Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Young-Onset CRC Survival Lower in This Race
J Clin Oncol; ePub 2016 May 2; Holowatyj, et al
Young blacks are less apt to survive colorectal cancer than young whites, even among those with early-stage disease, according to a study involving more than 28,000 individuals.
Participants were between 20 and 49 years of age; comprised of blacks, whites, and Hispanics; and had young-onset disease. Investigators looked at stage-specific 5-year survival. Among the results:
• Overall survival 5 years after diagnosis was 55% among blacks, 68% among whites, and 63% among Hispanics.
• Blacks had a 35% higher risk of dying from colon cancer and 51% higher risk of doing so from rectum/rectosigmoid junction cancers when compared with whites.
• There was no such difference between whites and Hispanics.
• Blacks with stage II cancer were 69% more likely to die from colon cancer than whites.
• Blacks with stage III cancer were nearly twice as likely to do so.
Citation: Holowatyj A, Ruterbusch J, Rozek L, Cote M, Stoffel E. Racial/ethnic disparities in survival among patients with young-onset colorectal cancer. [Published online ahead of print May 2, 2016]. J Clin Oncol. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.65.0994.