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Weekend Warrior and Regular Physical Activity Patterns Are Associated With Reduced Lung Cancer Risk
TOPLINE:
Compared with inactive patterns, weekend warrior (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] condensed into 1-2 days per week) and regular physical activity patterns were found to be equally effective at reducing the risk for lung cancer. Neither pattern showed significant associations with the overall risk for cancer or specific risks for prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers.
METHODOLOGY:
- This analysis included 80,896 participants (mean age, 55.5 years; 56% women) with valid accelerometer data collected between June 2013 and December 2015.
- Participants were classified into three groups: 32,213 active weekend warriors (≥ 150 minutes of weekly MVPA with ≥ 50% achieved in 1-2 days), 22,162 active regular participants (≥ 150 minutes of MVPA but not meeting a weekend warrior pattern), and 26,521 inactive participants (< 150 minutes of MVPA).
- Researchers tracked associations between physical activity patterns and incident cases of all types of cancer plus specific cases of prostate, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer over a median follow-up duration of 6 years.
TAKEAWAY:
- Compared with inactive patterns, active weekend warrior patterns showed a significant inverse association with the risk for lung cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.98).
- Active regular activity patterns demonstrated similar protective effects against lung cancer as inactive patterns (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56-0.96).
- Neither of the physical activity patterns showed any significant association with the overall risk for cancer or specific risks for prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers.
IN PRACTICE:
"Physical activity condensed into one to two days per week compared with a more balanced weekly distribution was associated with similar risk reductions of incident lung cancer, while neither pattern was associated with reduced overall, prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers," the authors of the study wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Rubén López-Bueno, Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. It was published online on September 06, 2025, in Annals of Medicine.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Compared with inactive patterns, weekend warrior (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] condensed into 1-2 days per week) and regular physical activity patterns were found to be equally effective at reducing the risk for lung cancer. Neither pattern showed significant associations with the overall risk for cancer or specific risks for prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers.
METHODOLOGY:
- This analysis included 80,896 participants (mean age, 55.5 years; 56% women) with valid accelerometer data collected between June 2013 and December 2015.
- Participants were classified into three groups: 32,213 active weekend warriors (≥ 150 minutes of weekly MVPA with ≥ 50% achieved in 1-2 days), 22,162 active regular participants (≥ 150 minutes of MVPA but not meeting a weekend warrior pattern), and 26,521 inactive participants (< 150 minutes of MVPA).
- Researchers tracked associations between physical activity patterns and incident cases of all types of cancer plus specific cases of prostate, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer over a median follow-up duration of 6 years.
TAKEAWAY:
- Compared with inactive patterns, active weekend warrior patterns showed a significant inverse association with the risk for lung cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.98).
- Active regular activity patterns demonstrated similar protective effects against lung cancer as inactive patterns (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56-0.96).
- Neither of the physical activity patterns showed any significant association with the overall risk for cancer or specific risks for prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers.
IN PRACTICE:
"Physical activity condensed into one to two days per week compared with a more balanced weekly distribution was associated with similar risk reductions of incident lung cancer, while neither pattern was associated with reduced overall, prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers," the authors of the study wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Rubén López-Bueno, Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. It was published online on September 06, 2025, in Annals of Medicine.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.
TOPLINE:
Compared with inactive patterns, weekend warrior (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] condensed into 1-2 days per week) and regular physical activity patterns were found to be equally effective at reducing the risk for lung cancer. Neither pattern showed significant associations with the overall risk for cancer or specific risks for prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers.
METHODOLOGY:
- This analysis included 80,896 participants (mean age, 55.5 years; 56% women) with valid accelerometer data collected between June 2013 and December 2015.
- Participants were classified into three groups: 32,213 active weekend warriors (≥ 150 minutes of weekly MVPA with ≥ 50% achieved in 1-2 days), 22,162 active regular participants (≥ 150 minutes of MVPA but not meeting a weekend warrior pattern), and 26,521 inactive participants (< 150 minutes of MVPA).
- Researchers tracked associations between physical activity patterns and incident cases of all types of cancer plus specific cases of prostate, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer over a median follow-up duration of 6 years.
TAKEAWAY:
- Compared with inactive patterns, active weekend warrior patterns showed a significant inverse association with the risk for lung cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.98).
- Active regular activity patterns demonstrated similar protective effects against lung cancer as inactive patterns (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56-0.96).
- Neither of the physical activity patterns showed any significant association with the overall risk for cancer or specific risks for prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers.
IN PRACTICE:
"Physical activity condensed into one to two days per week compared with a more balanced weekly distribution was associated with similar risk reductions of incident lung cancer, while neither pattern was associated with reduced overall, prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers," the authors of the study wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Rubén López-Bueno, Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. It was published online on September 06, 2025, in Annals of Medicine.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.
Architect of VA Transformation Urges Innovation Amid Uncertainty
Architect of VA Transformation Urges Innovation Amid Uncertainty
PHOENIX – Three decades after he initiated the transformation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) into a model research and clinical health care system, former US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary of Health Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, urged cancer specialists to embrace this challenging moment as an opportunity for bold innovation.
At the annual meeting of the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO), Kizer acknowledged that the VA faces an “uncertain and turbulent time” in areas such as funding, staffing, community care implementation, and the rollout of a new electronic health record system.
He also noted the grim rise of global instability, economic turmoil, climate change, infectious diseases, political violence, and mass shootings.
“This can be stressful. It can create negative energy. But this uncertainty can also be liberating, and it can prompt positive energy and innovation, depending on choices that we make,” said Kizer, who also has served as California’s top health official prior to leading the VHA from 1994 to 1999.
From “Bloated Bureaucracy’ to High-Quality Health Care System
Kizer has been credited with revitalizing VHA care through a greater commitment to quality, and harkened to his work with the VA as an example of how bold goals can lead to bold innovation.
“What were the perceptions of VA health care in 1994? Well, they weren’t very good, frankly,” Kizer recalled. He described the VA as having a reputation at that time as “highly dysfunctional” with “a very bloated and entrenched bureaucracy.” As for quality of care, it “wasn’t viewed as very good.”
The system’s problems were so severe that patients would park motorhomes in VA medical center parking lots as they waited for care. “While they might have an appointment for one day, they may not be seen for 3 or 4 or 5 days. So they would stay in their motorhome until they finally got into their clinic appointment,” Kizer said.
Overall, “the public viewed the VA as this bleak backwater of incompetence and difference and inefficiency, and there were very strong calls to privatize the VA,” Kizer said.
Kizer asked colleagues about what he should do after he was asked to take the under secretary job. “With one exception, they all said, don’t go near it. Don’t touch it. Walk away. That it’s impossible to change the organization.
“I looked at the VA and I saw an opportunity. When I told [members of the President Bill] Clinton [Administration] yes, my bold aim was that I would like to pursue this was to make VHA a model of excellent health care, an exemplary health care system. Most everyone else thought that I was totally delusional, but sometimes it’s good to be delusional.”
Revolutionary Changes Despite Opposition
Kizer sought reforms in 5 major strategic objectives, all without explicit congressional approval: creating an accountable management structure, decentralizing decision-making, integrating care, implementing universal primary care, and pursuing eligibility reform to create the current 8-tier VA system.
One major innovation was the implementation of community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs): “Those were strongly opposed initially,” Kizer said. “Everyone, the veteran community in particular, had been led to believe that the only good care was in the hospital.”
