Racial and Treatment Center Differences on Time to Treatment Initiation for Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy As an Initial Treatment.

Objective: Because time to treatment has been shown to be associated with increase in the risk of death for Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients, we examined the prevalence and magnitude of racial disparities in mean time to radiation therapy (TTRT) for Stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer patients across a variety of treatment facilities.

Methods: Utilizing the United States National Cancer Database (NCDB), we determined differences in TTRT between different races and different treatment facilities.

Results: Concordant with past research, we found that non-White patients and patients treated at academic facilities, regardless of race, have longer mean TTRT, and that racial disparities in TTRT extend across all treatment facilities (all <0.

Associations between initiating antihypertensive regimens on stage I-III colorectal cancer outcomes: A Medicare SEER cohort analysis.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis is associated with high mortality in the United States and thus warrants the study of novel treatment approaches. Vascular changes are well observed in cancers and evidence indicates that antihypertensive (AH) medications may interfere with both tumor vasculature and in recruiting immune cells to the tumor microenvironment based on preclinical models. Extant literature also shows that AH medications are correlated with improved survival in some forms of cancer.

Childhood cancer survivors face markedly worse overall survival after diagnosis with breast cancer, melanoma, or colorectal cancer.

Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at elevated risk of secondary malignancies (SM). Enhanced screening for SM is recommended, but compliance is poor. We hypothesized that CCS with adult-onset SM (colorectal cancer [CRC], melanoma, or breast cancer [BC]) would present with more advanced disease and have decreased overall survival (OS).

Persistent Disparities in Immunization Rates for the Seven-Vaccine Series Among Infants 19-35 Months in the United States.

The seven-vaccine series protects infants from several preventable diseases, yet disparities in its use remain in the United States. We assessed the seven-vaccine immunization rate and its predictors in infants 19-35 months using the National Immunization Survey from 2009 to 2018. The seven-vaccine series rate was 72.

Epidemiology of acute myeloid leukemia in Virginia: Excellent survival outcomes for patients in rural Appalachia.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia, the most common acute leukemia in adults, has a poor overall survival. Studies have suggested that certain socioeconomic factors such as living in a rural or farming area are associated with worse outcomes. Since 42% of acute myeloid leukemia patients seen in our academic center reside in a rural area, we have a unique opportunity to study outcomes of patients in rural versus urban settings.

Prolonged Opioid Use Associated With Reduced Survival After Lung Cancer Resection.

Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and the search for modifiable risk factors to improve survival is ongoing. There is a growing appreciation for a biological relationship between opioids and lung cancer progression. Our goal was to evaluate the association between perioperative opioid use and long-term survival after lung cancer resection.

Long-term Impact of CALGB 9343 on Radiation Utilization.

Background: The results of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 9343 trial showed that radiation therapy (RT) did not improve survival for women older than 70 y with early-stage estrogen receptor + breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery and adjuvant endocrine therapy. In 2005, guidelines were modified to allow for RT omission; however, minimal change in clinical practice has occurred. The aim of this study was to determine if CALGB long-term follow-up data have affected RT utilization, and to characterize the population still receiving RT after breast conserving surgery.

Evaluating the Long-Term Impact of a Cooperative Group Trial on Radiation Use and Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Adherence Among Older Women.

Background: Using long-term survival data from the C9343 trial as a temporal reference point, this study aimed to determine radiation therapy (RT) treatment trends for older patients with early-stage breast cancer. The study also examined rates of adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET).

Methods: The surveillance, epidemiology, and end results-medicare database was used to identify women with a diagnosis of breast cancer from 2007 through 2016.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Antihypertensive Medication Use and Blood Pressure Control Among US Adults With Hypertension: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003 to 2012.

Background: A key to reduce and eradicate racial disparities in hypertension outcomes is to understand their causes. We aimed at evaluating racial differences in antihypertensive drug utilization patterns and blood pressure control by insurance status, age, sex, and presence of comorbidities.

Methods And Results: A total of 8796 hypertensive individuals ≥18 years of age were identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2012) in a repeated cross-sectional study.