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. 2024 Apr 3;33(4):489-499.
doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-23-1182.

Trends and Disparities in Curative-Intent Treatment for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis of Surgery and SBRT

Qinran Liu  1 , Heidy N Medina  1 , Estelamari Rodriguez  2 , Kamaria T Jacobs  3 , Clyde Brown  3 , Tulay Koru-Sengul  1   2 , Gilberto Lopes  2 , Paulo S Pinheiro  1   2
Affiliations

Trends and Disparities in Curative-Intent Treatment for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Population-Based Analysis of Surgery and SBRT

Qinran Liu et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. .

Abstract

Background: Despite the increasing adoption of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as a recommended alternative for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), population-based research on racial/ethnic disparities in curative-intent treatment accounting for SBRT remains limited. This study investigated trends and disparities in receiving curative-intent surgery and/or SBRT in a diverse, retrospective cohort.

Methods: Early-stage NSCLC cases (2005-2017) from the Florida cancer registry were linked to individual-level statewide discharge data containing comorbidities and specific treatment information. Joinpoint regression assessed trends in treatment receipt. Multivariable logistic regression examined associations between race/ethnicity and treatment type.

Results: Among 64,999 patients with early-stage NSCLC, 71.6% received curative-intent treatment (surgery and/or SBRT): 73.1%, 72.4%, and 60.3% among Hispanic, White, and Black patients, respectively (P < 0.01). SBRT use increased steeply from 2005 to 2007 and then by 7.9% annually from 2007 to 2017 (P < 0.01); curative-intent surgery remained stable from 2005 to 2014 before declining by 6.2% annually during 2014-2017 (P = 0.04). The Black-White disparity in receipt of curative-intent treatment was significant [ORadj, 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.60-0.71]. Patients with Charlson comorbidity index (CCI)≥3 had 36% (ORadj, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.60-0.69) lower odds of receiving curative-intent surgery and no significant difference for SBRT (ORadj, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.93-1.20) compared with CCI = 0.

Conclusions: Racial disparities in receiving curative-intent treatment for early-stage NSCLC persist despite the availability of SBRT, suggesting the full potential of curative-intent treatment for early-stage NSCLC remains unachieved.

Impact: Addressing disparities in early-stage NSCLC requires addressing differential treatment patterns and enhancing accessibility to treatments like underutilized SBRT, particularly for high-comorbidity populations such as Black patients.

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