Study Purpose/Background
Malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT), known as carcinosarcoma of the uterus, is a rare tumor consisting of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. Palliative care (PC) has been shown to enhance quality of life and improve outcomes in patients with advanced or incurable cancer. Patients with MMMT may benefit from PC. The project’s objective is to describe disparities in PC utilization among MMMT patients using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).
Methods/Design
A total of 14,085 patients, diagnosed with MMMT, were identified utilizing the NCDB ICD-O-3 histology code 8950. Demographic factors (race, income, facility type, insurance, geographic location, grade, and Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score) were studied in relation to the receipt of PC using multivariate logistic regression.
Results
3.10% of the study cohort received PC (437/14085). Participants with a median income of ≥ $63,000 (2.74%) were less likely to receive PC than participants making < $38,000 (3.93%), P = .049. Participants treated at an academic/research program (2.48%) were less likely to receive PC compared to patients treated at a community cancer program (4.44%), P = .023. Those with private insurance (2.50%), were less likely to receive PC than those with no insurance (3.56%), P = .032. Participants who received treatment at a facility located in the South Atlantic (2.25%), East North Central (3.11%), West South Central (2.73%) or Pacific (1.36%), were less likely to receive PC than patients who received treatment at a New England facility (4.42%), P < .001, P = .031, P = .017, and P < .001, respectively. Those with tumors that were undifferentiated, anaplastic (3.52%) were more likely to receive PC than those with well-differentiated tumors (1.01%), P = .040.
Conclusions/Implications
PC is underutilized in patients with private insurance, received treatment at an academic/research program, had well-differentiated tumors, and were in the South Atlantic, East North Central, West South Central, and Pacific regions. By highlighting disparities that exist, our study can aid clinicians in addressing PC underutilization to help provide more comprehensive care for patients.