social vulnerability (an index derived from demographic and socioeconomic data from the US Census). Eighteen percent of counties without trials had oncologist care sites (n = 618). Notably, 26% of people age ≥55 years lived beyond an hour drive of a site with ≥100 trials. Most US counties have limited to no trial offerings, a disparity magnified in counties that are nonmetropolitan, with high social vulnerability, and with high cancer mortality. Effort to facilitate diverse site participation is needed to promote equitable access to trials and to ensure patients participating in trials match the characteristics of patients who will receive interventions once approved. Counties with oncology care sites but no trials provide potential expansion areas.

Effects of loneliness on healthcare utilization and medical expenditures in US cancer survivors.

368 Background: Loneliness is associated with increased mortality risk in cancer survivors. However, effects of loneliness on healthcare utilization are understudied. This study examined associations of loneliness with having emergency room (ER) visit, usual source of care, and hospitalization in US adults with and without cancer history. Methods: We identified 1,844 cancer survivors and 9,517 adults without a cancer history from the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Loneliness was measured by 3 questions on feeling lack of companionship, left out, and isolated from others. Scores for each question were summed to create a total loneliness score, which was categorized into low/no loneliness (3-5) and high loneliness (6-9) based on previous literature. Separate logistic regression models were used to assess association of loneliness and whether having ER visit, usual source of care, and hospitalization. All models adjusted for age, region, sex, race, non-cancer health conditions, activity limitation, marital status, education, health insurance, and cancer diagnosis. We used a cancer history by loneliness interaction term to examine the differential associations of loneliness and healthcare utilization by cancer history. Results: 2,367 (23%) adults without a cancer history and 450 (22%) cancer survivors reported loneliness. All adults averagely aged over 50, with more female (non-cancer: 57.1 vs 49.9%, cancer: 68.0 vs 55.9%) and those with non-cancer health conditions ≥3 (non-cancer: 20.6 vs 15.4%, cancer: 54.0 vs 44.4%) in the loneliness group. Cancer history modified the association between loneliness and ER visit (interaction term p-value 0.04), but didn’t modify the association with having usual source of care (p=0.38) or hospitalization (p=0.87). Loneliness was associated with having ER visit (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.11-2.00) in cancer survivors while not in non-cancer patients (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.92-1.27). No significant association was observed between loneliness and having usual source of care or hospitalization. Conclusions: Loneliness is associated with ER visit in US cancer survivors. Findings warrant further study of impact of loneliness on clinical outcomes in cancer survivors, with the aim of enhancing strategies to mitigate loneliness and optimize healthcare utilization. Association of loneliness and healthcare utilization. No Cancer History (9,517, 85%) Cancer History (1,844, 15%) Loneliness No (7,150, 77%) Yes (2,367, 23%) No (1,394, 78%) Yes (450, 22%) Odds ratio Having ER visit Ref 1.08 (0.92-1.27) Ref 1.49 (1.11-2.00) Having usual source of care 1.08 (0.89-1.30) 0.90 (0.62-1.30) Having hospitalization 0.93 (0.79-1.09) 0.96 (0.62-1.48)

Use of and spending on medical equipment among cancer survivors.