The resistance was substantial. “There was a lot of opposition when we said we’re going to move out into the community where you live to make [care] easier to access,” Kizer said.
To make things more difficult, Congress wouldn’t fund the project: “For the first 3 years, every CBOC had to be funded by redirected savings from other things that we could do within the system,” he said. “All of this was through redirected savings and finding ways to save and reinvest.”
Innovation From the Ground Up
Kizer emphasized that many breakthrough innovations came from frontline staff rather than executive mandates. He cited the example of Barcode Medication Administration, which originated from a nurse in Topeka, Kan.
The nurse saw a barcode scanner put to work at a rental car company where it was used to check cars in and out. She wondered, “Why can’t we do this with medications when they’re given on the floor? We followed up on it, pursued those things, tested it out, it worked.”
The results were dramatic. “I was told at a meeting that they had achieved close to 80% reduction in medication errors,” Kizer said. After verifying the results personally, he “authorized $20 million, and we moved forward with it systemwide.”
This experience reinforced his belief in harvesting ideas from staff at all levels.
Innovation remains part of the VA’s culture “despite what some people would have you believe,” Kizer said. Recently, the VA has made major advances in areas such as patient transportation and the climate crisis, he said.
Inside the Recipe for Innovation
Boldness, persistence, adaptability, and tolerance for risk are necessary ingredients for high-risk goals, Kizer said. Ambition is also part of the picture.
He highlighted examples such as the Apollo moon landing, the first sub-4-minute mile, and the first swim across the English Channel by a woman.
In medicine, Kizer pointed to a national patient safety campaign that saved an estimated 122,000 lives. He also mentioned recent progress in organ transplantation such as recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to establish national performance goals and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s target of 60,000 deceased donor transplants by 2026.
Bold doesn’t mean being reckless or careless, Kizer said. “But it does require innovation. And it does require that you try some new things, some of which aren’t going to work out.”
The key mindset, he explained, is to “embrace the unknown” because “you often really don’t know how you will accomplish the aim when you start. But you’ll figure it out as you go.”
Kizer highlighted 2 opposing strategies to handling challenging times.
According to him, the “negative energy” approach focuses on frustrations, limitations, and asking “Why is this happening to me?”
In contrast, a “positive energy” approach expects problems, focuses on available resources and capabilities, and asks, “What are the opportunities that these changes are creating for me?”
Kizer made it crystal clear which option he prefers.
Dr. Kizer disclosed that his comments represent his opinions only, and he noted his ongoing connections to the VA.
PHOENIX – Three decades after he initiated the transformation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) into a model research and clinical health care system, former US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary of Health Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, urged cancer specialists to embrace this challenging moment as an opportunity for bold innovation.
At the annual meeting of the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO), Kizer acknowledged that the VA faces an “uncertain and turbulent time” in areas such as funding, staffing, community care implementation, and the rollout of a new electronic health record system.
He also noted the grim rise of global instability, economic turmoil, climate change, infectious diseases, political violence, and mass shootings.
“This can be stressful. It can create negative energy. But this uncertainty can also be liberating, and it can prompt positive energy and innovation, depending on choices that we make,” said Kizer, who also has served as California’s top health official prior to leading the VHA from 1994 to 1999.
From “Bloated Bureaucracy’ to High-Quality Health Care System
Kizer has been credited with revitalizing VHA care through a greater commitment to quality, and harkened to his work with the VA as an example of how bold goals can lead to bold innovation.
“What were the perceptions of VA health care in 1994? Well, they weren’t very good, frankly,” Kizer recalled. He described the VA as having a reputation at that time as “highly dysfunctional” with “a very bloated and entrenched bureaucracy.” As for quality of care, it “wasn’t viewed as very good.”
The system’s problems were so severe that patients would park motorhomes in VA medical center parking lots as they waited for care. “While they might have an appointment for one day, they may not be seen for 3 or 4 or 5 days. So they would stay in their motorhome until they finally got into their clinic appointment,” Kizer said.
Overall, “the public viewed the VA as this bleak backwater of incompetence and difference and inefficiency, and there were very strong calls to privatize the VA,” Kizer said.
Kizer asked colleagues about what he should do after he was asked to take the under secretary job. “With one exception, they all said, don’t go near it. Don’t touch it. Walk away. That it’s impossible to change the organization.
“I looked at the VA and I saw an opportunity. When I told [members of the President Bill] Clinton [Administration] yes, my bold aim was that I would like to pursue this was to make VHA a model of excellent health care, an exemplary health care system. Most everyone else thought that I was totally delusional, but sometimes it’s good to be delusional.”
Revolutionary Changes Despite Opposition
Kizer sought reforms in 5 major strategic objectives, all without explicit congressional approval: creating an accountable management structure, decentralizing decision-making, integrating care, implementing universal primary care, and pursuing eligibility reform to create the current 8-tier VA system.
One major innovation was the implementation of community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs): “Those were strongly opposed initially,” Kizer said. “Everyone, the veteran community in particular, had been led to believe that the only good care was in the hospital.”
The resistance was substantial. “There was a lot of opposition when we said we’re going to move out into the community where you live to make [care] easier to access,” Kizer said.
To make things more difficult, Congress wouldn’t fund the project: “For the first 3 years, every CBOC had to be funded by redirected savings from other things that we could do within the system,” he said. “All of this was through redirected savings and finding ways to save and reinvest.”
Innovation From the Ground Up
Kizer emphasized that many breakthrough innovations came from frontline staff rather than executive mandates. He cited the example of Barcode Medication Administration, which originated from a nurse in Topeka, Kan.
The nurse saw a barcode scanner put to work at a rental car company where it was used to check cars in and out. She wondered, “Why can’t we do this with medications when they’re given on the floor? We followed up on it, pursued those things, tested it out, it worked.”
The results were dramatic. “I was told at a meeting that they had achieved close to 80% reduction in medication errors,” Kizer said. After verifying the results personally, he “authorized $20 million, and we moved forward with it systemwide.”
This experience reinforced his belief in harvesting ideas from staff at all levels.
Innovation remains part of the VA’s culture “despite what some people would have you believe,” Kizer said. Recently, the VA has made major advances in areas such as patient transportation and the climate crisis, he said.
Inside the Recipe for Innovation
Boldness, persistence, adaptability, and tolerance for risk are necessary ingredients for high-risk goals, Kizer said. Ambition is also part of the picture.
He highlighted examples such as the Apollo moon landing, the first sub-4-minute mile, and the first swim across the English Channel by a woman.
In medicine, Kizer pointed to a national patient safety campaign that saved an estimated 122,000 lives. He also mentioned recent progress in organ transplantation such as recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to establish national performance goals and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s target of 60,000 deceased donor transplants by 2026.
Bold doesn’t mean being reckless or careless, Kizer said. “But it does require innovation. And it does require that you try some new things, some of which aren’t going to work out.”
The key mindset, he explained, is to “embrace the unknown” because “you often really don’t know how you will accomplish the aim when you start. But you’ll figure it out as you go.”
Kizer highlighted 2 opposing strategies to handling challenging times.
According to him, the “negative energy” approach focuses on frustrations, limitations, and asking “Why is this happening to me?”
In contrast, a “positive energy” approach expects problems, focuses on available resources and capabilities, and asks, “What are the opportunities that these changes are creating for me?”
Kizer made it crystal clear which option he prefers.
