The survival rate for African Americans with head and neck not improved over the last 40 years -
Although treatment options have improved, researchers MU find the prognosis of the disease has not improved for Africa -Americans
national survival rate for African-Americans diagnosed with head and neck have not improved over the last 40 years, despite advances in the treatment and management of disease, University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers found in a new study.
More than 52,000 men and women in the US are currently living with head and neck cancer. Using data from Surveillance, Epidemiology of the National Cancer Institute and program results (SEER), MU researchers led by Mosharraf Hossain, MD, assistant professor in the School of MU Division of Hematology and medical oncology physician and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia finishes, Missouri, studied the survival trend of five ethnic groups over the past 40 years. The researchers found that, despite advances in treatment options, the prognosis for African Americans with head and neck did not improve.
"This study shows that we have made good progress in the treatment of head and neck over the last 37 years, survival has improved significantly," said Shahzad Raza, MD, a postdoctoral researcher at the MU School of the division of hematology and medical oncology and principal investigator of the study. "However, we found no change in survival or prognosis for African-Americans in the past four decades . "
by analyzing data collected 1973-2010 on 247.310 head and neck patients throughout the country, the researchers found that the incidence of head and neck cancer was higher among African- Americans than in Caucasians, Hispanics, Asians and Pacific islanders, native Asian or Indian and Alaska. All these ethnic groups, with the exception of African Americans showed improved survival rates five years over a period of 40 years. African Americans had a significant decrease in the overall survival rate at five years of 41.8 percent, against 60.8 percent survival for Caucasians, 59.3 percent survival for Hispanics, 62 percent survival for Asians and Pacific islanders, and 50.2 percent survival for Asia-Indian and Alaska natives.
"a commonly accepted theory is that the socio-economic status, access to health care and the stage in which the cancer is diagnosed all play a major role in the survival rates of African Americans with the head and neck, "said Raza." However, these factors are not completely accurate predictor of a patient's prognosis. "
Raza said the treatment of head and neck cancer depends the location of the tumor, cancer stage, and the patient's age and overall health. treatments may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of treatment options.
the researchers suggest that genetic factors inherent to African Americans can make tumors resistant to treatment. However, more research needs to be done on the subject of the disparity in survival in patients with head and neck cancer .
"This research shows that there is an urgent need for a national test on head and neck cancer in the African-American community to evaluate new forms of treatment and biogenetic markers to learn why rates survival of this ethnic group has decreased, "said Raza.
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