210 Background: Cancer survivors are increasingly older, with rising rates of functional impairment, comorbidity burden, and needs. Patients often require medical equipment, but administrative barriers and lack of payer coverage can limit access and increase cost sharing for patients. Prior work on financial burdens has largely focused on direct medical costs and costs of prescription drugs. We sought to characterize patterns of use and costs associated with medical equipment use among US cancer survivors. Methods: We used the US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)—a nationally representative survey of the US population— to identify self-reported use of medical equipment (‘’such as a cane, a wheelchair, a special bed etc.’’) among cancer survivors from 1997-2018. We then used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) — which includes additional data on health care costs and spending among people sampled from the NHIS— to evaluate out-of-pocket (OOP) and total spending on equipment (e.g., orthopedic items, prosthesis, bathroom aids, disposable supplies etc.) among cancer survivors from 2016-2020. We describe trends in prevalence of use, and compared OOP costs and percentage of cost sharing responsibility (OOP cost/total spending) for equipment relative to other medical care, such as prescription drugs. Results: We identified 55,625 cancer survivors in the NHIS, representing 19.1 million weighted individuals from 1997-2018. The weighted number of cancer survivors using medical equipment increased during the study period from 0.9 million in 1997 to 2.3 million 2018, a 2.4-fold increase. The number of survivors not requiring equipment increased by 1.7-fold during the same period. The adjusted prevalence of equipment use among survivors increased from 5.1% in 1999 to 7.9% in 2018, a 2.8 percentage-point increase (P &lt; .001 for trend). We identified 32,106 cancer survivors (56.6% women, 55.9% ≥65 years) in MEPS from 2016-2020. Among users, mean annual total spending on equipment was 1,205, and mean OOP costs for equipment were 672. For comparison, mean annual OOP costs for prescription drugs was $541. The cost sharing responsibility for equipment (56%) was higher than that for all other comparison groups: prescription drugs (10%), outpatient visits (11%), occupational/physical therapy (18%), emergency room visits (20%), and hospitalization (3%). Conclusions: The number of US cancer survivors who use medical equipment has more than doubled during the past 20 years. For these patients, OOP costs for equipment are greater than that for prescription drugs, with patients responsible for over half the total spending. These data are particularly notable given that patterns of use and spending reported here do not capture survivors unable to access necessary equipment due to administrative, financial, and/or other barriers. Interventions to assess need, ensure access, and decrease associated financial burden are urgently needed.

Social determinant of health and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among US cancer survivors.

369 Background: According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines, all individuals with cancer survivors should receive COVID vaccination. However, the extent to which social determinants of health (SDoH) influence the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in this specific population remains an area of exploration. We aim to examine the potential impact of SDoH on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in cancer survivors. Methods: Cancer survivors with known COVID-19 vaccination status and SDoH information including food insecurity, housing insecurity and transportation barriers were extracted from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). We employed chi-square tests to compare baseline demographics and COVID-19 vaccine uptake by SDoH factors. Logistic regression model was used to calculate the association between SDoH factors and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among cancer survivors, after adjusting for potential confounders. All analyses were weighted. The significance level was set at 2-sided p&lt;0.05. Results: A total of 13025 cancer survivors were included (weighted N=4,620,447) with 85.9% reporting having at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the past. After adjusting for confounders, we found that cancer survivors experiencing food insecurity (odds ratio [OR]:0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44-0.90), housing insecurity (OR: 0.63; 95%CI: 0.42-0.96), transportation insecurity (OR: 0.51; 95%CI: 0.31-0.81) and any of the above barriers (OR: 0.58; 95%CI: 0.41-0.82) were significantly less likely to have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: 15% cancer survivors reported never having received COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, we found that having food, housing and transportation insecurity is independently associated with decreased COVID-19 vaccine uptake among US cancer survivors. Prior studies have shown that cancer survivors who with COIVD infections had a higher mortality and hospitalization rate than non-cancer population. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing SDoH in public health efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccines, particularly for a population at increased risk. SDoH Factors COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake (weighted % 95%CI) p-values OR 95%CI* Food insecurity No 88.9 (87.6-90.2) &lt;0.0001 Ref Yes 75.4 (70.4-80.5) 0.63 (0.44-0.90) Housing insecurity No 88.4 (87.1-89.6) &lt;0.0001 Ref Yes 71.2 (63.9-78.5) 0.63 (0.42-0.96) Transportation insecurity No 87.6 (86.3-88.9) &lt;0.01 Ref Yes 71.4 (61.7-81.0) 0.51 (0.31-0.81) Any of above No 89.4 (88.1-90.7) &lt;0.0001 Ref Yes 76.1 (71.8-80.3) 0.58 (0.41-0.82) *Model adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, insurance status, heavy drinking, smoking, BMI, number of comorbidities, had routine check-up last year, self-reported health status, US region, flu vaccine status, whether had COVID infection, type of cancer, and current cancer treatment status.

