Socioeconomic and treatment-related determinants of long-term cancer survival: A population-based SEER outcomes analysis.

11186 Background: Cancer survival is shaped by tumor biology, treatment access, and socioeconomic context, yet population-level quantification of long-term survival disparities related to chemotherapy use and income is limited. We assessed five-year cancer-specific survival across demographic, treatment, and socioeconomic strata in a national registry. Methods: We performed a retrospective, population-based survival analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Cancer-specific survival was evaluated at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after diagnosis. Outcomes were stratified by sex, race, chemotherapy receipt, and area-level median household income categories. Survival estimates were summarized descriptively and visualized using time-to-event curves. Results: Overall cancer-specific survival declined progressively over five years, from ~84% at 12 months to ~58% at 60 months. Sex differences were minimal, with similar five-year survival among males and females (~57–58%). Racial disparities were substantial: Asian/Pacific Islander patients demonstrated the highest survival across follow-up, while Black and American Indian/Alaska Native patients had lower early survival and persistent gaps at five years. Patients with recorded chemotherapy use had improved survival compared with those without or with unknown chemotherapy status; 12-month survival was ~88% versus ~80%, and five-year survival was ~65% versus ~57%, respectively. A pronounced socioeconomic gradient was observed: individuals in areas with median household income ≥$120,000 had higher five-year survival (~67%), whereas those in areas with income < $40,000 had markedly lower survival (~52%). Conclusions: In this national registry analysis, both chemotherapy utilization and higher socioeconomic status were strongly associated with improved long-term cancer survival, whereas persistent racial and income-related disparities remained evident. These findings highlight ongoing inequities in access to oncologic care and support the need for targeted policy interventions and equity-focused treatment delivery models. Interpretation should account for limitations inherent to observational registry data and potential residual confounding.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Published
2026-05-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.11186
Primary Topic
Economic and Financial Impacts of Cancer
Type
article
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article

Socioeconomic and treatment-related determinants of long-term cancer survival: A population-based SEER outcomes analysis.

Venkatesh Gondhi, NAYANIKA TUMMALA, Rithish Nimmagadda, Shiwani Keswani et al.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Economic and Financial Impacts of Cancer
article

Socioeconomic and treatment-related determinants of long-term cancer survival: A population-based SEER outcomes analysis.

Venkatesh Gondhi, NAYANIKA TUMMALA, Rithish Nimmagadda, Shiwani Keswani, Madho Mal, Micheal Maroules, Akhilesh Sharma, Vinod Nookala, Love Kumar, Inshal Jawed
article en

Abstract

11186 Background: Cancer survival is shaped by tumor biology, treatment access, and socioeconomic context, yet population-level quantification of long-term survival disparities related to chemotherapy use and income is limited. We assessed five-year cancer-specific survival across demographic, treatment, and socioeconomic strata in a national registry. Methods: We performed a retrospective, population-based survival analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Cancer-specific survival was evaluated at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after diagnosis. Outcomes were stratified by sex, race, chemotherapy receipt, and area-level median household income categories. Survival estimates were summarized descriptively and visualized using time-to-event curves. Results: Overall cancer-specific survival declined progressively over five years, from ~84% at 12 months to ~58% at 60 months. Sex differences were minimal, with similar five-year survival among males and females (~57–58%). Racial disparities were substantial: Asian/Pacific Islander patients demonstrated the highest survival across follow-up, while Black and American Indian/Alaska Native patients had lower early survival and persistent gaps at five years. Patients with recorded chemotherapy use had improved survival compared with those without or with unknown chemotherapy status; 12-month survival was ~88% versus ~80%, and five-year survival was ~65% versus ~57%, respectively. A pronounced socioeconomic gradient was observed: individuals in areas with median household income ≥$120,000 had higher five-year survival (~67%), whereas those in areas with income < $40,000 had markedly lower survival (~52%). Conclusions: In this national registry analysis, both chemotherapy utilization and higher socioeconomic status were strongly associated with improved long-term cancer survival, whereas persistent racial and income-related disparities remained evident. These findings highlight ongoing inequities in access to oncologic care and support the need for targeted policy interventions and equity-focused treatment delivery models. Interpretation should account for limitations inherent to observational registry data and potential residual confounding.

Journal of Clinical OncologyVol. 44(16_suppl)
Charleston Area Medical Center (US), St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood (US), Interfaith Medical Center (US), Dow University of Health Sciences (PK), St. Mary's Hospital (US), Mayo Clinic in Arizona (US), St. Mary's Health System (US), St. Mary's Medical Center (US), Marshall University (US)
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Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Economic and Financial Impacts of Cancer
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