LATEBREAKER
Health Disparities
The influence of primary tumor site on colon cancer death among adult patients ≥ 45 years old diagnosed with colon cancer between 2010 and 2017. Akpevwe Amanda Ojaruega* Akpevwe Amanda Ojaruega
Introduction: Colon cancer poses a significant health challenge, impacting a considerable portion of the population aged 45 years and older in the United States. Over the past decade, research has increasingly recognized the heterogeneity of colon cancer, highlighting the pivotal role that the primary tumor site may play in influencing disease progression and patient outcomes. This study delves into the intricate relationship between primary tumor location and death from colon cancer among individuals aged 45 years and older diagnosed with colon cancer in the USA during the years 2007 to 2017.
Methods: Our study included 111,789 adults ≥ 45 diagnosed with colon cancer from January 2010 to December 2017, identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) research plus 18 registries’ released in November 2020. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association of race/ethnicity and death from colon cancer. We adjusted for clinical and socio-demographic factors associated with primary tumor site at diagnosis and colon cancer death to control for potential confounding.
Results: Primary tumor tumor site at diagnosis was significantly associated with colon cancer death at (p < 0.001). Hepatic flexure tumors had the highest odds of colon cancer-related death (aOR=1.8 [95% CI: 1.23-1.30]). Non-Hispanic blacks had higher odds of colon cancer-related death than non-Hispanic whites (aOR=1.61 [95% CI: 1.51-1.71]). Patients diagnosed at more advanced ages(80+ group) experienced poorer outcomes (aOR=7.64 [95% CI: 7.02-8.31]), correlating with existing literature linking age and survival rates.
Conclusion: Colon cancer death is significantly associated with the site of the primary tumor. This finding plays a pivotal role in guiding treatment plans, comprehending metastatic patterns, and grasping the molecular characteristics associated with different colon cancer tumor sites.