Cancer Incidence among Marines and Navy Personnel and Civilian Workers Exposed to Industrial Solvents in Drinking Water at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune: A Cohort Study.

Drinking water at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was contaminated with trichloroethylene and other industrial solvents from 1953 to 1985. A cohort cancer incidence study was conducted of Marines/Navy personnel who began service and were stationed at Camp Lejeune () or Camp Pendleton, California () between 1975 and 1985 and civilian workers employed at Camp Lejeune () or Camp Pendleton () between October 1972 and December 1985. Camp Pendleton's drinking water was not contaminated with industrial solvents. Individual-level information on primary invasive cancers and in situ bladder cancer diagnosed between 1996 and 2017 was obtained from 54 US cancer registries. Proportional hazards regression was used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) comparing cancer incidence between the Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton cohorts, adjusted for sex, race, education, and rank (or blue-collar work), with age as the time variable. Precision of aHRs was evaluated using the 95% confidence interval (CI) ratio (CIR). Cancers among Camp Lejeune Marines/Navy personnel and civilian workers totaled 12,083 and 1,563, respectively. Cancers among Camp Pendleton Marines/Navy personnel and civilian workers totaled 12,144 and 1,416, respectively. Compared with Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune Marines/Navy personnel had aHRs with CIRs for all myeloid cancers (; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.49), acute myeloid leukemia (; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.85), myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes (; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.62), polycythemia vera (; 95% CI: 0.94, 2.11), and cancers of the esophagus (; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.56), larynx (; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.50), soft tissue (; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.59), and thyroid (; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.45). Lymphoma subtypes mantle cell and marginal zone B-cell and lung cancer subtypes adenocarcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer also had aHRs with CIRs . Compared with Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune civilian workers had aHRs with CIRs for all myeloid cancers (; 95% CI: 0.83, 2.36), squamous cell lung cancer (; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.41), and female breast (; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.52) and ductal cancer (; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.71). Increased risks of several cancers were observed among Marines/Navy personnel and civilian workers exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune compared with Camp Pendleton. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14966.

Real-world outcomes among patients with advanced EGFRm NSCLC previously treated with osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy.

396 Background: For patients with advanced EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (EGFRm aNSCLC) progressing after osimertinib (OSI) and platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) no uniformly accepted standard of care exists. The study was to provide updated results with a refreshed dataset for a previous study describing clinical outcomes of treatment regimens initiated after OSI and PBC in real-world patients with similar baseline characteristics to those in HERTHENA-Lung01 (HL-01), a multinational single-arm phase II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of patritumab deruxtecan [1] . Methods: This study analyzed data from the US nationwide Flatiron Health electronic health record–derived aNSCLC de-identified database from approximately 280 US cancer clinics (~800 sites of care). Adult patients with an aNSCLC diagnosis (after 01 January 2011) and prior treatment with OSI and PBC, who initiated a subsequent line of therapy (index LOT) before 01 August 2022 were included in the study. Patients were chosen to closely match the HL-01 eligibility criteria (documented exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 or 1; and absence of relevant comorbidities at index date). To further balance patient characteristics, the sample was propensity-score (PS) weighted based on nine covariates. Real-world overall survival (rwOS), progression-free survival (rwPFS) and overall response (rwORR, defined as partial or complete response with ≥2 assessments ≥28 days apart) were assessed from the start of the index LOT with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: 179 patients in the database fulfilled the eligibility criteria, increasing the sample size by 42% compared to the previous study 1 . Median age of the unweighted sample at index was 68 years, 65.9% of patients were female, 40.2% had a history of smoking and 26.3% received more than 3 LOTs prior to the index LOT. In the PS-weighted cohort (standard mean difference of all covariates was ≤0.127) the median rwOS was 9.1 months (95% CI: 7.3 – 11.3) and median rwPFS was 3.5 months (95% CI: 2.7 – 4.6). For a subsample of 75 patients with qualifying response assessments, rwORR was 12.7% (95% CI: 4.8 – 25.7). Conclusions: These observations in patients with EGFRm NSCLC after OSI and PBC demonstrate a limited clinical benefit with currently available therapies. The results are consistent with the previously published study and increase precision of the outcome estimates 1 . They highlight the high unmet need and provide further context on clinical outcomes of HL-01 trial results. [1] Patel et al. Clinical Outcomes of Real-World Treatment for Metastatic EGFRm NSCLC after Osimertinib and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy. 2023 Sep 9-12 Singapore. P2.31.

