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No Survival Differences among Germ-Cell Cancer Patients from Urban and Rural Areas

Dennis Hoch1, Simon Helnwein1, Davide Adrizzone2

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Oncology Research and Treatment
|August 13, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study found that men with germ-cell cancer (GCC) have excellent outcomes regardless of their residential location. Treatment success rates for GCC patients were comparable in urban and rural areas, showing equal access to high-level care.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Urology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Germ-cell cancer (GCC) is highly curable in most men.
  • Previous studies suggested poorer outcomes for rural GCC patients compared to urban counterparts.
  • This disparity may indicate unequal access to specialized cancer care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if residential location impacts treatment outcomes in germ-cell cancer (GCC) patients.
  • To compare outcomes between patients from urban, suburban, and rural areas in Switzerland.
  • To assess access to high-level oncological care across different residential regions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of GCC patients treated at two Swiss university hospitals (2010-2020).
  • Data abstraction included patient presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.
  • Residential region classification based on the Federal Statistical Office of Switzerland.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in initial presentation, relapse rates, or response to treatment were observed between urban and rural patients.
  • Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were comparable across all residential areas.
  • Three-year PFS for clinical stage I patients was 78%; five-year OS was 98%.

Conclusions:

  • Excellent treatment outcomes for GCC patients were achieved irrespective of residential location.
  • This suggests equitable access to high-level oncological care in both urban and rural settings.
  • The findings challenge previous reports of outcome disparities based on geographic location.
Keywords:
ChemotherapyDisease managementSurveillanceTesticular cancer

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