Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 11, 2025
07:59
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Molecular Biomarker Testing for Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: September 8, 2023
1.4K
The Hispanic Paradox in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Rohit Kumar1, Franklin Castillero2, Shruti Bhandari1
1Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy
|March 29, 2021
Summary
Hispanic ethnicity is linked to improved survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study found a survival advantage for Hispanic patients, likely due to complex interacting factors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Disparities
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hispanic individuals represent the largest minority group in the U.S. (18% in 2016).
- Understanding ethnic variations in cancer outcomes is crucial for addressing health disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Hispanic ethnicity on the overall survival of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Main Methods:
- Utilized the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patient data from 2010-2015.
- Compared overall survival between non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Hispanic patients with NSCLC.
Main Results:
- Hispanics had significantly better overall survival compared to NHWs after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities (HR 0.92).
- Further adjustments for demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and facility factors revealed an even greater survival advantage for Hispanics (HR 0.79).
- This survival benefit was observed across all stages of non-small cell lung cancer.
Conclusions:
- Hispanic ethnicity is associated with superior survival outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer patients.
- The observed survival advantage may stem from a combination of physical, social, cultural, genomic, and environmental factors.
Related Concept Videos
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
3.5K
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.5K
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
508
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
508
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
939
Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
939
02:07Tumor Progression
6.8K
Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
6.8K
02:39lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
9.3K
In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA...
9.3K