Trends in Immunotherapy (IO) Use and Survival Among Patients With High-Incidence Stage IV Cancers Across the United States.

Background And Objectives: IO has transformed cancer management, but its adoption in advanced cancer patients varies by tumor type. With more Stage IV patients undergoing surgery, understanding site-specific outcomes in these challenging patients is essential. We aimed to evaluate IO use and survival trends for Stage IV cancer patients across high-incidence cancers in the US.

Complications Following Open Versus Minimally Invasive Resection of Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Background And Objectives: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) is commonly treated with open or minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The preferred surgical approach remains unclear. This study sought to assess utilization over time, compare complication rates by surgical approach, and identify predictors of experiencing complications.

Regorafenib induces DNA damage and enhances PARP inhibitor efficacy in pancreatic ductal carcinoma.

Background: There is increasing interest in enhancing the response of the PARP inhibitor olaparib, which is currently approved for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with defects in DNA damage repair associated with germline BRCA1/2 mutations. Moreover, agents that can mimic these defects in the absence of germline BRCA1/2 mutations are an area of active research in hopes of increasing the number of patients eligible for treatment with PARP inhibitors. The extent to which regorafenib, an FDA-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor, can be used to enhance the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in PDAC cells without known BRCA1/2 mutations remains to be investigated.

Association of commission on cancer accreditation with receipt of guideline-concordant care and survival among patients with colon cancer.

Background: Guideline-concordant care (GCC) is associated with improved survival for patients with cancer; however, variations in receipt of GCC remain a concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of Commission on Cancer (CoC) hospital accreditation status with receipt of GCC and survival among patients with colon cancer.

Methods: This retrospective observational study identified patients diagnosed with stage I-IV colon cancer from 2018 to 2020 from the National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program Database.

Current National Treatment Trends for Gastric Adenocarcinoma in the United States.

Purpose: The treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) continues to evolve. While neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has demonstrated emerging benefit, the optimal treatment regimen, and sequence remain to be firmly established.

Methods: Patients with nonmetastatic GA who underwent resection were identified within the 2020 National Cancer Database.

Omission of Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma: Evaluation of PROSPECT in a National Database.

Background And Objectives: The PROSPECT trial showed noninferiority of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with selective chemoradiation (CRT) versus CRT alone. However, trial results are often difficult to reproduce with real-world data. Pathologic outcomes and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by neoadjuvant strategy in locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma patients in a national database.

Association of Hospital Volume With Quality Care Outcomes Following Minor and Major Hepatectomy for Primary Liver Cancer.

Introduction: Regionalizing hepatic resections to high-volume hospitals (HVH) has improved outcomes, yet widened disparities in access. We sought to evaluate the association of hospital volume with quality care outcomes and overall survival (OS) between minor and major hepatectomy for primary liver cancer.

Methods: The National Cancer Database identified patients with primary liver cancer who underwent minor/major hepatectomy (2009-2019).

Social Vulnerability and Receipt of Guideline-Concordant Care among Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Cancer outcome disparities have been reported in highly vulnerable communities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of social vulnerability with receipt of guideline-concordant care (GCC) and mortality risk for patients with colorectal cancer.

Study Design: This retrospective observational study identified patients with stage I to III colon or stage II to III rectal cancer between 2018 and 2020 from the National Program of Cancer Registries Database.

Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors for Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer is a heterogeneous and prevalent disease. The traditional environmental exposures associated with elevated risk of gastric cancer are less prevalent in the USA today. Genetic risks and risks associated with inflammation remain.

Assessment of intermediate-term mortality following pancreatectomy for cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer remains highly lethal, and resection represents the only chance for cure. Although patients are counseled regarding short-term (0-3 months) mortality, little is known about mortality 3-6 months (intermediate-term) following surgery. We assessed predictors of intermediate-term mortality, evaluated hospital-level variation, and developed a nomogram to predict intermediate-term mortality risk.