Dr. Kizer disclosed that his comments represent his opinions only, and he noted his ongoing connections to the VA.
PHOENIX – Three decades after he initiated the transformation of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) into a model research and clinical health care system, former US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary of Health Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, urged cancer specialists to embrace this challenging moment as an opportunity for bold innovation.
At the annual meeting of the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO), Kizer acknowledged that the VA faces an “uncertain and turbulent time” in areas such as funding, staffing, community care implementation, and the rollout of a new electronic health record system.
He also noted the grim rise of global instability, economic turmoil, climate change, infectious diseases, political violence, and mass shootings.
“This can be stressful. It can create negative energy. But this uncertainty can also be liberating, and it can prompt positive energy and innovation, depending on choices that we make,” said Kizer, who also has served as California’s top health official prior to leading the VHA from 1994 to 1999.
From “Bloated Bureaucracy’ to High-Quality Health Care System
Kizer has been credited with revitalizing VHA care through a greater commitment to quality, and harkened to his work with the VA as an example of how bold goals can lead to bold innovation.
“What were the perceptions of VA health care in 1994? Well, they weren’t very good, frankly,” Kizer recalled. He described the VA as having a reputation at that time as “highly dysfunctional” with “a very bloated and entrenched bureaucracy.” As for quality of care, it “wasn’t viewed as very good.”
The system’s problems were so severe that patients would park motorhomes in VA medical center parking lots as they waited for care. “While they might have an appointment for one day, they may not be seen for 3 or 4 or 5 days. So they would stay in their motorhome until they finally got into their clinic appointment,” Kizer said.
Overall, “the public viewed the VA as this bleak backwater of incompetence and difference and inefficiency, and there were very strong calls to privatize the VA,” Kizer said.
Kizer asked colleagues about what he should do after he was asked to take the under secretary job. “With one exception, they all said, don’t go near it. Don’t touch it. Walk away. That it’s impossible to change the organization.
“I looked at the VA and I saw an opportunity. When I told [members of the President Bill] Clinton [Administration] yes, my bold aim was that I would like to pursue this was to make VHA a model of excellent health care, an exemplary health care system. Most everyone else thought that I was totally delusional, but sometimes it’s good to be delusional.”
Revolutionary Changes Despite Opposition
Kizer sought reforms in 5 major strategic objectives, all without explicit congressional approval: creating an accountable management structure, decentralizing decision-making, integrating care, implementing universal primary care, and pursuing eligibility reform to create the current 8-tier VA system.
One major innovation was the implementation of community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs): “Those were strongly opposed initially,” Kizer said. “Everyone, the veteran community in particular, had been led to believe that the only good care was in the hospital.”
The resistance was substantial. “There was a lot of opposition when we said we’re going to move out into the community where you live to make [care] easier to access,” Kizer said.
To make things more difficult, Congress wouldn’t fund the project: “For the first 3 years, every CBOC had to be funded by redirected savings from other things that we could do within the system,” he said. “All of this was through redirected savings and finding ways to save and reinvest.”
Innovation From the Ground Up
Kizer emphasized that many breakthrough innovations came from frontline staff rather than executive mandates. He cited the example of Barcode Medication Administration, which originated from a nurse in Topeka, Kan.
The nurse saw a barcode scanner put to work at a rental car company where it was used to check cars in and out. She wondered, “Why can’t we do this with medications when they’re given on the floor? We followed up on it, pursued those things, tested it out, it worked.”
The results were dramatic. “I was told at a meeting that they had achieved close to 80% reduction in medication errors,” Kizer said. After verifying the results personally, he “authorized $20 million, and we moved forward with it systemwide.”
This experience reinforced his belief in harvesting ideas from staff at all levels.
Innovation remains part of the VA’s culture “despite what some people would have you believe,” Kizer said. Recently, the VA has made major advances in areas such as patient transportation and the climate crisis, he said.
Inside the Recipe for Innovation
Boldness, persistence, adaptability, and tolerance for risk are necessary ingredients for high-risk goals, Kizer said. Ambition is also part of the picture.
He highlighted examples such as the Apollo moon landing, the first sub-4-minute mile, and the first swim across the English Channel by a woman.
In medicine, Kizer pointed to a national patient safety campaign that saved an estimated 122,000 lives. He also mentioned recent progress in organ transplantation such as recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to establish national performance goals and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s target of 60,000 deceased donor transplants by 2026.
Bold doesn’t mean being reckless or careless, Kizer said. “But it does require innovation. And it does require that you try some new things, some of which aren’t going to work out.”
The key mindset, he explained, is to “embrace the unknown” because “you often really don’t know how you will accomplish the aim when you start. But you’ll figure it out as you go.”
Kizer highlighted 2 opposing strategies to handling challenging times.
According to him, the “negative energy” approach focuses on frustrations, limitations, and asking “Why is this happening to me?”
In contrast, a “positive energy” approach expects problems, focuses on available resources and capabilities, and asks, “What are the opportunities that these changes are creating for me?”
Kizer made it crystal clear which option he prefers.
Dr. Kizer disclosed that his comments represent his opinions only, and he noted his ongoing connections to the VA.
Architect of VA Transformation Urges Innovation Amid Uncertainty
Architect of VA Transformation Urges Innovation Amid Uncertainty
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Tall Cell Carcinoma with Reversed Polarity
Background
Tall cell carcinoma with reversed polarity (TCCRP) is a rare and distinct subtype of invasive breast carcinoma, defined by tall columnar cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and reversed nuclear polarity. TCCRP remains poorly characterized in the literature, with limited population-level evidence to guide management and prognostication. This study uses the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to examine the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of this neoplasm.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis included 951 patients diagnosed with TCCRP (ICD-O-3 code 8509) from 2018–2020 using the NCDB. Demographic and treatment variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Incidence trends were assessed using linear regression, and overall survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier methods.
Results
Most patients were female (98.1%) with a mean age of 69.1 years. The majority were White (82.0%), followed by Black (9.0%) and Hispanic (8.7%). Primary tumor sites included overlapping breast lesions (28.5%) and the upper-inner quadrant (27.0%). Incidence remained stable (R2 = 0.0). Most patients were diagnosed at Stage I (58.4%) and had a Charlson-Deyo score of 0 (76.2%). Socioeconomically, 41.8% lived in the highest income quartile (≥$74,063), and most had Medicare (64.7%). The most common treatment settings were comprehensive community cancer programs (40.3%). Surgery was performed in 95.6% of cases, with negative margins in 91.1%. Radiation therapy (46.6%) and hormone therapy (44.3%) were frequently used. Mortality was 1.1% at 30 days and 1.7% at 90 days. Survival was 98.9% at 2 years, 97.3% at 5 years, and 94.5% at 10 years, with a mean survival of 46.4 months.
Conclusions
This is the first NCDB-based study of TCCRP, highlighting favorable outcomes and distinct clinicodemographic features. Patients were predominantly older, White, and Medicare-insured, often receiving care at community cancer programs. These findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may influence access and treatment. Results may inform strategies to promote equitable care delivery across health systems and guide further research on clinical management and survivorship in TCCRP, particularly for rare cancers within community-based settings such as the VHA.
