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Background/Aim: This study aimed to identify the demographic/socioeconomic factors associated with disparities in time to breast cancer treatment. Patients and Methods: We conducted an analysis of breast cancer patients from the National Cancer Database, 2008Database, -2019. Time intervals from diagnosis to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy were compared based on age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status. Results: A total of 715,210 patients with breast cancer were included. Overall, Hispanic patients had the longest times to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy compared to non-Hispanic patients (surgery 73.3 vs. 53.8 days, radiation 177.2 vs. 136.9 days, chemotherapy 83.0 vs. 66.5 days, all p<0.01). Similarly, black patients, those who were uninsured, and those with lower income (<$63,000) had the longest times to treatment. Conclusion: We identified several racial/socioeconomic disparities in time to treatment. Further investigation into the causes of these disparities is of increasing importance to address inequities in breast cancer care.According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. While the mortality rate of breast cancer has decreased in the last few decades (1), disparities in cancer treatment still exist. In the past, factors, such as race, seemed to play a major role in research studies with the results showing that outcomes in patients with breast cancer were worse for black women and other ethnic groups such as Hispanic groups when compared to white women (2). Scientific studies have shown that genetics and biological properties may play a significant role in the morbidity and mortality of a patient with breast cancer (3). However, multiple studies indicate that the outcomes of breast cancer treatments are multifactorial, and treatment delays may significantly impact disease staging and treatment outcomes (4). Factors that result in treatment delay include the patient's insurance, financial status, and demographics. Disparities in time to treatment need to be identified and brought to attention in order to decrease the gap in access to breast cancer treatment. Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study between 2004 and 2019 using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Institutional Review Board approval was not required for the study.Patients with breast cancer of stages, as per the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC 6 th and 7 th edition) guidelines, were included. Variables in the analysis included age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, insurance status, income, treatment facility type, geographic location (rural/urban), grade, cancer stage, and Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity (CDC) score. Times to treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation) were computed and summarized.Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The clinical and demographic characteristics, disease outcome measures, and treatment variables were summarized. The mean, median, standard deviation, a...

The management of cancer has always relied heavily on the imaging modalities used to detect and monitor it. While many of these modalities have been around for decades, the technology surrounding them is always improving, and much has been discovered in recent years about the nature of tumors because of this. There have been several areas that have aided those discoveries. The use of artificial intelligence has already helped immensely in the quality of images taken but has not yet been widely implemented in clinical settings. Molecular imaging has proven to be useful in diagnosing different types of cancers based on the specificity of the probes/contrast agents used. Intravital imaging has already uncovered new information regarding the heterogeneity of the tumor vasculature. These three areas have provided a lot of useful information for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but further research and development in human trials is necessary to allow these techniques to fully utilize the information obtained thus far.

Objective: In this review, we summarize ongoing clinical trials involving liquid biopsies (LB) for colorectal cancer (CRC), outlining the current landscape and the future implementation of this technology. We also describe the current use of LB in CRC treatment at our institution, the Mayo Clinic Enterprise.Background: The use of LB in CRC treatment merits close attention. Their role is being evaluated in the screening, non-intervention, intervention, and surveillance settings through many active trials. This, coupled with the technique's rapid integration into clinical practice, creates constant evolution of care.Methods: Review of ClinicalTrials.gov was performed identifying relevant and active trials involving LB for CRC. "Colorectal cancer" plus other terms including "liquid biopsies" and "ctDNA" were used as search terms, identifying 35 active trials.Conclusions: LB use for the CRC is actively being investigated and requires close attention. Based on current evidence, Mayo Clinic Enterprise currently uses LB in the non-interventional, interventional and surveillance setting, but not for screening. Results of these trials may further establish the use of LB in the management of CRC.

Background/Aim: Pancreatic cancer has a very poor prognosis, though outcomes based on age are not well characterized. The aim of current study was to analyze the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer based on age. Patients and Methods: Using National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), we determined survival outcome based on age among patients with pancreatic cancer. Results: A total of 423,482 patients between 2004 and 2017 were included in the study. Patients aged between 18 and 40-years-old had the worst 3-year survival rate among stage 1 disease. Conversely, patients over 65-years-old had the worst 3-year survival rate and presented with more advanced disease (clinical stages 3 and 4). Conclusion: Older patients with more advanced disease had worse survival.