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Socioeconomic disparities in survival after high-risk neuroblastoma treatment with modern therapy
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  • Daniel Zheng,
  • Anran Li,
  • Clement Ma,
  • Karina Ribeiro,
  • Lisa Diller,
  • Kira Bona,
  • Jonathan Marron
Daniel Zheng
Boston Children's Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Anran Li
University of Michigan Medical School
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Clement Ma
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
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Karina Ribeiro
Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas da Santa Casa de Sao Palo
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Lisa Diller
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
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Kira Bona
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
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Jonathan Marron
Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
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Abstract

Background: Modern therapeutic advances in high-risk neuroblastoma have improved overall survival (OS), but it is unclear whether these survival gains have been equitable. This study sought to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and OS in children with high-risk neuroblastoma, and to investigate whether SES-associated disparities have changed over time. Procedure: In this population-based cohort study, children <18 years diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma (diagnosis at age ≥12 months with metastatic disease) from 1991-2015 were identified through the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Associations of county-level SES variables and OS were tested with univariate Cox proportional hazards regression. For a sub-cohort diagnosed after 2007, insurance status was examined as an individual-level SES variable. Multivariable regression analyses with treatment era and interaction terms were performed when SES variables reached near-significance (p≤0.1) in univariate and bivariate modeling with treatment era. Results: Among 1,217 children, 2-year OS improved from 53.0±3.4% in 1991-1998 to 76.9±2.9% in 2011-2015 (p<0.001). In univariate analyses, children with Medicaid (hazard ratio [HR]=1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.05-1.86, p=0.02) and those in high-poverty counties (HR=1.74, CI=1.17-2.60, p=0.007) experienced an increased hazard of death. No interactions between treatment era and SES variables were statistically significant in multivariable analyses, indicating that changes in OS over time did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Low SES is associated with inferior survival in children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Survival disparities have not widened over time, suggesting equitable access to and benefit from therapeutic advances. Interventions to narrow existing disparities are paramount.
05 Feb 2021Submitted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer
05 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
05 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
09 Feb 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Feb 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
18 Apr 20211st Revision Received
18 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
18 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
20 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Oct 2021Published in Pediatric Blood & Cancer volume 68 issue 10. 10.1002/pbc.29127