Background
Tall cell carcinoma with reversed polarity (TCCRP) is a rare and distinct subtype of invasive breast carcinoma, defined by tall columnar cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and reversed nuclear polarity. TCCRP remains poorly characterized in the literature, with limited population-level evidence to guide management and prognostication. This study uses the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to examine the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of this neoplasm.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis included 951 patients diagnosed with TCCRP (ICD-O-3 code 8509) from 2018–2020 using the NCDB. Demographic and treatment variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Incidence trends were assessed using linear regression, and overall survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier methods.
Results
Most patients were female (98.1%) with a mean age of 69.1 years. The majority were White (82.0%), followed by Black (9.0%) and Hispanic (8.7%). Primary tumor sites included overlapping breast lesions (28.5%) and the upper-inner quadrant (27.0%). Incidence remained stable (R2 = 0.0). Most patients were diagnosed at Stage I (58.4%) and had a Charlson-Deyo score of 0 (76.2%). Socioeconomically, 41.8% lived in the highest income quartile (≥$74,063), and most had Medicare (64.7%). The most common treatment settings were comprehensive community cancer programs (40.3%). Surgery was performed in 95.6% of cases, with negative margins in 91.1%. Radiation therapy (46.6%) and hormone therapy (44.3%) were frequently used. Mortality was 1.1% at 30 days and 1.7% at 90 days. Survival was 98.9% at 2 years, 97.3% at 5 years, and 94.5% at 10 years, with a mean survival of 46.4 months.
Conclusions
This is the first NCDB-based study of TCCRP, highlighting favorable outcomes and distinct clinicodemographic features. Patients were predominantly older, White, and Medicare-insured, often receiving care at community cancer programs. These findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may influence access and treatment. Results may inform strategies to promote equitable care delivery across health systems and guide further research on clinical management and survivorship in TCCRP, particularly for rare cancers within community-based settings such as the VHA.
Background
Tall cell carcinoma with reversed polarity (TCCRP) is a rare and distinct subtype of invasive breast carcinoma, defined by tall columnar cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and reversed nuclear polarity. TCCRP remains poorly characterized in the literature, with limited population-level evidence to guide management and prognostication. This study uses the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to examine the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of this neoplasm.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis included 951 patients diagnosed with TCCRP (ICD-O-3 code 8509) from 2018–2020 using the NCDB. Demographic and treatment variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Incidence trends were assessed using linear regression, and overall survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier methods.
Results
Most patients were female (98.1%) with a mean age of 69.1 years. The majority were White (82.0%), followed by Black (9.0%) and Hispanic (8.7%). Primary tumor sites included overlapping breast lesions (28.5%) and the upper-inner quadrant (27.0%). Incidence remained stable (R2 = 0.0). Most patients were diagnosed at Stage I (58.4%) and had a Charlson-Deyo score of 0 (76.2%). Socioeconomically, 41.8% lived in the highest income quartile (≥$74,063), and most had Medicare (64.7%). The most common treatment settings were comprehensive community cancer programs (40.3%). Surgery was performed in 95.6% of cases, with negative margins in 91.1%. Radiation therapy (46.6%) and hormone therapy (44.3%) were frequently used. Mortality was 1.1% at 30 days and 1.7% at 90 days. Survival was 98.9% at 2 years, 97.3% at 5 years, and 94.5% at 10 years, with a mean survival of 46.4 months.
Conclusions
This is the first NCDB-based study of TCCRP, highlighting favorable outcomes and distinct clinicodemographic features. Patients were predominantly older, White, and Medicare-insured, often receiving care at community cancer programs. These findings suggest that socioeconomic factors may influence access and treatment. Results may inform strategies to promote equitable care delivery across health systems and guide further research on clinical management and survivorship in TCCRP, particularly for rare cancers within community-based settings such as the VHA.
ERCC2, KDM6A, and TERT as Key Prognostic Factors in Bladder Cancer: Insights from the AACR Project GENIE Database
Background
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is among the top 10 frequently diagnosed cancers in the world. Mutations in FGFR3, ARID1A, and TP53 are well documented as being some of the most frequent mutations found in UC. Despite advances in treatment, survival outcomes remain poor, especially in advanced stages. To promote future pharmacotherapeutic development, the molecular understanding of UC needs to be continually updated using more recently available databases.
Methods
This study utilizes the AACR Project GENIE database from the American Association for Cancer Research to explore the mutational profiles of patients with UC. Gene mutation frequencies were calculated, and two Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn for each gene, showing one curve for patients with the mutation and one for those without. Log-Rank tests were calculated with subsequent FDR (Benjamini–Hochberg) correction applied to account for multiple hypothesis testing. Data was analyzed using R 4.4.2 and statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.
Results
In this study, 4525 patients had histology consistent with UC. The 5 most common mutations were TERT (n = 1714, 37.9%), TP53 (n = 1689, 37.3%), KDM6A (n = 1091, 24.1%), ARID1A (n = 872, 19.3%), and FGFR3 (n = 762, 16.8%). Mutations associated with differential survival outcomes included ERCC2 (mutated n = 387, wild type n = 3751, p < 0.0001), KDM6A (mutated n = 1091, wild type n = 3047, p < 0.0001), TERT (mutated n = 1714, wild type n = 2424), and TP53 (mutated n = 1689, wild type n = 2449, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Interestingly, while mutations in TP53 and ERCC2 were associated with shorter median survival, mutations in KDM6A and TERT were associated with longer median survival.
Background
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is among the top 10 frequently diagnosed cancers in the world. Mutations in FGFR3, ARID1A, and TP53 are well documented as being some of the most frequent mutations found in UC. Despite advances in treatment, survival outcomes remain poor, especially in advanced stages. To promote future pharmacotherapeutic development, the molecular understanding of UC needs to be continually updated using more recently available databases.
Methods
This study utilizes the AACR Project GENIE database from the American Association for Cancer Research to explore the mutational profiles of patients with UC. Gene mutation frequencies were calculated, and two Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn for each gene, showing one curve for patients with the mutation and one for those without. Log-Rank tests were calculated with subsequent FDR (Benjamini–Hochberg) correction applied to account for multiple hypothesis testing. Data was analyzed using R 4.4.2 and statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.
Results
In this study, 4525 patients had histology consistent with UC. The 5 most common mutations were TERT (n = 1714, 37.9%), TP53 (n = 1689, 37.3%), KDM6A (n = 1091, 24.1%), ARID1A (n = 872, 19.3%), and FGFR3 (n = 762, 16.8%). Mutations associated with differential survival outcomes included ERCC2 (mutated n = 387, wild type n = 3751, p < 0.0001), KDM6A (mutated n = 1091, wild type n = 3047, p < 0.0001), TERT (mutated n = 1714, wild type n = 2424), and TP53 (mutated n = 1689, wild type n = 2449, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Interestingly, while mutations in TP53 and ERCC2 were associated with shorter median survival, mutations in KDM6A and TERT were associated with longer median survival.
Background
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is among the top 10 frequently diagnosed cancers in the world. Mutations in FGFR3, ARID1A, and TP53 are well documented as being some of the most frequent mutations found in UC. Despite advances in treatment, survival outcomes remain poor, especially in advanced stages. To promote future pharmacotherapeutic development, the molecular understanding of UC needs to be continually updated using more recently available databases.
Methods
This study utilizes the AACR Project GENIE database from the American Association for Cancer Research to explore the mutational profiles of patients with UC. Gene mutation frequencies were calculated, and two Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn for each gene, showing one curve for patients with the mutation and one for those without. Log-Rank tests were calculated with subsequent FDR (Benjamini–Hochberg) correction applied to account for multiple hypothesis testing. Data was analyzed using R 4.4.2 and statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.
