2024
Survival Among Patients With High-Risk Gastrointestinal Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Janczewski L, Browner A, Cotler J, Palis B, Chan K, Joung R, Bentrem D, Merkow R, Boffa D, Nelson H. Survival Among Patients With High-Risk Gastrointestinal Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e240160. PMID: 38441896, PMCID: PMC10915687, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0160.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStage IV diseaseRetrospective cohort studyCohort studyQuality care deliveryIV diseaseOperative mortalityHigh riskPandemic-related stressorsAssociated with increased 1-year mortalityDiagnosis of stage IMultivariate logistic regressionCOVID-19 pandemicCare deliveryNational Cancer DatabaseKaplan-Meier curvesEvaluate 30-dayMain OutcomesFollow-up dataCancer communityPrepandemic levelsLogistic regressionCancer DatabaseCOVID-19COVID-19 infectionMalignant neoplasmsMedicaid Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act and Early Mortality Following Lung Cancer Surgery
Nogueira L, Boffa D, Jemal A, Han X, Yabroff K. Medicaid Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act and Early Mortality Following Lung Cancer Surgery. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2351529. PMID: 38214932, PMCID: PMC10787311, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51529.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedicaid expansion statusNon-small cell lung cancerMedicaid expansion statesMedicaid expansionSurgical resection of non-small cell lung cancerResection of non-small cell lung cancerDifference-in-differencesExpansion statesPatients' state of residenceNonexpansion statesCohort studyAssociation of Medicaid expansionExpansion statusPostoperative mortalityDifference-in-differences analysisStudy population characteristicsState of residenceAffordable Care ActHealth insurance coverageCohort study of patientsSurgical resectionEarly mortalityMain OutcomesAssociated with declinesCancer outcomes
2023
Alterations in Cancer Treatment During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US
Janczewski L, Cotler J, Merkow R, Palis B, Nelson H, Mullett T, Boffa D. Alterations in Cancer Treatment During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6: e2340148. PMID: 37902756, PMCID: PMC10616721, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.40148.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNational Cancer DatabaseCancer treatmentAcademic hospitalCommunity hospitalMAIN OUTCOMECOVID-19 pandemicProportion of patientsRetrospective cohort studyAvailability of treatmentFirst yearUnderwent surgeryCohort studyMedian ageCancer surgeryMedian timeTreatment of cancerCancer careTreatment modalitiesCancer screeningCancer DatabaseMedian travel distancePatientsHospitalSurgeryCancerAssociation of Wildfire Exposure While Recovering From Lung Cancer Surgery With Overall Survival
Zhang D, Xi Y, Boffa D, Liu Y, Nogueira L. Association of Wildfire Exposure While Recovering From Lung Cancer Surgery With Overall Survival. JAMA Oncology 2023, 9: 1214-1220. PMID: 37498574, PMCID: PMC10375383, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.2144.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerOverall survivalWorse overall survivalLung cancerNSCLC surgeryCohort studyHazard ratioSurgical resectionNSCLC resectionLong-term overall survivalNational Cancer DatabaseLung cancer surgeryLymph node involvementCell lung cancerHealth insurance typeHealth hazardsHospital dischargeNode involvementCancer surgeryStudy endTumor sizeCancer DatabaseInsurance typeHigh riskUnexposed individualsAssociation Between Metastatic Pattern and Prognosis in Stage IV Gastric Cancer: Potential for Stage Classification Reform
Zhan P, Canavan M, Ermer T, Pichert M, Li A, Maduka R, Udelsman B, Nemeth A, Boffa D. Association Between Metastatic Pattern and Prognosis in Stage IV Gastric Cancer: Potential for Stage Classification Reform. Annals Of Surgical Oncology 2023, 30: 4180-4191. PMID: 36869917, DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-13287-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStage IV gastric cancerNonregional lymph nodesMultivariable Cox modelLymph nodesGastric cancerMetastatic patternCox modelStage IV gastric cancer patientsBetter median survivalNational Cancer DatabaseRetrospective cohort studyStage IV patientsKaplan-Meier curvesGastric cancer patientsPropensity score-matched sampleSingle organYears of ageDistant diseaseCohort studyIV patientsMedian survivalMetastatic diseaseMost patientsBetter prognosisSystemic organs
2022
Utilization and Outcomes of Radiation in Stage IV Esophageal Cancer
