Gurudatta Naik

MBBS, MPH

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Scientist 1

PLCO (Learn more about this study)

PLCO-312

Oct 12, 2017

Disparity in time to treatment of cancer from after diagnosis between African American and White population and mortality outcomes

Cancer is second leading cause of mortality and morbidity in US after Cardiovascular diseases. By 2020 it will have taken over as the leading cause of mortality. However, with recent development in treatment modalities and options, average life span of cancer survivors have increased across all cancer types. With this there is interest in studying outcomes in patients undergoing various treatment and quality of life of cancer survivors. Unique to cancer management is the disparity seen in incidence and management of cancer between African American and Caucasian population. There is a need to identify factors that affect this disparity, however, it is more important to determine if this disparity goes away if the risk factors are matched. We will utilize a unique three tiered matching design (Jeffrey Silber et. al.) that will allow us to determine if disparity in outcomes (mortality, recurrence after treatment) will diminish as the comparing population (African American and Caucasian population) are homogenized with respect to risk factors. Studies have also shown that Vitamin D levels are associated with poorer outcomes in cancer patients. Obesity and decreased physical activity has also been studied to be a risk factor in aggressiveness of cancers like ovarian, and prostate. We would like to conduct mediation analysis looking at the role of Vitamin D, Obesity or physical activity individually in the disparity between mortality in PLCO cancer patients. These are again influenced by dietary intake of patients that could drive the difference in outcomes in patients

Aim 1 = To determine that there is racial disparity in receipt of treatment for cancer patients from time of diagnosis between African American and Caucasian Population
Aim 2 = To compare African American population with Demographic, Presentation and Treatment Caucasian population and determine if mortality is similar in both population.
Aim 3 = To conduct mediation analysis to study role of Vitamin D, obesity or Physical activity in the association between race and outcomes like mortality in PLCO patients.
Aim 4 = To conduct mediation analysis of dietary habits in the association between race and outcomes like mortality in PLCO patients.