Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for rectal adenocarcinoma (RAC) involves multi-agent chemotherapy and radiation before definitive surgery. Previous studies of the rest period (time between radiation and surgery) and pathologic complete response (pCR) have produced mixed results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the rest period and pCR. This study utilized the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to retrospectively analyze 5997 stage-appropriate RAC cases treated with TNT from 2016 to 2020. The overall pCR rate was 18.6%, with most patients undergoing induction chemotherapy followed by long-course chemoradiation (81.5%). Multivariable logistic regression models revealed a significant non-linear relationship between the rest period and pCR (p = 0.033), with optimal odds at 14.7–15.9 weeks post radiation (odds ratio: 1.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.13–1.98) when compared to 4.0 weeks. Medicaid, distance to the treatment facility, and community education were associated with decreased odds of pCR. Findings highlight the importance of a 15–16-week post-radiation surgery window for achieving pCR in RAC treated with TNT and socioeconomic factors influencing pCR rates. Findings also emphasize the need for clinical trials to incorporate detailed analyses of the rest period and social determinant of health to better guide clinical practice.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy (NACT-RC) is the prevailing standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but trimodality treatment (TMT) using chemoradiation after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is an effective alternative in select patients. Objective: This study examined patterns of care and impact of social determinants of health on the overall survival (OS) using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Methods: Data on patients aged ≥18 years with stage II-IIIA MIBC treated with TMT or NACT-RC during 2014–2021 were analyzed with propensity score matching. Logistic and Cox regression were used to evaluate the association of social determinants of health with patterns of care and OS. Results: Among 18,072 cases (mean age 68.3 years), 77.1% received NACT-RC. TMT use increased from 18.4% in 2014 to 27.1% in 2021 (p < 0.001). The odds for receiving NACT-RC were higher for patients with stage IIIA (odds ratio (OR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.34). However, older patients (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.87-0.88), those treated at comprehensive community cancer programs (OR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.46-0.55), or used Medicaid (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.61) had lower odds for receiving NACT-RC. In propensity score matching analysis, NACT-RC was associated with lower mortality compared to TMT (Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.66, 95% CI:0.59-0.73). Medicaid users receiving NACT-RC had the highest mortality risk (HR = 1.47, 95% CI:1.28-1.68, p _interaction =0.001). Conclusion: TMT for MIBC has increased in recent years. Selection between NACT-RC and TMT was influenced by age, stage, diagnosis year, comorbidities, travel distance, facility, and insurance type, highlighting disparities in MIBC treatment. Categories: Radiation Oncology, Oncology

Background: Despite well-established racial/ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes, little is known about the extent to which race/ethnicity influences adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) among women with early onset cancer. We evaluated racial/ethnic disparity in the occurrence of cancer during pregnancy and APOs among women with cancer in the United States. Methods: Data consisted of 17.6 million singleton deliveries among females aged 18–49 years from the National Inpatient Sample. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: From 2000 to 2022, the prevalence of births among women with cancer increased more than 225%, from 120.4 to 391.8 per 100,000. After accounting for sociodemographic and behavioral/lifestyle factors and comorbidity index among women with cancer (n = 49,824, mean age = 33.4 years), non-Hispanic Black women had the highest odds for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR = 1.67, CI: 1.54–1.82), preterm birth (OR = 1.44, CI: 1.26–1.64) and fetal death (OR = 3.04, CI: 1.99–4.63). Asian or Pacific Islander and Native American women had the highest odds for gestational diabetes (OR = 2.48, CI: 2.17–2.85) and fetal growth restriction (OR = 1.92, CI: 1.00–3.69), respectively. Among racial/ethnic minority women, the odds for maternal mortality and several APOs were significantly higher among those with cancer than those without cancer, with the odds for APOs being highest for breast cancer (OR = 1.39, CI: 1.23–1.56). Conclusions: This large population-based study showed significant racial and ethnic disparities in APOs among women with a concurrent cancer diagnosis at delivery. Targeted management of APO risk factors during pregnancy among racial/ethnic minority populations with cancer may help reduce adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.