Comparison of a risk calculator with frailty indices in patients undergoing lung cancer resection.

Introduction: Perioperative risk stratification is an essential component of preoperative planning for cancer surgery. While frailty has gained attention for its utility in risk stratification, no studies have directly compared it to existing risk calculators. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the risk stratification of the American College of Surgeons Surgical Risk Calculator (ACS-SRC), the Revised Risk Analysis Index (RAI-rev), and the Modified Frailty Index (5-mFI).

Hospital Accreditation Status and Treatment Differences Among Black Patients With Colon Cancer.

Importance: Hospital-level factors, such as hospital type or volume, have been demonstrated to play a role in treatment disparities for Black patients with cancer. However, data evaluating the association of hospital accreditation status with differences in treatment among Black patients with cancer are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the association of Commission on Cancer (CoC) hospital accreditation status with receipt of guideline-concordant care and mortality among non-Hispanic Black patients with colon cancer.

Trametinib Potentiates Anti-PD-1 Efficacy in Tumors Established from Chemotherapy-Primed Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Despite advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy remains the standard therapy for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). As the combinations of chemotherapy, including the FOLFIRINOX [5-fluorouracil, F; irinotecan, I; and oxaliplatin, O (FIO)] regimen, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have failed to demonstrate clinical benefit in patients with metastatic PDAC tumors, there is increasing interest in identifying therapeutic approaches to potentiate ICI efficacy in patients with PDAC. In this study, we report that neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX-treated human PDAC tumors exhibit increased MEK/ERK activation.

Utilization of neoadjuvant therapy for localized gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors and the association with survival.

Background: For gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), neoadjuvant imatinib is most often reserved for tumors near the gastroesophageal junction, multivisceral involvement, or limited metastatic disease. Whether localized gastric GISTs benefit from neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) remains unknown. We sought to examine factors associated with NAT utilization for localized gastric GISTs and evaluate implications on survival.

Utilization and survival outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage gastric cancer.

Background And Objectives: Given increased utilization of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for gastric adenocarcinoma, practice patterns deviating from standard of care (upfront resection) remain unknown. We sought to identify factors associated with NAT use and survival outcomes among early-stage gastric cancers.

Methods: The National Cancer Database identified patients with early-stage (T1N0M0) gastric cancer (2010-2020).

The associations of food environment with gastrointestinal cancer outcomes in the United States.

Background: Social conditions and dietary behaviors have been implicated in the rising burden of gastrointestinal cancers (GIC). The "food environment" reflects influences on a community level relative to food availability, nutritional assistance, and social determinants of health. Using the US Department of Agriculture-Food Environment Atlas (FEA), we sought to characterize the association of food environment on GIC presenting stage and long-term survival.

Association of pathologic factors with postoperative venous thromboembolism after gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis is the standard of care after gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery; however, variation in risk based on pathologic factors (eg, stage and histology) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association of pathologic factors with VTE after GI cancer surgery.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program procedure targeted datasets were queried for patients who underwent colorectal, pancreatic, primary hepatic, and esophageal cancer surgery between 2017 and 2020.

Survival Among Patients With High-Risk Gastrointestinal Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance: Prior reports demonstrated that patients with cancer experienced worse outcomes from pandemic-related stressors and COVID-19 infection. Patients with certain malignant neoplasms, such as high-risk gastrointestinal (HRGI) cancers, may have been particularly affected.

Objective: To evaluate disruptions in care and outcomes among patients with HRGI cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic, assessing for signs of long-term changes in populations and survival.

Assessment of Social Vulnerabilities of Care and Prognosis in Adult Ocular Melanomas in the US.

Background: Prior works have studied the impact of social determinants on various cancers but there is limited analysis on eye-orbit cancers. Current literature tends to focus on socioeconomic status and race, with sparse analysis of interdisciplinary contributions. We examined social determinants as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), quantifying eye and orbit melanoma disparities across the United States.