Abstract A102: Nationwide Racial, Ethnic, Geographic and Stage-Specific Trends in Breast Cancer Incidence among Older US Women, 2001-2019

Abstract Purpose: Breast Cancer (BC) incidence is increasing among younger women with significant variation by race, ethnicity, and geography. Yet, few studies have described trends and possible social disparities among the oldest women (65+), typically grouping older women into a single age category, despite age-related variation in screening guidelines (e.g., no longer recommending routine screening beyond age 74 or limited life expectancy). We assessed trends in US BC incidence rates among 3 separate age groups of older women (65-74y, 75-84y, 85+) by stage at diagnosis, race, ethnicity, and geography. Methods: To cover all 50 US states, we used the US Cancer Statistics (USCS) public use database, 2022 submission of NCPR and SEER incidence data to obtain annual BC incidence rates from 2001-2019, age adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. We used Joinpoint regression to obtain the average annual percent changes (AAPCs) in BC incidence rates for each age group over the time period stratified by disease stage at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, metropolitan status, and region. Results: From 2001-2019, overall BC incidence rates per 100,000 were 530.4, 515.3, and 376.8 for ages 65-74, 75-84, and 85+, respectively. During this period, incidence increased by 0.4% (95% CI: 0.2 to 0.6) per year in women aged 65-74, remained stable in women aged 75-84 years, and decreased by 1.1% (95% CI: -1.4 to -0.8) per year in women aged 85+ years. In all age groups, there was a decline in regional stage (AAPCs range -0.8 to -0.9) and an increase in distant stage (AAPCs range: 1.1- 1.6). However, in situ and localized stage trends varied by age group (e.g., both increased in 65- 74, but decreased for 85+). For all stages combined, in the 65-74 year-old age group, non- Hispanic Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic women had 7-11 times the rate of average annual percent increase compared to non-Hispanic White women (AAPCs: 1.6, 1.8, 2.2, and 1.4 vs. 0.2, respectively). Rates increased for non-Hispanic Black and Asian/Pacific Islander women (AAPCs: 1.0 and 0.9, respectively) in the 75-84 year old age group and decreased for non-Hispanic White and Hispanic women aged 85+ (AAPCs: -1.0 and -1.3, respectively). Age-specific trends did not vary by metropolitan status, though BC incidence rates were lower in non-metropolitan vs. metropolitan areas across all age groups (non- metropolitan vs. metropolitan rate ratio range: 0.90-0.95). BC incidence in 65-74 year-old women increased from 2001-2019 in the Northeast, Midwest, and South, increased in the Northeast (AAPC: 0.2) and decreased in the West for ages 75-84, (AAPC: -0.6), and decreased in all 4 regions of the US (AAPC range: -0.7 to -1.5) in the 85+ year-old age group. Conclusions: As previously reported for younger women, these findings support racial, geographic, and stage- specific BC variation in trends are also observed for older women. Further research should examine the contribution of screening practices to these trends and their impact on BC mortality disparities among older women. Citation Format: Erica Lee Argov, Anita Karr, Michelle Lui, Parisa Tehranifar, Rebecca Kehm. Nationwide Racial, Ethnic, Geographic and Stage-Specific Trends in Breast Cancer Incidence among Older US Women, 2001-2019 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A102.