Results
In this study, 4525 patients had histology consistent with UC. The 5 most common mutations were TERT (n = 1714, 37.9%), TP53 (n = 1689, 37.3%), KDM6A (n = 1091, 24.1%), ARID1A (n = 872, 19.3%), and FGFR3 (n = 762, 16.8%). Mutations associated with differential survival outcomes included ERCC2 (mutated n = 387, wild type n = 3751, p < 0.0001), KDM6A (mutated n = 1091, wild type n = 3047, p < 0.0001), TERT (mutated n = 1714, wild type n = 2424), and TP53 (mutated n = 1689, wild type n = 2449, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Interestingly, while mutations in TP53 and ERCC2 were associated with shorter median survival, mutations in KDM6A and TERT were associated with longer median survival.
Communication Modality (CM) Among Veterans Using National TeleOncology (NTO) Services
Background
We examined characteristics of Veterans receiving care through NTO and their CM (e.g., telephone only [T], video only [V], or both [TV]). Relevant background: In-person VA cancer care can be challenging for many Veterans due to rurality, transportation, finances, and distance to subspecialists. Such factors may impact care modality preferences.
Methods
We linked a list of all Veterans who received NTO care with Corporate Data Warehouse data to confirm an ICD-10 diagnostic code for malignancy, and to define the number of NTO interactions, latency of days between diagnosis and first NTO interaction, and demographics. The Office of Rural Health categories for rurality and NIH categories for race were used.
Data analysis
We report descriptive statistics for CM. To compare differences between Veterans by CM, we report chi-squared tests for categorical variables and ANOVAs for continuous variables.
Results
Among 13,902 NTO Veterans with CM data, most were V (9,998, 72%), few were T 2% (n= 295), and some were TV 26% (n= 3,609). There were statistically significant differences between CM in number of interactions, latency between diagnosis and first NTO interaction, age at first NTO interaction, sex, race, rurality, and cancer type. Veterans diagnosed with lung cancer were more likely to exclusively use T. Veterans with breast cancer were more likely to exclusively use V. Specifically, T were oldest (mean age = 74.3), followed by TV (69.0) and V (61.6; p < .001). Women were most represented in V (28.3%) and Rural or highly rural residence was most common among T users (54.6%), compared to V (36.8%) and TV (43.0%; p < .001). Urban users were more prevalent in the TV group (61.9%) than in the T only group (45.4%).
Implications
We identified differences in communication modality based on Veteran characteristics. This could suggest differences in Veteran or provider preference, feasibility, or acceptability, based on CM.
Significance
While V communications appear to be achievable for many Veterans, more work is needed to determine preference, feasibility, and acceptability among Veterans and their care teams regarding V and T only cancer care.
Background
We examined characteristics of Veterans receiving care through NTO and their CM (e.g., telephone only [T], video only [V], or both [TV]). Relevant background: In-person VA cancer care can be challenging for many Veterans due to rurality, transportation, finances, and distance to subspecialists. Such factors may impact care modality preferences.
Methods
We linked a list of all Veterans who received NTO care with Corporate Data Warehouse data to confirm an ICD-10 diagnostic code for malignancy, and to define the number of NTO interactions, latency of days between diagnosis and first NTO interaction, and demographics. The Office of Rural Health categories for rurality and NIH categories for race were used.
Data analysis
We report descriptive statistics for CM. To compare differences between Veterans by CM, we report chi-squared tests for categorical variables and ANOVAs for continuous variables.
Results
Among 13,902 NTO Veterans with CM data, most were V (9,998, 72%), few were T 2% (n= 295), and some were TV 26% (n= 3,609). There were statistically significant differences between CM in number of interactions, latency between diagnosis and first NTO interaction, age at first NTO interaction, sex, race, rurality, and cancer type. Veterans diagnosed with lung cancer were more likely to exclusively use T. Veterans with breast cancer were more likely to exclusively use V. Specifically, T were oldest (mean age = 74.3), followed by TV (69.0) and V (61.6; p < .001). Women were most represented in V (28.3%) and Rural or highly rural residence was most common among T users (54.6%), compared to V (36.8%) and TV (43.0%; p < .001). Urban users were more prevalent in the TV group (61.9%) than in the T only group (45.4%).
Implications
We identified differences in communication modality based on Veteran characteristics. This could suggest differences in Veteran or provider preference, feasibility, or acceptability, based on CM.
Significance
While V communications appear to be achievable for many Veterans, more work is needed to determine preference, feasibility, and acceptability among Veterans and their care teams regarding V and T only cancer care.
Background
We examined characteristics of Veterans receiving care through NTO and their CM (e.g., telephone only [T], video only [V], or both [TV]). Relevant background: In-person VA cancer care can be challenging for many Veterans due to rurality, transportation, finances, and distance to subspecialists. Such factors may impact care modality preferences.
Methods
We linked a list of all Veterans who received NTO care with Corporate Data Warehouse data to confirm an ICD-10 diagnostic code for malignancy, and to define the number of NTO interactions, latency of days between diagnosis and first NTO interaction, and demographics. The Office of Rural Health categories for rurality and NIH categories for race were used.
Data analysis
We report descriptive statistics for CM. To compare differences between Veterans by CM, we report chi-squared tests for categorical variables and ANOVAs for continuous variables.
Results
Among 13,902 NTO Veterans with CM data, most were V (9,998, 72%), few were T 2% (n= 295), and some were TV 26% (n= 3,609). There were statistically significant differences between CM in number of interactions, latency between diagnosis and first NTO interaction, age at first NTO interaction, sex, race, rurality, and cancer type. Veterans diagnosed with lung cancer were more likely to exclusively use T. Veterans with breast cancer were more likely to exclusively use V. Specifically, T were oldest (mean age = 74.3), followed by TV (69.0) and V (61.6; p < .001). Women were most represented in V (28.3%) and Rural or highly rural residence was most common among T users (54.6%), compared to V (36.8%) and TV (43.0%; p < .001). Urban users were more prevalent in the TV group (61.9%) than in the T only group (45.4%).
Implications
We identified differences in communication modality based on Veteran characteristics. This could suggest differences in Veteran or provider preference, feasibility, or acceptability, based on CM.
Significance
While V communications appear to be achievable for many Veterans, more work is needed to determine preference, feasibility, and acceptability among Veterans and their care teams regarding V and T only cancer care.
Organs of Metastasis Predominate with Age in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtypes: National Cancer Database Analysis
Background
Patients diagnosed with lung cancer are predominantly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Thus, it is imperative to investigate and distinguish the differences present at diagnosis to possibly improve survival outcomes. NSCLC commonly metastasizes within older patients near the mean age of 71 years, but also in early onset patients which represents the patients younger than the earliest lung cancer screening age of 50.
Objective
To reveal differences in ratios of metastasis locations in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (ACC), and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC).
Methods
The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized to identify patients diagnosed with SCC, ACC, and ASC using the histology codes 8070, 8140, and 8560 from the ICD-O-3.2 from 2004 to 2022. Age groups were 70 years. Metastases located to the brain, liver, bone, and lung were included. Chi-Square tests were performed. The data was analyzed using R version 4.4.2 and statistical significance was set to α = 0.05.
