Search

Simple Summary: This study investigates racial disparities in the stage of gastric cancer at diagnosis and overall survival among different racial groups using data from the SEER database (2018–2021). The retrospective cohort study of 18,984 patients found that Hispanics are 19% more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of gastric cancer compared to non-Hispanics. Additionally, both Hispanics and Black patients showed poorer overall survival compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. The disparities are attributed to factors such as healthcare access, insurance coverage, language barriers, and preventive health service utilization. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities in cancer outcomes. Introduction: Racial disparities in gastric cancer outcomes, including stage at diagnosis and overall survival, continue to affect Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. This study aims to evaluate these disparities across different racial groups. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using SEER data from 2018 to 2021, including 18,984 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer. Patients were selected based on ICD-O-3 codes for "stomach" with malignant behavior. Using ordered logistic regression, the association between race and stage at diagnosis was analyzed, while Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess OS and CSS. Results: Hispanic patients were significantly more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage compared to non-Hispanic patients (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.10–1.28). Both Hispanic and Black patients had worse OS compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (HR 1.10 CI 1.03–1.17, p = 0.003 and HR 1.13 CI 1.04–1.22, p = 0.002, respectively) as well as CSS. Conclusions: Hispanic patients are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage gastric cancer and have poorer survival outcomes compared to non-Hispanic Whites. These disparities may be linked to differences in healthcare access, insurance, language barriers, and preventive care utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer globally and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. While liver metastasis is common, brain metastasis (BM) is rare, occurring in 0.1% to 14% of cases. Risk factors for BM include lung metastasis at diagnosis, rectal cancer, and mutations in RAS and KRAS genes. Due to its rarity, guidelines for BM screening and treatment are limited. The aim of this study is to identify the clinical characteristics and predictors of BM at the time of the initial diagnosis of CRC. Methods: We evaluated patients ≥18 years old with metastatic colorectal cancer and brain metastases at diagnosis from the SEER database (2010–2021). A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze overall survival and predictive factors for brain metastasis, utilizing multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and the Cox proportional hazards models, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. Results: Out of 24,703 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), 228 (0.92%) had brain metastasis (BM) at diagnosis. BM was more prevalent in average-onset mCRC (≥50 years) compared to early-onset (<50 years) (1% vs. 0.55%, p = 0.004). Certain factors, such as older age and adenocarcinoma subtype, were associated with BM. Additionally, Asians/Pacific-Islanders (HR 1.83 CI: 1.01-3-33, p = 0.045) and American Indians/Alaska Natives (HR 4.79 CI 1.15–19.97, p = 0.032) had higher mortality rates, while surgical treatment and chemotherapy were linked to decreased mortality. Patients with BM had significantly worse overall survival (6 months vs. 21 months, p < 0.001). Conclusion: BM in mCRC is uncommon, but it is associated with significantly worse outcomes, including markedly reduced overall survival. Our study highlights several critical factors associated with the presence of BM, such as older age and specific racial/ethnic groups, which may inform risk stratification and early-detection strategies. Our findings emphasize the need for heightened awareness and screening for BM in high-risk mCRC patients, as well as the inclusion of these patients in clinical trials to explore tailored therapeutic approaches aimed at improving survival and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]