Zhan P, Canavan M, Ermer T, Pichert M, Li A, Maduka R, Kaminski M, Johung K, Boffa D. Utilization and Outcomes of Radiation in Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. JTO Clinical And Research Reports 2022, 3: 100429. PMID: 36483656, PMCID: PMC9722471, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100429.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStage IV esophageal cancerNational Cancer DatabaseEsophageal cancerCancer DatabaseRadiation doseSurvival advantageMedian total radiation dosePropensity score-matched pairsOutcome of radiationRetrospective cohort studyKaplan-Meier analysisTotal radiation doseAppropriate radiation dosePalliative regimensCohort studyMedian ageRadiation administrationSurvival associationsBetter survivalPatientsLocal controlCancerDosePalliationFurther studiesNonregional Lymph Nodes as the Only Metastatic Site in Stage IV Esophageal Cancer
Zhan P, Canavan M, Ermer T, Pichert M, Li A, Maduka R, Kaminski M, Boffa D. Nonregional Lymph Nodes as the Only Metastatic Site in Stage IV Esophageal Cancer. JTO Clinical And Research Reports 2022, 3: 100426. PMID: 36444359, PMCID: PMC9700291, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100426.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStage IV esophageal cancerNonregional lymph nodesEsophageal cancerSystemic metastasesLymph nodesMultiorgan metastasesOrgan metastasisSuperior survivalAcademic facility typesOnly metastatic siteNational Cancer DatabaseOutcomes of patientsPatients 18 yearsRetrospective cohort studyStage IV diseaseKaplan-Meier analysisSquamous cell carcinomaPropensity-matched sampleNonregional lymphCohort studyMetastatic involvementMetastatic sitesCell carcinomaCancer DatabaseCox modelImmunotherapy After Chemotherapy and Radiation for Clinical Stage III Lung Cancer
Pichert MD, Canavan ME, Maduka RC, Li AX, Ermer T, Zhan PL, Kaminski M, Udelsman BV, Blasberg JD, Park HS, Goldberg SB, Boffa DJ. Immunotherapy After Chemotherapy and Radiation for Clinical Stage III Lung Cancer. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2224478. PMID: 35925606, PMCID: PMC9353596, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.24478.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStage III non-small cell lung cancerNon-small cell lung cancerClinical stage III non-small cell lung cancerUnresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancerPropensity-matched sampleGeneral US populationSurvival advantageCohort studyLung cancerMultivariable Cox proportional hazards modelsUS populationStage III lung cancerMedian age 66 yearsCox proportional hazards modelNational Cancer DatabaseEfficacy of immunotherapyAge 66 yearsProtocol rangesCell lung cancerClinical trial populationsProportional hazards modelTerms of ageImmunotherapy initiationImmunotherapy recipientsImmunotherapy useAssociation of Insurance Status and Extent of Organ Involvement With Survival Among Patients With Stage IV Cancer
Zhan PL, Canavan ME, Ermer T, Pichert MD, Li AX, Maduka RC, Boffa DJ. Association of Insurance Status and Extent of Organ Involvement With Survival Among Patients With Stage IV Cancer. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2217581. PMID: 35713907, PMCID: PMC9206181, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.17581.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAssociation Between Food and Drug Administration Approval and Disparities in Immunotherapy Use Among Patients With Cancer in the US
Ermer T, Canavan ME, Maduka RC, Li AX, Salazar MC, Kaminski MF, Pichert MD, Zhan PL, Mase V, Kluger H, Boffa DJ. Association Between Food and Drug Administration Approval and Disparities in Immunotherapy Use Among Patients With Cancer in the US. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2219535. PMID: 35771575, PMCID: PMC9247736, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.19535.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerRenal cell carcinomaUse of immunotherapyFDA approvalImmunotherapy useCohort studyClinical trialsNovel therapiesStage IV non-small cell lung cancerMultivariable logistic regression modelingFirst checkpoint inhibitorCheckpoint inhibitor therapyNational Cancer DatabasePatients 20 yearsCell lung cancerSocioeconomic strataTreatment of patientsDrug Administration approvalLife-saving treatmentReceipt of immunotherapyLogistic regression modelingSocioeconomic characteristicsImmunotherapy administrationCheckpoint inhibitorsPatient characteristics
2021
Baseline Evaluation of Cancer Mortality in US States that Expanded Medicaid vs Nonexpansion States