Results
In this study, 1,445,119 patients were analyzed. Chi-Square tests identified significant differences in the ratios of organ metastasis locations between age groups in each subtype (p < 0.001). SCC in each age group similarly metastasized most to bone (36.3%, 34.7%, 34.5%), but notably more local lung metastasis was observed in the oldest group (33.6%). In ACC and ASC, the oldest group also had greater ratios of spread within the lungs (28.0%, 27.2%). Overall, the younger the age group, distant spread to the brain increased (ex. 29.0%, 24.4%, 17.5%). This suggests a widely heterogenous distribution of metastases at diagnosis of NSCLC subtypes and patient age.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that patients with SCC, ACC, or ASC subtypes of NSCLC share similar predominant locations based in part on patient age, irrespective of cancer origin. NSCLC may more distantly metastasize in younger patients to the brain, while older patients may have locally metastatic cancer. Further analysis of key demographic variables as well as common undertaken treatment options may prove informative and reveal existing differences in survival outcomes.
Background
Patients diagnosed with lung cancer are predominantly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Thus, it is imperative to investigate and distinguish the differences present at diagnosis to possibly improve survival outcomes. NSCLC commonly metastasizes within older patients near the mean age of 71 years, but also in early onset patients which represents the patients younger than the earliest lung cancer screening age of 50.
Objective
To reveal differences in ratios of metastasis locations in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (ACC), and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC).
Methods
The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized to identify patients diagnosed with SCC, ACC, and ASC using the histology codes 8070, 8140, and 8560 from the ICD-O-3.2 from 2004 to 2022. Age groups were 70 years. Metastases located to the brain, liver, bone, and lung were included. Chi-Square tests were performed. The data was analyzed using R version 4.4.2 and statistical significance was set to α = 0.05.
Results
In this study, 1,445,119 patients were analyzed. Chi-Square tests identified significant differences in the ratios of organ metastasis locations between age groups in each subtype (p < 0.001). SCC in each age group similarly metastasized most to bone (36.3%, 34.7%, 34.5%), but notably more local lung metastasis was observed in the oldest group (33.6%). In ACC and ASC, the oldest group also had greater ratios of spread within the lungs (28.0%, 27.2%). Overall, the younger the age group, distant spread to the brain increased (ex. 29.0%, 24.4%, 17.5%). This suggests a widely heterogenous distribution of metastases at diagnosis of NSCLC subtypes and patient age.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that patients with SCC, ACC, or ASC subtypes of NSCLC share similar predominant locations based in part on patient age, irrespective of cancer origin. NSCLC may more distantly metastasize in younger patients to the brain, while older patients may have locally metastatic cancer. Further analysis of key demographic variables as well as common undertaken treatment options may prove informative and reveal existing differences in survival outcomes.
Background
Patients diagnosed with lung cancer are predominantly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Thus, it is imperative to investigate and distinguish the differences present at diagnosis to possibly improve survival outcomes. NSCLC commonly metastasizes within older patients near the mean age of 71 years, but also in early onset patients which represents the patients younger than the earliest lung cancer screening age of 50.
Objective
To reveal differences in ratios of metastasis locations in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma (ACC), and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC).
Methods
The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized to identify patients diagnosed with SCC, ACC, and ASC using the histology codes 8070, 8140, and 8560 from the ICD-O-3.2 from 2004 to 2022. Age groups were 70 years. Metastases located to the brain, liver, bone, and lung were included. Chi-Square tests were performed. The data was analyzed using R version 4.4.2 and statistical significance was set to α = 0.05.
Results
In this study, 1,445,119 patients were analyzed. Chi-Square tests identified significant differences in the ratios of organ metastasis locations between age groups in each subtype (p < 0.001). SCC in each age group similarly metastasized most to bone (36.3%, 34.7%, 34.5%), but notably more local lung metastasis was observed in the oldest group (33.6%). In ACC and ASC, the oldest group also had greater ratios of spread within the lungs (28.0%, 27.2%). Overall, the younger the age group, distant spread to the brain increased (ex. 29.0%, 24.4%, 17.5%). This suggests a widely heterogenous distribution of metastases at diagnosis of NSCLC subtypes and patient age.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that patients with SCC, ACC, or ASC subtypes of NSCLC share similar predominant locations based in part on patient age, irrespective of cancer origin. NSCLC may more distantly metastasize in younger patients to the brain, while older patients may have locally metastatic cancer. Further analysis of key demographic variables as well as common undertaken treatment options may prove informative and reveal existing differences in survival outcomes.
Shifting Demographics: A Temporal Analysis of the Alarming Rise in Rectal Adenocarcinoma Among Young Adults
Background
Rectal adenocarcinoma has long been associated with older adults, with routine screening typically beginning at age 45 or older. However, recent data reveal a concerning rise in rectal cancer incidence among adults under 40. These early-onset cases often present at later stages and may have distinct biological features. While some research attributes this trend to genetic or environmental factors, the contribution of socioeconomic disparities and healthcare access has not been fully explored. Identifying these influences is essential to shaping targeted prevention and early detection strategies for younger populations.
Objective
To evaluate temporal trends in rectal adenocarcinoma among young adults and assess demographic and socioeconomic predictors of early-onset diagnosis.
Methods
Data were drawn from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma from 2004 to 2022. Among 440,316 cases, 17,842 (4.1%) occurred in individuals under 40. Linear regression assessed temporal trends, while logistic regression evaluated associations between early-onset diagnosis and variables including sex, race, insurance status, income level, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, and tumor stage. Statistical significance was defined as α = 0.05.
Results
The number of young adults diagnosed rose from 424 in 2004 to 937 in 2022—an increase of over 120%. Each year was associated with a 1.7% rise in odds of early diagnosis (OR = 1.017, p < 0.001). Male patients had 24.7% higher odds (OR = 1.247, p < 0.001), and Black patients had 59.3% higher odds compared to White patients (OR = 1.593, p < 0.001). Non-private insurance was linked to a 41.6% decrease in early diagnosis (OR = 0.584, p < 0.001). Income level was not significant (p = 0.426). Lower Charlson-Deyo scores and higher tumor stages were also associated with early-onset cases.
Conclusions
Rectal adenocarcinoma is increasingly affecting younger adults, with significant associations across demographic and insurance variables. These findings call for improved awareness, early diagnostic strategies, and further research into underlying causes to mitigate this growing public health concern.
Background
Rectal adenocarcinoma has long been associated with older adults, with routine screening typically beginning at age 45 or older. However, recent data reveal a concerning rise in rectal cancer incidence among adults under 40. These early-onset cases often present at later stages and may have distinct biological features. While some research attributes this trend to genetic or environmental factors, the contribution of socioeconomic disparities and healthcare access has not been fully explored. Identifying these influences is essential to shaping targeted prevention and early detection strategies for younger populations.
Objective
To evaluate temporal trends in rectal adenocarcinoma among young adults and assess demographic and socioeconomic predictors of early-onset diagnosis.
Methods
Data were drawn from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma from 2004 to 2022. Among 440,316 cases, 17,842 (4.1%) occurred in individuals under 40. Linear regression assessed temporal trends, while logistic regression evaluated associations between early-onset diagnosis and variables including sex, race, insurance status, income level, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, and tumor stage. Statistical significance was defined as α = 0.05.
