Colon cancer care of Hispanic people in California: Paradoxical barrio protections seem greatest among vulnerable populations

Background: We examined paradoxical and barrio advantaging effects on cancer care among socioeconomically vulnerable Hispanic people in California.Methods: We analyzed a colon cancer cohort of 3,877 non-Hispanic white (NHW) and 735 Hispanic people between 1995 and 2005. A third of the cohort was selected from high poverty neighborhoods. Hispanic enclaves and Mexican American (MA) barrios were neighborhoods where 40% or more of the residents were Hispanic or MA. Key analyses were restricted to poor neighborhoods.Results: Hispanic people were more likely to receive chemotherapy (RR = 1.18), especially men in Hispanic enclaves (RR = 1.33) who were also advantaged on survival (RR = 1.20). A survival advantage was also suggested among MA men who resided in barrios (RR = 1.80).Conclusions: The findings were supportive of Hispanic paradox and barrio advantage theories, further suggesting that such advantages are greater for men due to their greater familial supports.

Association of delayed commencement of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) with inferior survival in colon cancer patients with stage II and III diseases: A national population-based cohort study.

669 Background: To evaluate factors affecting the delay ( ≥ 8 weeks) of AC and the impact of chemotherapy delay on survival in patients with colon cancer(CC). Methods: The study cohort consisted of patients with stage II and III colon cancer, diagnosed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012, who underwent curative resection and AC at all hospitals registered in the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). Detailed clinical data are from monitoring and evaluation of quality of colon cancer care. Results: Among 5355 patients, 154 (2.9%) received AC more than 8 weeks after surgery. Based on multivariate analysis, risk factors associated with AC delay ≥ 8 weeks were: older age [65 to 74 years (hazard ratio, HR = 1.48) and 75 years (HR = 1.69), p = 0.0354], medical aid status in health security system (HR = 1.76, p = 0.0345), emergency surgery (HR = 2.43, p = 0.0002), and chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidine (HR = 1.49, p = 0.0373). Independent prognostic factors for inferior OS included AC delay ≥ 8 weeks (HR = 1.49, p = 0.0365), older age [65 to 74 years (HR = 1.94) and 75 years (HR = 3.41), p < 0.0001], TNM III stage (HR = 2.46, p < 0.0001), emergency surgery (HR = 1.89, p < 0.0001), ASA score with 3 or higher (HR = 1.50, p < 0.0001), and higher transfusion amount (HR = 1.09, p = 0.0392). OS rates in patients with stage II / III CCs according to delay of AC using 8 weeks cutoff showed inferior OS in the delayed chemotherapy group (p = 0.008).Detailed OS rates were 97.81% at 1 year, 93.77% at 2 year, 89.62% at 3 year, and 85.79% at 4 year in the chemotherapy group within 8weeks. In the delayed chemotherapy group ≥ 8 weeks, OS rates were 96.1% at 1 year, 87.66% at 2 year, 80.98% at 3 year, and 80.2% at 4 year. Conclusions: This national population-based cohort study shows that delayed commencement of AC, defined as ≥ 8 weeks, is associated with inferior OS in CC patients with stage II / III. To reduce the proportion of patients receiving delayed AC, multidimensional aspects such as health insurance status or age should be considered. Based on our results, the time of commencement of chemotherapy can be incorporated as another quality indicator for colon cancer care.

Integrated post-surgical colon cancer care planning at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

75 Background: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States each year. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection of colon cancer has been associated with a survival benefit. Timely initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to have an effect on overall and disease-free survival. There is no integrated post-surgical colon cancer care planning for patients who have surgery at our institution. Poor understanding on the part of patients and ancillary providers regarding appropriate follow up may cause delay in time to adjuvant chemotherapy initiation. Methods: Baseline data was obtained for the ASCO Quality Training Program. Chart review was conducted on patients with stage III colorectal cancer that were treated at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to identify average time to adjuvant chemotherapy initiation and factors which were thought to have a strong influence on chemotherapy initiation. Time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy, pathology report resulting, central access obtainment, and outpatient medical oncology appointment was abstracted from patient charts. Other factors including the presence of intraoperative or postoperative complications, type of surgeon, academic versus private medical oncologist, and the presence of an inpatient medical oncology consult were also identified and reviewed. Results: 128 patient charts were reviewed. Mean number of days from surgery to adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 79) was 49.6, to pathology report resulting (n = 70) was 4.92, to central access obtainment (n = 49) was 40, and to outpatient medical oncology appointment (n = 38) was 30. The presence of intraoperative (p < 0.059) and postoperative complications (p < 0.0155) was found to have a statistically significant effect on time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions: While there are some uncontrollable factors like operative complications that delay time to initiation of chemotherapy, engaging the patient may help decrease the time to adjuvant chemotherapy by increasing patient awareness of the importance of seeking aggressive postoperative care.