Description of census-tract-level social determinants of health in cancer surveillance data.

Background: Disparities in cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, and mortality persist by race, ethnicity, and many other social determinants, such as census-tract-level socioeconomic status (SES), poverty, and rurality. Census-tract-level measures of these determinants are useful for analyzing trends in cancer disparities.

Methods: The purpose of this paper was to demonstrate the availability of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program's specialized census-tract-level dataset and provide basic descriptive cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, and survival for 8 cancer sites, which can be screened regularly or associated with infectious agents.

Real-world lessons: combining cancer registry and retail pharmacy data for oral cancer drugs.

Background: Recent cancer care advances have introduced new oral therapies, and yet population registries lack detailed treatment data, hampering investigations into therapy uptake, adherence, and outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the representativeness and completeness of linking Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry data with data from two major retail pharmacy chains, collectively covering a large segment of the US market.

Methods: A deterministic data linkage between 11 SEER cancer registries and retail pharmacy data (excluding mail order fills) was conducted for individuals diagnosed with selected cancers from 2013 to 2017, with follow-up through 2019.

Interpreting cancer incidence trends: challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The considerable deficit in cancer diagnoses in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic disruptions in health care can pose challenges in the estimation and interpretation of long-term cancer trends. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) (2000-2020) data, we demonstrate that inclusion of the 2020 incidence rates in joinpoint models to estimate trends can result in a poorer fit to the data and less accurate or less precise trend estimates, providing challenges in the interpretation of the estimates as a cancer control measure. To measure the decline in 2020 relative to 2019 cancer incidence rates, we used the percent change of rates in 2020 compared with 2019.

The Impact of Improved Treatments on Survival of Adult U.S. Leukemia Patients: 1990-2018.

Introduction: Molecularly targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are effective treatments for B-cell receptor (BCR)-ABL-bearing leukemias. We evaluated the impact of TKIs on historical chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) mortality trends compared with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL).

Methods: Because mortality trends reflect combined effects of leukemia incidence and survival, we also evaluated the contribution of incidence and survival trends to mortality trends by subtypes.

Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, part 1: National cancer statistics.

Background: The American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate to provide annual updates on cancer occurrence and trends in the United States.

Methods: Data on new cancer diagnoses during 2001-2018 were obtained from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries' Cancer in North America Incidence file, which is comprised of data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded and National Cancer Institute-funded, population-based cancer registry programs. Data on cancer deaths during 2001-2019 were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Vital Statistics System.

Cancer Registry Data Linkage of Electronic Health Record Data From ASCO's CancerLinQ: Evaluation of Advantages, Limitations, and Lessons Learned.

Purpose: To evaluate the completeness of information for research and quality assessment through a linkage between cancer registry data and electronic health record (EHR) data refined by ASCO's health technology platform CancerLinQ.

Methods: A probabilistic data linkage between Iowa Cancer Registry (ICR) and an Iowa oncology clinic through CancerLinQ data was conducted for cases diagnosed between 2009 and 2018. Demographic, cancer, and treatment variables were compared between data sources for the same patients, all of whom were diagnosed with one primary cancer.

Enduring Cancer Disparities by Persistent Poverty, Rurality, and Race: 1990-1992 to 2014-2018.

Background: Most persistent poverty counties are rural and contain high concentrations of racial minorities. Cancer mortality across persistent poverty, rurality, and race is understudied.

Methods: We gathered data on race and cancer deaths (all sites, lung and bronchus, colorectal, liver and intrahepatic bile duct, oropharyngeal, breast and cervical [females], and prostate [males]) from the National Death Index (1990-1992; 2014-2018).

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, Part 1: National Cancer Statistics.

Background: The American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate to provide annual updates on cancer incidence and mortality and trends by cancer type, sex, age group, and racial/ethnic group in the United States. In this report, we also examine trends in stage-specific survival for melanoma of the skin (melanoma).

Methods: Incidence data for all cancers from 2001 through 2017 and survival data for melanoma cases diagnosed during 2001-2014 and followed-up through 2016 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- and National Cancer Institute-funded population-based cancer registry programs compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

Comparisons of individual- and area-level socioeconomic status as proxies for individual-level measures: evidence from the Mortality Disparities in American Communities study.

Background: Area-level measures are often used to approximate socioeconomic status (SES) when individual-level data are not available. However, no national studies have examined the validity of these measures in approximating individual-level SES.

Methods: Data came from ~ 3,471,000 participants in the Mortality Disparities in American Communities study, which links data from 2008 American Community Survey to National Death Index (through 2015).

Rural-urban differences in health-related quality of life: patterns for cancer survivors compared to other older adults.

Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among older cancer survivors can be impaired by factors such as treatment, comorbidities, and social challenges. These HRQOL impairments may be especially pronounced in rural areas, where older adults have higher cancer burden and more comorbidities and risk factors for poor health. This study aimed to assess rural-urban differences in HRQOL for older cancer survivors and controls.

Persistent Poverty and Cancer Mortality Rates: An Analysis of County-Level Poverty Designations.