Results
The number of young adults diagnosed rose from 424 in 2004 to 937 in 2022—an increase of over 120%. Each year was associated with a 1.7% rise in odds of early diagnosis (OR = 1.017, p < 0.001). Male patients had 24.7% higher odds (OR = 1.247, p < 0.001), and Black patients had 59.3% higher odds compared to White patients (OR = 1.593, p < 0.001). Non-private insurance was linked to a 41.6% decrease in early diagnosis (OR = 0.584, p < 0.001). Income level was not significant (p = 0.426). Lower Charlson-Deyo scores and higher tumor stages were also associated with early-onset cases.
Conclusions
Rectal adenocarcinoma is increasingly affecting younger adults, with significant associations across demographic and insurance variables. These findings call for improved awareness, early diagnostic strategies, and further research into underlying causes to mitigate this growing public health concern.
Background
Rectal adenocarcinoma has long been associated with older adults, with routine screening typically beginning at age 45 or older. However, recent data reveal a concerning rise in rectal cancer incidence among adults under 40. These early-onset cases often present at later stages and may have distinct biological features. While some research attributes this trend to genetic or environmental factors, the contribution of socioeconomic disparities and healthcare access has not been fully explored. Identifying these influences is essential to shaping targeted prevention and early detection strategies for younger populations.
Objective
To evaluate temporal trends in rectal adenocarcinoma among young adults and assess demographic and socioeconomic predictors of early-onset diagnosis.
Methods
Data were drawn from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma from 2004 to 2022. Among 440,316 cases, 17,842 (4.1%) occurred in individuals under 40. Linear regression assessed temporal trends, while logistic regression evaluated associations between early-onset diagnosis and variables including sex, race, insurance status, income level, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, and tumor stage. Statistical significance was defined as α = 0.05.
Results
The number of young adults diagnosed rose from 424 in 2004 to 937 in 2022—an increase of over 120%. Each year was associated with a 1.7% rise in odds of early diagnosis (OR = 1.017, p < 0.001). Male patients had 24.7% higher odds (OR = 1.247, p < 0.001), and Black patients had 59.3% higher odds compared to White patients (OR = 1.593, p < 0.001). Non-private insurance was linked to a 41.6% decrease in early diagnosis (OR = 0.584, p < 0.001). Income level was not significant (p = 0.426). Lower Charlson-Deyo scores and higher tumor stages were also associated with early-onset cases.
Conclusions
Rectal adenocarcinoma is increasingly affecting younger adults, with significant associations across demographic and insurance variables. These findings call for improved awareness, early diagnostic strategies, and further research into underlying causes to mitigate this growing public health concern.
Epidemiology and Survival of Parotid Gland Malignancies With Brain Metastases: A Population- Based Study
Background
Parotid gland malignancies are a rare subset of salivary gland tumors, comprising approximately 1–3% of all head and neck cancers. While distant metastases commonly involve the lungs, brain metastases are exceedingly rare and remain poorly characterized. Management typically includes stereotactic radiosurgery or whole-brain radiation. This study evaluates the incidence, clinicopathologic features, and survival outcomes of patients with parotid gland tumors and brain metastases using data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
Methods
SEER database (2010–2022) was queried for patients diagnosed with primary malignant neoplasms of the parotid gland (ICD-O-3 site code C07.9). Cases of brain metastases were identified using SEER metastatic site variables. Age-adjusted incidence rates (IR) per 100,000 population were calculated using SEER*Stat 8.4.5. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted using GraphPad Prism, and survival differences were assessed using the log-rank test.
Results
Among 12,951 patients diagnosed with parotid malignancy, 47 (0.36%) had brain metastases. The median age at diagnosis was 67 years, and 77.5% were male. The overall incidence rate (IR) of brain metastases was 0.00235 per 100,000 population, with a significantly higher rate observed in males compared to females (p < 0.0001). The most common histologic subtype associated with brain involvement was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n=10), followed by adenocarcinoma. Median overall survival (mOS) for patients with brain metastases was 2 months (hazard ratio [HR] 6.28; 95% CI: 2.71–14.55), compared to 131 months for those without brain involvement (p < 0.001). 1-year cancer-specific survival for patients with brain metastases was 38%. Among patients with parotid SCC and brain metastases, mOS was 3 months, compared to 39 months in those without brain involvement (HR 5.70; 95% CI: 1.09–29.68; p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Brain metastases from parotid gland cancers, though rare, are associated with markedly poor outcomes. This highlights the importance of early neurologic assessment and brain imaging in high-risk patients, particularly with SCC histology. Prior studies have shown that TP53 mutations are common in parotid SCC, but their role in CNS spread remains unclear. Future research should explore molecular pathways underlying neurotropism in parotid cancers and investigate targeted systemic therapies with CNS penetration to improve outcomes.
Background
Parotid gland malignancies are a rare subset of salivary gland tumors, comprising approximately 1–3% of all head and neck cancers. While distant metastases commonly involve the lungs, brain metastases are exceedingly rare and remain poorly characterized. Management typically includes stereotactic radiosurgery or whole-brain radiation. This study evaluates the incidence, clinicopathologic features, and survival outcomes of patients with parotid gland tumors and brain metastases using data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
Methods
SEER database (2010–2022) was queried for patients diagnosed with primary malignant neoplasms of the parotid gland (ICD-O-3 site code C07.9). Cases of brain metastases were identified using SEER metastatic site variables. Age-adjusted incidence rates (IR) per 100,000 population were calculated using SEER*Stat 8.4.5. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted using GraphPad Prism, and survival differences were assessed using the log-rank test.
Results
Among 12,951 patients diagnosed with parotid malignancy, 47 (0.36%) had brain metastases. The median age at diagnosis was 67 years, and 77.5% were male. The overall incidence rate (IR) of brain metastases was 0.00235 per 100,000 population, with a significantly higher rate observed in males compared to females (p < 0.0001). The most common histologic subtype associated with brain involvement was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n=10), followed by adenocarcinoma. Median overall survival (mOS) for patients with brain metastases was 2 months (hazard ratio [HR] 6.28; 95% CI: 2.71–14.55), compared to 131 months for those without brain involvement (p < 0.001). 1-year cancer-specific survival for patients with brain metastases was 38%. Among patients with parotid SCC and brain metastases, mOS was 3 months, compared to 39 months in those without brain involvement (HR 5.70; 95% CI: 1.09–29.68; p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Brain metastases from parotid gland cancers, though rare, are associated with markedly poor outcomes. This highlights the importance of early neurologic assessment and brain imaging in high-risk patients, particularly with SCC histology. Prior studies have shown that TP53 mutations are common in parotid SCC, but their role in CNS spread remains unclear. Future research should explore molecular pathways underlying neurotropism in parotid cancers and investigate targeted systemic therapies with CNS penetration to improve outcomes.
Background
Parotid gland malignancies are a rare subset of salivary gland tumors, comprising approximately 1–3% of all head and neck cancers. While distant metastases commonly involve the lungs, brain metastases are exceedingly rare and remain poorly characterized. Management typically includes stereotactic radiosurgery or whole-brain radiation. This study evaluates the incidence, clinicopathologic features, and survival outcomes of patients with parotid gland tumors and brain metastases using data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
Methods
SEER database (2010–2022) was queried for patients diagnosed with primary malignant neoplasms of the parotid gland (ICD-O-3 site code C07.9). Cases of brain metastases were identified using SEER metastatic site variables. Age-adjusted incidence rates (IR) per 100,000 population were calculated using SEER*Stat 8.4.5. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted using GraphPad Prism, and survival differences were assessed using the log-rank test.