Abstract A087: Clinical outcomes in Black patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC treated with osimertinib

Abstract Introduction: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations are present in about 15% of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases in the U.S. The FLAURA study, in which the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Osimertinib demonstrated a median PFS of 18.9 months, set the current standard in the U.S. for front-line treatment of advanced NSCLC with sensitizing EGFR mutations. However, Black patients were greatly underrepresented in the FLAURA study (&amp;lt;1% of trial population) and two retrospective single-institution studies suggest inferior survival in Black patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC treated with TKIs versus (vs.) other races. Research is needed using large real-world cohorts to evaluate real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS) and overall survival (OS) in Black patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC to determine whether they derive comparable benefit from Osimertinib as other races. Methods: The nationwide Flatiron Health Electronic Health Record (EHR)-derived de-identified database was used to analyze data from 1503 patients with advanced NSCLC bearing an EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation who received front-line Osimertinib. The de-identified data originated from 280 US cancer clinics (∼800 sites of care). Patients were stratified by race (Black vs. White) and characteristics were compared using chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and t-tests. Kaplan-Meier curves estimated rwPFS (based on clinician documentation of progression) and OS in months (m). Differences in survival were assessed between Black and White patients using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models that adjusted for age, gender, EGFR subtype, histology, diagnosis year, smoking history, performance status, insurance status, and socioeconomic index. Results: In our cohort, comprised of 179 Black and 1324 White patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC, median age and percentage with a smoking history did not differ by race. However, Black patients were more likely to be female (74.3% vs. 66.4%, p=0.03), possess an exon 19 deletion tumor (74.3% vs. 58.3%, p&amp;lt;0.001) or be in a low socioeconomic index category (30.2% vs. 8.7%, p&amp;lt;0.001) than White patients. Median rwPFS did not significantly differ between Black and White patients treated with Osimertinib (15.1 m vs. 14.1 m, HR 0.91, p=0.39). Similarly, no significant difference in OS was observed among Black patients treated with Osimertinib as compared to Whites (29.2 m vs. 32.5 m, HR 1.07, p=0.57). Conclusion: This real-world analysis of one of the largest cohorts of Black patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC to date, did not observe differences in rwPFS and OS as compared to White patients following front-line Osimertinib therapy. Efforts should be made to ensure all patients receive mutational testing upfront so they can receive optimal first line therapy. Citation Format: Neel Belani, Farsha Rizwan, Jill Hasler, Jessica Bauman, Khadijah Mitchell, Hossein Borghaei, Joseph N Bodor. Clinical outcomes in Black patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC treated with osimertinib [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A087.

Association Between State Medicaid Policies and Accrual of Black or Hispanic Patients to Cancer Clinical Trials.

It is unknown whether Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or state-level policies mandating Medicaid coverage of the routine costs of clinical trial participation have ameliorated longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in cancer clinical trial enrollment. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional difference-in-differences analysis examining the effect of Medicaid expansion on rates of enrollment for Black or Hispanic nonelderly adults in nonobservational, US cancer clinical trials using data from Medidata's Rave platform for 2012-2019. We examined heterogeneity in this effect on the basis of whether states had pre-existing mandates requiring Medicaid coverage of the routine costs of clinical trial participation. The study included 47,870 participants across 1,353 clinical trials and 344 clinical trial sites. In expansion states, the proportion of participants who were Black or Hispanic increased from 16.7% before expansion to 17.2% after Medicaid expansion (0.5 percentage point [PP] change [95% CI, -1.1 to 2.0]). In nonexpansion states, this proportion increased from 19.8% before 2014 (when the first states expanded eligibility under the ACA) to 20.4% after 2014 (0.6 PP change [95% CI, -2.3 to 3.5]). These trends yielded a nonsignificant difference-in-differences estimate of 0.9 PP (95% CI, -2.6 to 4.4). Medicaid expansion was associated with a 5.3 PP (95% CI, 1.9 to 8.7) increase in the enrollment of Black or Hispanic participants in states with mandates requiring Medicaid coverage of the routine costs of trial participation, but not in states without mandates (-0.3 PP [95% CI, -4.5 to 3.9]). Medicaid expansion was not associated with a significant increase in the proportion of Black or Hispanic oncology trial participants overall, but was associated with an increase specifically in states that mandated Medicaid coverage of the routine costs of trial participation.