Background: Cancer mortality is higher in counties with high levels of (current) poverty, but less is known about associations with persistent poverty. Persistent poverty counties (with ≥20% of residents in poverty since 1980) face social, structural, and behavioral challenges that may make their residents more vulnerable to cancer.

Methods: We calculated 2007 to 2011 county-level, age-adjusted, and overall and type-specific cancer mortality rates (deaths/100,000 people/year) by persistent poverty classifications, which we contrasted with mortality in counties experiencing current poverty (≥20% of residents in poverty according to 2007-2011 American Community Survey).

Indicators of Socioeconomic Status for Individuals, Census Tracts, and Counties: How Well Do Measures Align for Demographic Subgroups?

Objectives: Researchers often approximate individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) from census tract and county data. However, area-level variables do not serve as accurate proxies for individual-level SES, particularly among some demographic subgroups. The present study aimed to analyze the potential bias introduced by this practice.

The Effect of Advances in Lung-Cancer Treatment on Population Mortality.

Background: Lung cancer is made up of distinct subtypes, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Although overall mortality from lung cancer has been declining in the United States, little is known about mortality trends according to cancer subtype at the population level because death certificates do not record subtype information.

Methods: Using data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) areas, we assessed lung-cancer mortality and linked deaths from lung cancer to incident cases in SEER cancer registries.

Triple-negative breast cancer incidence in the United States: ecological correlations with area-level sociodemographics, healthcare, and health behaviors.

Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer, more commonly diagnosed among black women than other subgroups. TNBC varies geographically, but little is known about area-level characteristics associated with elevated incidence.

Methods: We generated 2011-2013 age-adjusted TNBC incidence rates for state economic areas (SEAs) in 43 states using data from North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

An Evaluation of the Utility of Big Data to Supplement Cancer Treatment Information: Linkage Between IQVIA Pharmacy Database and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

Oral anticancer medications (OAMs) are increasingly utilized. We evaluated the representativeness and completeness of IQVIA, a large aggregator of pharmacy data, for breast cancer, colon cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia, and myeloma cases diagnosed in six Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) registries between 2007 and 2011. Patient's SEER and SEER-Medicare data were linked and compared with IQVIA pharmacy data from 2006 to 2012 for specific OAMs.

Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, part I: National cancer statistics.

Background: The American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate to provide annual updates on cancer occurrence and trends in the United States.

Methods: Data on new cancer diagnoses during 2001 through 2016 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded and National Cancer Institute-funded population-based cancer registry programs and compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. Data on cancer deaths during 2001 through 2017 were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Vital Statistics System.

Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, part II: Progress toward Healthy People 2020 objectives for 4 common cancers.

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate to provide annual updates on cancer occurrence and trends in the United States and to address a special topic of interest. Part I of this report focuses on national cancer statistics, and part 2 characterizes progress in achieving select Healthy People 2020 cancer objectives.

Methods: For this report, the authors selected objectives-including death rates, cancer screening, and major risk factors-related to 4 common cancers (lung, colorectal, female breast, and prostate).

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, Featuring Cancer in Men and Women Age 20-49 Years.

Background: The American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries provide annual updates on cancer occurrence and trends by cancer type, sex, race, ethnicity, and age in the United States. This year's report highlights the cancer burden among men and women age 20-49 years.

Methods: Incidence data for the years 1999 to 2015 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- and National Cancer Institute-funded population-based cancer registry programs compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and death data for the years 1999 to 2016 from the National Vital Statistics System were used.

Racial Disparities in the Receipt of Guideline Care and Cancer Deaths for Women with Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Black women with ovarian cancer experience worse survival than white women. Receipt of guideline care improves survival, yet care may vary by race. We assessed rates of guideline care and role of guideline treatment on survival disparities.

Erratum: Author Correction: Breast-cancer-specific mortality in patients treated based on the 21-gene assay: a SEER population-based study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/npjbcancer.2016.

Differences in cancer survival among white and black cancer patients by presence of diabetes mellitus: Estimations based on SEER-Medicare-linked data resource.

Diabetes prevalence and racial health disparities in the diabetic population are increasing in the US. Population-based cancer-specific survival estimates for cancer patients with diabetes have not been assessed. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linkage provided data on cancer-specific deaths and diabetes prevalence among 14 separate cohorts representing 1 068 098 cancer patients ages 66 +  years diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 in 17 SEER areas.

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, part II: Recent changes in prostate cancer trends and disease characteristics.

Background: Temporal trends in prostate cancer incidence and death rates have been attributed to changing patterns of screening and improved treatment (mortality only), among other factors. This study evaluated contemporary national-level trends and their relations with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing prevalence and explored trends in incidence according to disease characteristics with stage-specific, delay-adjusted rates.

Methods: Joinpoint regression was used to examine changes in delay-adjusted prostate cancer incidence rates from population-based US cancer registries from 2000 to 2014 by age categories, race, and disease characteristics, including stage, PSA, Gleason score, and clinical extension.