Trends in guideline-adherent chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced cervical cancer before and after the affordable care act.

Objective: To assess trends in guideline-adherent chemoradiation therapy (GA-CRT) for locally advanced cervical cancer relative to Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation.

Methods: National Cancer Database patients treated with chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO 2018 Stage IB3-IVA) from 2004 to 2016 were included. GA-CRT was defined according to NCCN guidelines and included: 1) delivery of external beam radiation, 2) brachytherapy, and 3) chemotherapy, 4) no radical hysterectomy. Logistic regression was used to determine trends in GA-CRT relative to the ACA. Survival was also estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results: 37,772 patients met inclusion criteria (Pre-ACA:16,169; Post-ACA:21,673). A total of 33,116 patients had squamous cell carcinoma and 4626 patients had other histologies. Forty-five percent of patients had lymph node-positive disease. A total of 14.6% of patients had Stage I disease, 41.8% had Stage II disease, 36.4% had Stage III disease, and 7.9% had Stage IVA disease. On multivariable analysis, medicare insurance (OR 0.91; 95%CI: 0.84-0.99 compared to commercial insurance), non-squamous histology (OR 0.83; 95%CI: 0.77-0.89 for adenocarcinoma) and increasing Charlson-Deyo score were associated with decreased odds of receiving GA care. Increasing T-stage was associated with greater receipt of GA-CRT. The percentage of the population that received guideline adherent care increased post-ACA (Pre-ACA 28%; Post-ACA 34%; p < 0.001). Adherence to treatment guidelines increased 2-year survival by 15% (GA 76%; Not GA 61%; p < 0.001). Increased 2-year survival was seen in the post-ACA cohort (Pre-ACA 62%; Post-ACA 69%; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Implementation of the ACA was associated with improved GA-CRT and survival in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.