Comparison of SEER Treatment Data With Medicare Claims

The population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries collect information on first-course treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. However, the SEER program does not release data on chemotherapy or hormone therapy due to uncertainties regarding data completeness. Activities are ongoing to investigate the opportunity to supplement SEER treatment data with other data sources

Descriptive Epidemiology of Adult Liposarcoma: A Population-based Study Using SEER and the Combined SEER/NPCR Databases, 2001-2016

ABSTRACT DESCRIPTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ADULT LIPOSARCOMA: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY USING SEER AND THE COMBINED SEER/NPCR DATABASES, 2001-2016 SUZANNE BOCK November 12, 2019 INTRODUCTION: Rare cancers, affecting 1 in 5 cancer patients, disproportionally contribute to cancer mortality. This research focused on liposarcoma, an understudied rare cancer with unknown risk factors and limited treatment options. METHODS: Liposarcoma incident cases were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) program and the combined SEER-National Program of Cancer Registries (CNPCR) for 2001-2016. Incidence rates (age-adjusted and age-specific) and 5-year survival were calculated using SEER*stat. Time trends were determined using Joinpoint. RESULTS: SEER liposarcoma cases represented ~30% (n=11,162) of the nationwide pool (n=37,499). Males accounted for ~60% of the cases, 82% cases were identified among whites. Age-adjusted incidence was greater among males vs. females and whites vs. blacks, whereas survival did not differ by sex and race (~80%). The dedifferentiated (57.2%), pleomorphic (64.1%) and retroperitoneal (63.9%) tumors had the worse survival. Liposarcoma rates increased nationwide by 19% in 2001-2016, with the annual percent increase (APC) of 1.43% (95% CI: 1.12-1.47). The APC was greater for males vs. females (1.67% vs. 0.89%) and retroperitoneal vs. extremity tumors (1.96% vs. 0.58%). The SEER generally overestimated the rates and time trends compared to nationwide data. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive description of liposarcoma epidemiology reveals increasing incidence of this understudied rare cancer, with greater increases among males, the high-risk subgroup and retroperitoneal tumors, the low-survival subgroup. The time trends suggest an environmental component, which if discovered, may help to prevent liposarcoma. Differences between SEER and CNPCR findings emphasize the need for nationwide cancer surveillance

Underascertainment of radiotherapy receipt in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry data

BACKGROUND: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry data have been used to suggest underuse and disparities in receipt of radiotherapy. Prior studies have cautioned that SEER may underascertain radiotherapy but lacked adequate representation to assess whether underascertainment varies by geography or patient sociodemographic characteristics. The authors sought to determine rates and correlates of underascertainment of radiotherapy in recent SEER data. METHODS: The authors evaluated data from 2290 survey respondents with nonmetastatic breast cancer, aged 20 to 79 years, diagnosed from June of 2005 to February 2007 in Detroit and Los Angeles and reported to SEER registries (73% response rate). Survey responses regarding treatment and sociodemographic factors were merged with SEER data. The authors compared radiotherapy receipt as reported by patients versus SEER records. The authors then assessed correlates of radiotherapy underascertainment in SEER. RESULTS: Of 1292 patients who reported receiving radiotherapy, 273 were coded as not receiving radiotherapy in SEER (underascertained). Underascertainment was more common in Los Angeles than in Detroit (32.0% vs 11.25%, P < .001). On multivariate analysis, radiotherapy underascertainment was significantly associated in each registry (Los Angeles, Detroit) with stage ( P = .008, P = .026), income ( P < .001, P = .050), mastectomy receipt ( P < .001, P < .001), chemotherapy receipt ( P < .001, P = .045), and diagnosis at a hospital that was not accredited by the American College of Surgeons ( P < .001, P < .001). In Los Angeles, additional significant variables included younger age ( P < .001), nonprivate insurance ( P < .001), and delayed receipt of radiotherapy ( P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: SEER registry data as currently collected may not be an appropriate source for documentation of rates of radiotherapy receipt or investigation of geographic variation in the radiation treatment of breast cancer. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society. This study found that the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program, among the largest Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries, coded that radiation was not received in nearly a third of cases in which breast cancer patients themselves reported radiation receipt, whereas ascertainment of radiation receipt was much more complete in another large SEER registry, that of the Metropolitan Detroit Cancer Surveillance System. SEER registry data as currently collected may not be an appropriate source for documentation of rates of radiotherapy receipt or geographic disparities.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90319/1/26295_ftp.pd