Telehealth vs In-Person Early Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer

Numerous studies show that early palliative care improves quality of life and other key outcomes in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers, although most lack access to this evidence-based model of care. To evaluate whether delivering early palliative care via secure video vs in-person visits has an equivalent effect on quality of life in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Randomized, multisite, comparative effectiveness trial from June 14, 2018, to May 4, 2023, at 22 US cancer centers among 1250 patients within 12 weeks of diagnosis of advanced NSCLC and 548 caregivers. Participants were randomized to meet with a specialty-trained palliative care clinician every 4 weeks either via video visit or in person in the outpatient clinic from the time of enrollment and throughout the course of disease. The video visit group had an initial in-person visit to establish rapport, followed by subsequent virtual visits. Equivalence of the effect of video visit vs in-person early palliative care on quality of life at week 24 per the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung questionnaire (equivalence margin of ±4 points; score range: 0-136, with higher scores indicating better quality of life). Participants completed study questionnaires at enrollment and at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 48. By 24 weeks, participants (mean age, 65.5 years; 54.0% women; 82.7% White) had a mean of 4.7 (video) and 4.9 (in-person) early palliative care encounters. Patient-reported quality-of-life scores were equivalent between groups (video mean, 99.7 vs in-person mean, 97.7; difference, 2.0 [90% CI, 0.1-3.9]; P = .04 for equivalence). Rate of caregiver participation in visits was lower for video vs in-person early palliative care (36.6% vs 49.7%; P < .001). Study groups did not differ in caregiver quality of life, patient coping, or patient and caregiver satisfaction with care, mood symptoms, or prognostic perceptions. The delivery of early palliative care virtually vs in person demonstrated equivalent effects on quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC, underscoring the considerable potential for improving access to this evidence-based care model through telehealth delivery. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03375489.

Incidence Trends in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer in Young Adults: A Nationwide Time-Trend Analysis Using 2001-2019 US Cancer Statistics Databases.

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers, comprising malignancies of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver, biliary tract, and gallbladder, are the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States and are associated with significant comorbidities. Recent studies show a disproportionate rise in pancreatic and stomach cancer among young adults. This study aims to use a nationwide, population-based cohort to (i) evaluate the trend of all UGI cancer as an aggregate and (ii) examine the role of demographics, histology, and tumor stage in UGI cancer incidence among young adults. Individuals diagnosed with UGI cancer in the United States from 2001 to 2019 were identified and obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-National Program of Cancer Registries database. The primary outcomes were incidence rates of UGI cancer (calculated per 100,000, age-adjusted to the year 2000 US population), stratified by sex and age (< 55 years for young adults and ≥ 55 years for older adults). Trends, annual percentage change, and average annual percentage change were calculated using the parametric method. Sensitivity analysis was performed according to primary site and histology; further analysis examining race and cancer stage was performed in the young adult subgroup. A total of 2,333,161 patients with UGI cancer were identified. Most cases were male, and 14.3% were < 55 years of age. Incidence of UGI cancer increased most in women younger than 55 years, driven primarily by pancreatic and stomach cancers, as well as neuroendocrine tumor and gastrointestinal stromal tumor histology. African American race and localized tumors and malignancy with distant spread are also contributing to the disparate increase among young women. UGI mortality rates have not changed significantly in young adults. The overall incidence rate of upper gastrointestinal cancer is increasing significantly in young women compared with men. Increased endoscopic procedures and disparate exposure to risk factors are likely contributing to these trends.