Results
Among 12,951 patients diagnosed with parotid malignancy, 47 (0.36%) had brain metastases. The median age at diagnosis was 67 years, and 77.5% were male. The overall incidence rate (IR) of brain metastases was 0.00235 per 100,000 population, with a significantly higher rate observed in males compared to females (p < 0.0001). The most common histologic subtype associated with brain involvement was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n=10), followed by adenocarcinoma. Median overall survival (mOS) for patients with brain metastases was 2 months (hazard ratio [HR] 6.28; 95% CI: 2.71–14.55), compared to 131 months for those without brain involvement (p < 0.001). 1-year cancer-specific survival for patients with brain metastases was 38%. Among patients with parotid SCC and brain metastases, mOS was 3 months, compared to 39 months in those without brain involvement (HR 5.70; 95% CI: 1.09–29.68; p < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Brain metastases from parotid gland cancers, though rare, are associated with markedly poor outcomes. This highlights the importance of early neurologic assessment and brain imaging in high-risk patients, particularly with SCC histology. Prior studies have shown that TP53 mutations are common in parotid SCC, but their role in CNS spread remains unclear. Future research should explore molecular pathways underlying neurotropism in parotid cancers and investigate targeted systemic therapies with CNS penetration to improve outcomes.
Augmenting DNA Damage by Chemotherapy With CDK7 Inhibition to Disrupt PARP Expression in Cholangiocarcinoma
Papillary Cystadenocarcinoma: NCDB Insights on Outcomes and Socioeconomic Disparities
Background
Papillary cystadenocarcinoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy typically arising in the ovaries, often following malignant transformation of benign precursors. Characterized by local invasion and recurrence, it lacks standardized treatment protocols and comprehensive epidemiological data. Existing literature is limited to case reports and small series, leaving gaps in population-level data to guide clinical decision-making. This study uses the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to assess demographic, socioeconomic, and treatment patterns to identify disparities and inform management.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis of 345 patients with histologically confirmed papillary cystadenocarcinoma (ICD-O-3 code 8450) was conducted using the 2004–2020 NCDB. Demographic, treatment, and survival data were described; incidence trends were assessed via linear regression; and survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves.
Results
The cohort was predominantly female (97.1%), mean age 62.1 years (SD = 14.0), and 87.2% White. Most had private insurance (44.9%) or Medicare (40.9%). Over half (51.9%) resided in metropolitan areas >1 million. Primary tumor sites were ovarian (80.0%) and endometrial (5.2%), with 39.7% presenting at Stage III. Surgery was performed in 90.4% of cases, with 51.9% achieving negative margins. Most were treated at comprehensive community (41.0%) or academic/research programs (28.7%). Primary therapies included chemotherapy (62.3%), radiation (6.4%), and hormone therapy (1.7%). Thirty-day mortality was 1.9%, and 90-day mortality was 5.4%. Survival was 97.7% at 2 years, 94.2% at 5 years, and 88.6% at 10 years. Mean survival was 97.5 months (95% CI: 88.2–106.7).
Conclusions
This is the first NCDB-based analysis of papillary cystadenocarcinoma, offering insight into its clinical characteristics. Ovarian and endometrial origins were most common, reinforcing its gynecologic profile. High surgical rates and margin negativity suggest aggressive local treatment is central to management. Disparities emerged: patients were more likely to live in urban areas, hold private insurance, and receive care at community programs. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into socioeconomic inequities and may inform future guidelines to improve equitable care delivery across health systems, including community-based programs such as the VHA.
Background
Papillary cystadenocarcinoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy typically arising in the ovaries, often following malignant transformation of benign precursors. Characterized by local invasion and recurrence, it lacks standardized treatment protocols and comprehensive epidemiological data. Existing literature is limited to case reports and small series, leaving gaps in population-level data to guide clinical decision-making. This study uses the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to assess demographic, socioeconomic, and treatment patterns to identify disparities and inform management.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis of 345 patients with histologically confirmed papillary cystadenocarcinoma (ICD-O-3 code 8450) was conducted using the 2004–2020 NCDB. Demographic, treatment, and survival data were described; incidence trends were assessed via linear regression; and survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves.
Results
The cohort was predominantly female (97.1%), mean age 62.1 years (SD = 14.0), and 87.2% White. Most had private insurance (44.9%) or Medicare (40.9%). Over half (51.9%) resided in metropolitan areas >1 million. Primary tumor sites were ovarian (80.0%) and endometrial (5.2%), with 39.7% presenting at Stage III. Surgery was performed in 90.4% of cases, with 51.9% achieving negative margins. Most were treated at comprehensive community (41.0%) or academic/research programs (28.7%). Primary therapies included chemotherapy (62.3%), radiation (6.4%), and hormone therapy (1.7%). Thirty-day mortality was 1.9%, and 90-day mortality was 5.4%. Survival was 97.7% at 2 years, 94.2% at 5 years, and 88.6% at 10 years. Mean survival was 97.5 months (95% CI: 88.2–106.7).
Conclusions
This is the first NCDB-based analysis of papillary cystadenocarcinoma, offering insight into its clinical characteristics. Ovarian and endometrial origins were most common, reinforcing its gynecologic profile. High surgical rates and margin negativity suggest aggressive local treatment is central to management. Disparities emerged: patients were more likely to live in urban areas, hold private insurance, and receive care at community programs. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into socioeconomic inequities and may inform future guidelines to improve equitable care delivery across health systems, including community-based programs such as the VHA.
Background
Papillary cystadenocarcinoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy typically arising in the ovaries, often following malignant transformation of benign precursors. Characterized by local invasion and recurrence, it lacks standardized treatment protocols and comprehensive epidemiological data. Existing literature is limited to case reports and small series, leaving gaps in population-level data to guide clinical decision-making. This study uses the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to assess demographic, socioeconomic, and treatment patterns to identify disparities and inform management.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis of 345 patients with histologically confirmed papillary cystadenocarcinoma (ICD-O-3 code 8450) was conducted using the 2004–2020 NCDB. Demographic, treatment, and survival data were described; incidence trends were assessed via linear regression; and survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves.
Results
The cohort was predominantly female (97.1%), mean age 62.1 years (SD = 14.0), and 87.2% White. Most had private insurance (44.9%) or Medicare (40.9%). Over half (51.9%) resided in metropolitan areas >1 million. Primary tumor sites were ovarian (80.0%) and endometrial (5.2%), with 39.7% presenting at Stage III. Surgery was performed in 90.4% of cases, with 51.9% achieving negative margins. Most were treated at comprehensive community (41.0%) or academic/research programs (28.7%). Primary therapies included chemotherapy (62.3%), radiation (6.4%), and hormone therapy (1.7%). Thirty-day mortality was 1.9%, and 90-day mortality was 5.4%. Survival was 97.7% at 2 years, 94.2% at 5 years, and 88.6% at 10 years. Mean survival was 97.5 months (95% CI: 88.2–106.7).
Conclusions
This is the first NCDB-based analysis of papillary cystadenocarcinoma, offering insight into its clinical characteristics. Ovarian and endometrial origins were most common, reinforcing its gynecologic profile. High surgical rates and margin negativity suggest aggressive local treatment is central to management. Disparities emerged: patients were more likely to live in urban areas, hold private insurance, and receive care at community programs. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into socioeconomic inequities and may inform future guidelines to improve equitable care delivery across health systems, including community-based programs such as the VHA.