Incorporating external controls in the design of randomized clinical trials: a case study in solid tumors.

Background: The use of historical external control data in clinical trials has grown in interest and needs when considering the design of future trials. Hybrid control designs can be more efficient to achieve the same power with fewer patients and limited resources. The literature is sparse on appropriate statistical methods which can account for the differences between historical external controls and the control patients in a study.

Emergency department visits and hospitalizations in older women treated for early stage breast cancer.

Introduction: Older patients with cancer often require acute care treatment through emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. This study investigates acute care utilization through ED visits and hospitalizations during treatment and in the two years following the completion of primary treatment for early stage breast cancer (EBC) in women aged 65 and older.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis including descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and relative risk analysis of 256 women with EBC was performed through medical record review of demographics, comorbidities, disease characteristics, treatment details, and causes of hospitalizations and ED visits.

Does walking during chemotherapy impact p16 levels in women with early breast cancer.

Background: Increased p16 (p16) expression is directly related to cellular senescence and is a robust biomarker of aging in humans. Prior studies have shown that levels of p16 dramatically increase in breast cancer patients who have received adjuvant chemotherapy. This study investigated whether moderate physical activity during chemotherapy would attenuate the expected rise in p16 expression.

Age and competing concerns in treatment selection for women with non-metastatic HR+ and HER2- breast cancer: Current clinical practice.

Background: Newer adjuvant treatment options for non-metastatic breast cancer have increased survival. There is a need to investigate whether demographic and clinical characteristics of women with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth receptor 2-negative non-metastatic breast cancer (stages I-III) differentially influence treatment decisions in older (age 65 or older) versus younger patients (under age 65).

Methods: In a retrospective electronic medical record review, prevalence ratio with 95% confidence interval for treatment decisions in older vs younger patients was calculated using log binomial regression adjusted for race, stage, and total number of comorbidities.

Effect of an Antiracism Intervention on Racial Disparities in Time to Lung Cancer Surgery.

Purpose: Timely lung cancer surgery is a metric of high-quality cancer care and improves survival for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Historically, Black patients experience longer delays to surgery than White patients and have lower survival rates. Antiracism interventions have shown benefits in reducing racial disparities in lung cancer treatment.

Anticipating mental health needs after chemotherapy in early-stage breast cancer using patient-reported symptom screening.

Purpose: Many patients with breast cancer experience depression and anxiety for years after completing systemic chemotherapy, which negatively impact overall symptom burden, quality of life, and treatment outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine the utility of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to predict mental health needs in patients with breast cancer during post-chemotherapy follow-up care.

Methods: In a sample of women with non-metastatic breast cancer, associations between patient-reported depression and anxiety at end of chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy mental health needs were evaluated using log-binomial regression adjusted for functional status, social activity limitations, and time from chemotherapy.

Social support and outcomes in older adults with lung cancer.

Background: Insufficient social support is associated with increased mortality among older adults. Lung cancer is primarily a disease of older adults and is the leading cause of all cancer deaths. We assessed the association of social support with outcomes among older adults with lung cancer.

Obesity, comorbidities, and treatment selection in Black and White women with early breast cancer.

Background: This study investigates obesity and comorbidity in Black and White women with early breast cancer (stages I-III) and their potential impact on treatment decisions for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) tumors.

Methods: In this retrospective chart review, comparisons of frequencies for Black and White patients were calculated with the Fisher exact test. Log binomial regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals for total and individual comorbidities, and multivariable modeling was used to estimate PRs adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI).