Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database

Purpose: Radiation therapy (RT) often involves multiple visits over weeks and may be discontinued before planned treatment completion. This analysis aims to identify clinical and socioeconomic factors that could serve as predictors of RT discontinuation. Methods and Materials: Using National Cancer...

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Main Authors: Jie Yin, MD, Muhammad M. Qureshi, MBBS, MPH, Daniel Huang, MD, Minh T. Truong, MD, Kimberley S. Mak, MD, MPH, Sherry Yan, MD, Ariel E. Hirsch, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Advances in Radiation Oncology
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452109425000715
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author Jie Yin, MD
Muhammad M. Qureshi, MBBS, MPH
Daniel Huang, MD
Minh T. Truong, MD
Kimberley S. Mak, MD, MPH
Sherry Yan, MD
Ariel E. Hirsch, MD
author_facet Jie Yin, MD
Muhammad M. Qureshi, MBBS, MPH
Daniel Huang, MD
Minh T. Truong, MD
Kimberley S. Mak, MD, MPH
Sherry Yan, MD
Ariel E. Hirsch, MD
author_sort Jie Yin, MD
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: Radiation therapy (RT) often involves multiple visits over weeks and may be discontinued before planned treatment completion. This analysis aims to identify clinical and socioeconomic factors that could serve as predictors of RT discontinuation. Methods and Materials: Using National Cancer Database data from 2018 to 2019, we identified 749,135 cases treated with RT, chemoradiation (CRT), surgery with RT, or surgery with CRT that had information on radiation discontinuation. All patients were treated with curative intent. The variables assessed include age (18-<50, 50-<70, and ≥70), sex (male and female), race (White, Black, and Other), insurance status (private, Medicare/government, and Medicaid/uninsured), income level (<$46,277, $46,277-$57,856, $57,856-$74,062, and ≥$74,062), facility type (community, comprehensive community, academic/research, and integrated cancer network), Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity Score (0, 1, and ≥2), treatment type (RT, CRT, surgery with RT, and surgery with CRT), and primary tumor site. Reasons for RT discontinuation were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to calculate the adjusted odds of RT discontinuation by clinical and socioeconomic factors. Results: Of the 749,135 patients, RT was discontinued in 25,072 (3.3%) patients. The primary tumor sites include breast (36.6%), thorax (18.1%), genitourinary tract (13.2%), head and neck (11.4%), gastrointestinal system (10.9%), gynecologic system (6.0%), central nervous system (3.9%), musculoskeletal system (1.3%), and skin (0.7%). On multivariable analysis, older age, female sex, nonprivate insurance, lower income, treatment at community program facilities, multiple comorbidities, and CRT were independently associated with RT discontinuation. The reasons for RT discontinuation were patient decision (35.5%), contraindication because of patient risk factors (20.0%), toxicity (19.7%), patient expiration (13.8%), and family decision (3.0%). Conclusions: This National Cancer Database analysis showed RT discontinuation rates correlated with clinical factors, including older age, multiple comorbidities, and CRT, and socioeconomic factors, including nonprivate insurance and lower household income.
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spelling doaj-art-b18a3af7c81e41b798ea8e35a3416b6f2025-08-20T03:52:19ZengElsevierAdvances in Radiation Oncology2452-10942025-06-0110610178410.1016/j.adro.2025.101784Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer DatabaseJie Yin, MD0Muhammad M. Qureshi, MBBS, MPH1Daniel Huang, MD2Minh T. Truong, MD3Kimberley S. Mak, MD, MPH4Sherry Yan, MD5Ariel E. Hirsch, MD6Corresponding author: Jie Yin, MD; Radiation Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsRadiation Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsRadiation Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsRadiation Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsRadiation Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsRadiation Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsRadiation Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsPurpose: Radiation therapy (RT) often involves multiple visits over weeks and may be discontinued before planned treatment completion. This analysis aims to identify clinical and socioeconomic factors that could serve as predictors of RT discontinuation. Methods and Materials: Using National Cancer Database data from 2018 to 2019, we identified 749,135 cases treated with RT, chemoradiation (CRT), surgery with RT, or surgery with CRT that had information on radiation discontinuation. All patients were treated with curative intent. The variables assessed include age (18-<50, 50-<70, and ≥70), sex (male and female), race (White, Black, and Other), insurance status (private, Medicare/government, and Medicaid/uninsured), income level (<$46,277, $46,277-$57,856, $57,856-$74,062, and ≥$74,062), facility type (community, comprehensive community, academic/research, and integrated cancer network), Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity Score (0, 1, and ≥2), treatment type (RT, CRT, surgery with RT, and surgery with CRT), and primary tumor site. Reasons for RT discontinuation were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to calculate the adjusted odds of RT discontinuation by clinical and socioeconomic factors. Results: Of the 749,135 patients, RT was discontinued in 25,072 (3.3%) patients. The primary tumor sites include breast (36.6%), thorax (18.1%), genitourinary tract (13.2%), head and neck (11.4%), gastrointestinal system (10.9%), gynecologic system (6.0%), central nervous system (3.9%), musculoskeletal system (1.3%), and skin (0.7%). On multivariable analysis, older age, female sex, nonprivate insurance, lower income, treatment at community program facilities, multiple comorbidities, and CRT were independently associated with RT discontinuation. The reasons for RT discontinuation were patient decision (35.5%), contraindication because of patient risk factors (20.0%), toxicity (19.7%), patient expiration (13.8%), and family decision (3.0%). Conclusions: This National Cancer Database analysis showed RT discontinuation rates correlated with clinical factors, including older age, multiple comorbidities, and CRT, and socioeconomic factors, including nonprivate insurance and lower household income.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452109425000715
spellingShingle Jie Yin, MD
Muhammad M. Qureshi, MBBS, MPH
Daniel Huang, MD
Minh T. Truong, MD
Kimberley S. Mak, MD, MPH
Sherry Yan, MD
Ariel E. Hirsch, MD
Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database
Advances in Radiation Oncology
title Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database
title_full Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database
title_fullStr Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database
title_full_unstemmed Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database
title_short Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Radiation Therapy: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database
title_sort factors associated with early discontinuation of radiation therapy an analysis of the national cancer database
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452109425000715
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