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The role of Hispanic ethnicity in pediatric Wilms' tumor survival

E Susan Amirian1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Dan L Duncan Cancer Center, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA. amirian@bcm.edu

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
|March 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Hispanic children with Wilms tumors (WT) face a higher risk of death compared to non-Hispanic white children. This study highlights potential racial disparities in pediatric kidney cancer survival rates.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Cancer Epidemiology
  • Health Disparities Research

Background:

  • Wilms tumors (WT) are the most common pediatric renal malignancy, accounting for 95% of cases.
  • While prognostic factors are known, the impact of Hispanic ethnicity on WT survival is understudied.
  • Existing research lacks specific analysis of survival differences across racial and ethnic groups in pediatric WT.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare Wilms tumor survival rates among Hispanic, non-Hispanic white (NHW), and non-Hispanic black (NHB) pediatric patients.
  • To investigate the association between Hispanic ethnicity and Wilms tumor-specific mortality.
  • To identify potential racial/ethnic disparities in pediatric kidney cancer outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program (1990-2009).
  • Isolated Wilms tumor cases (ICD-O-3 code 8960) in patients under 20 years old.
  • Employed multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to analyze survival, adjusting for clinical and demographic factors.

Main Results:

  • Hispanic ethnicity was significantly linked to an increased hazard of Wilms tumor-specific mortality (HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.02-2.25).
  • This association persisted after controlling for age, sex, diagnosis/treatment era, SEER stage, surgery, and radiation therapy.
  • Hispanic pediatric WT cases demonstrated a higher risk of death compared to NHW cases.

Conclusions:

  • Hispanic children diagnosed with Wilms tumors may experience poorer survival outcomes.
  • Racial and ethnic disparities warrant further investigation in the context of pediatric Wilms tumor treatment and survival.
  • Additional research is needed to understand and address these disparities in pediatric cancer care.

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