Attendance at National Cancer Institute and Children’s Oncology Group Facilities for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Cancer in Pennsylvania: A Population-Based Study

Rao P, Segel JE, McGregor LM, Lengerich EJ, Drabick JJ, Miller B. Attendance at National Cancer Institute and Children’s Oncology Group Facilities for Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Cancer in Pennsylvania: A Population-Based Study. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2020 Feb;9(1):47-54. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2019.0045. Epub 2019 Oct 10. PubMed PMID: 31600095; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7047115.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are a vulnerable population with decreased attendance at National Cancer Institute (NCI) comprehensive cancer centers and Children’s Oncology Group (COG) facilities. Decreased attendance at NCI/COG facilities has been associated with poor cancer outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate cancer care patterns of AYAs compared with children, within Pennsylvania, and factors associated with attending an NCI/COG facility. Data from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry between 2010 and 2015 for patients aged 0–39 years at cancer diagnosis were used. Primary analyses focused on age at diagnosis, insurance status, race, ethnicity, gender, cancer type, stage, diagnosis year, and distance to the NCI/COG facility. The primary outcome was receipt of care at an NCI/COG facility. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using multivariable logistic regression models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test and estimate robustness.