Salazar MC, Kaminski MF, Canavan ME, Maduka RC, Li AX, Ermer T, Boffa DJ. Baseline Evaluation of Cancer Mortality in US States that Expanded Medicaid vs Nonexpansion States. JAMA Oncology 2021, 7: 1394-1395. PMID: 34292299, PMCID: PMC8299357, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.2582.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe Survival Advantage of Lobectomy over Wedge Resection Lessens as Health-Related Life Expectancy Decreases
Salazar MC, Canavan ME, Walters SL, Chilakamarry S, Ermer T, Blasberg JD, Yu JB, Gross CP, Boffa DJ. The Survival Advantage of Lobectomy over Wedge Resection Lessens as Health-Related Life Expectancy Decreases. JTO Clinical And Research Reports 2021, 2: 100143. PMID: 34590002, PMCID: PMC8474228, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2021.100143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStage I NSCLCWedge resectionSurveillance EpidemiologyMortality riskHigh riskSurvival advantageLife expectancyNational Cancer Institute's Surveillance EpidemiologyEnd Results-MedicareTreatment-naive patientsEarly-stage NSCLCRetrospective cohort studySuperior local controlShort life expectancyLife expectancy decreasesPerioperative complicationsCohort studyComorbid conditionsLung parenchymaLobectomyCox modelReasonable optionPatientsNSCLCLocal controlChemoradiation as a nonsurgical treatment option for early-stage esophageal cancers: a retrospective cohort study
Pathak R, Canavan ME, Walters S, Salazar MC, Boffa DJ. Chemoradiation as a nonsurgical treatment option for early-stage esophageal cancers: a retrospective cohort study. Journal Of Thoracic Disease 2021, 13: 140-148. PMID: 33569194, PMCID: PMC7867841, DOI: 10.21037/jtd-20-1187.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEarly-stage esophageal cancerEsophageal cancerOverall survivalDefinitive non-surgical treatmentComorbidity-free patientsCT1/T2National Cancer DatabaseRetrospective cohort studyNon-surgical treatmentSubset of patientsGoals of careKaplan-Meier curvesNonsurgical treatment optionsKaplan-Meier estimatesInoperable patientsCohort studyNonsurgical approachCure rateTreatment optionsCancer patientsEndoscopic excisionCancer DatabaseTumor removalChemoradiationPatients
2020
Association of Survival With Adjuvant Chemotherapy Among Patients With Early-Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With vs Without High-Risk Clinicopathologic Features
Pathak R, Goldberg SB, Canavan M, Herrin J, Hoag JR, Salazar MC, Papageorge M, Ermer T, Boffa DJ. Association of Survival With Adjuvant Chemotherapy Among Patients With Early-Stage Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With vs Without High-Risk Clinicopathologic Features. JAMA Oncology 2020, 6: 1741-1750. PMID: 32940636, PMCID: PMC7499246, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.4232.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNode-negative non-small cell lung cancerHigh-risk pathologic featuresNon-small cell lung cancerAdjuvant chemotherapyCell lung cancerPathologic featuresTumor sizeSurvival benefitCohort studyLung cancerNode-negative NSCLCEarly-stage non-small cell lung cancerCox proportional hazards regression modelHigh-risk clinicopathologic featuresProportional hazards regression modelsNational Cancer DatabaseRetrospective cohort studyTreatment-naive patientsAdjuvant chemotherapy useHigh-risk featuresAssociation of survivalHazards regression modelsImmortal time biasChemotherapy useEligible patientsEvaluation of Cancer Care After Medicaid Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act
Salazar MC, Canavan ME, Walters SL, Herrin J, Schwartz JL, Leapman M, Boffa DJ. Evaluation of Cancer Care After Medicaid Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act. JAMA Network Open 2020, 3: e2017544. PMID: 32990734, PMCID: PMC7525361, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.17544.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSurvival After Cancer Treatment at Top-Ranked US Cancer Hospitals vs Affiliates of Top-Ranked Cancer Hospitals
Boffa DJ, Mallin K, Herrin J, Resio B, Salazar MC, Palis B, Facktor M, McCabe R, Nelson H, Shulman LN. Survival After Cancer Treatment at Top-Ranked US Cancer Hospitals vs Affiliates of Top-Ranked Cancer Hospitals. JAMA Network Open 2020, 3: e203942. PMID: 32453382, PMCID: PMC7251445, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3942.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term survivalCancer HospitalSurgical treatmentShort-term survivalComplex cancer treatmentAffiliate hospitalsCancer treatmentCancer careAdjusted long-term survivalNational Cancer DatabaseAnnual surgical volumeComplex cancer careIndividuals 18 yearsComplex surgical proceduresPerioperative mortalityCohort studyAffiliated HospitalPooled analysisBladder cancerCancer DatabasePatient outcomesSurgical volumeSurgical proceduresMAIN OUTCOMESurvival advantage