Race, treatment, and survival of veterans with cancer of the distal esophagus and gastric cardia.
BACKGROUND
Prior studies have found racial differences in the use of invasive procedures and in cancer survival.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of race on the treatment and survival of patients with distal esophageal cancer.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
All Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.


METHODS
One thousand two hundred ninety white and 231 black male veterans with a new diagnosis of distal esophageal cancer during 1993 to 1997.


METHODS
Utilization of surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and survival.


RESULTS
Black patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were less likely to undergo surgery (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30-0.96) but had similar odds of undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Black patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were less likely to undergo surgical resection (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29-0.70), but were more likely to undergo radiation therapy (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.21-2.47) and chemotherapy (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.19-2.54). Mortality was increased for black patients with SCC (adjusted risk ratio 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10-1.61) but not adenocarcinoma. Among those veterans who underwent surgical resection (n = 502), similar results were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Black veterans with distal SCC are less likely than white veterans to undergo surgical resection, whereas the use of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, as well as mortality, is increased. Black patients with distal esophageal adenocarcinoma have lower odds of undergoing surgical resection but have similar utilization of radiation therapy and chemotherapy and similar survival. Despite the presence of an equal access medical system, treatment and outcomes differ for black and white veterans with distal esophageal cancer.
Dominitz
Jason A
JA
Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, Department of Surgery, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Washington 98108-1597, USA. dominitz@u.washington.edu
Maynard
Charles
C
Billingsley
Kevin G
KG
Boyko
Edward J
EJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D002299:Cardia / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*