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Data for Monitoring Cancer Trends

Background: Monitoring cancer trends allows evaluation of the effectiveness of cancer screening or detection methods and determination of priorities in cancer control programs. Government officials and policy makers also use information on cancer trends to allocate resources for cancer research and prevention. Although data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End results (SEER)-affiliated cancer registry are accessible to the public, there is a shortage of published research describing cancer incidence rates for White, Black, and other residents in Georgia. The objective of this research is to provide an overview of how to use SEER data through analysis of the incidence rate for cervical cancer. Methods: Cervical cancer cases (ICD-O-3/WHO 2008 =’Cervix Uteri’, corresponding to C530-C539) were obtained from the SEER18 database. It includes the largest geographic coverage compared to SEER 9 and SEER 13 data. The incidence and incidence rates for cervical cancer were obtained, stratified by year (2000-2012), sex, race/ethnic groups, and region (Georgia and US). Age-adjusted incidence and incidence rates (to the 2000 US standard population) were calculated using SEER*Stat software, which is available, free of charge, on the SEER Web site: http://seer.cancer.gov. Results: Age-adjusted incidences and incidence rates in Georgia and the US from SEER 18 data were created by SEER*Stat. The incidence rates were stratified by age variable (5-year category), sex, race/ethnicity, and other socio-demographic variables. Annual percent changes (APC) and 95% CI were also obtained to characterize trends in cancer rates over time. The trends for age-adjusted incidence rates for regions (Georgia and the US) and race (white, black, others) were compared using APC. Furthermore, age-specific incidence and incidence rates for cervical cancer for Georgia and US for recent five years (2008-2012) were reported. Conclusions: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End results (SEER) program provides cancer researchers a convenient and intuitive system for viewing individual cancer records and producing statistics useful in studying the impact of cancer on a population

Childhood Cancer Among Arab Americans in Southeast Michigan

Cancer is relatively rare among children, yet it remains an important public concern. Childhood cancer ranks second as a cause of death after accidents. Population-based data such as Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute create an opportunity to study the effect of ethnic background on the incidence and mortality of cancer. Studies on migrants have been widely used to infer the relative importance of environmental factors versus inherited factors and have proved valuable in developing population-specific interventions. Unfortunately, information on cancer occurrence among Arab Americans is lacking because of incomplete reporting of nationality and place of birth in the SEER registry

Data-Based Risk Assessment of Cancer Diseases for Life Insurance

Using US cancer registry data of SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program), data based analyses of prevalence, incidence, and survival rates are able for the medical risk assessment in life insurance. Statistical analyses of cancer patients and base population were performed using SEER*Stat from the US National Cancer Institute. The system provides multivariate restrictions of patient groups and subdivisions of outcomes. The lecture focuses on survival time analyses and additional calculations for the outcome of extra mortality rates of cancer patients in relation to base population. Based on these extra mortality rates, principles of underwriting decisions in life insurance will be presented

J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr

Follow-up procedures vary among cancer registries in North America. US registries are funded by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and/or the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). SEER registries ascertain vital status and date of last contact to meet follow-up standards. NPCR and Canadian registries primarily conduct linkages with local and national death records to ascertain deaths. Data on patients diagnosed between 2002 through 2006 and followed through 2007 were obtained from 51 registries. Registries that met follow-up standards or, at a minimum, conducted linkages with local and national death records had comparable age-standardized five-year survival estimates (all sites and races combined): 63.9% SEER, 63.1% NPCR, and 62.6% Canada. Estimates varied by cancer site. Survival data from registries using different follow-up procedures are comparable if death ascertainment is complete and all nondeceased patients are presumed to be alive to the end of the study period.20142015-11-01T00:00:00ZCC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States25417233PMC4559228741

Underuse and Potential Detrimental Effect of Radiotherapy in the Management of Ureteral Cancer

Ureteral cancer is extremely rare, with only 3530 cases predicted in 2016. Therefore, published studies on ureteral cancers are limited to single-institution retrospective studies, which have not elucidated a clear recommendation on the best treatment modality. Large cancer databases such as the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER) are ideal for providing data for these rare cancers. Epidemiological studies using the SEER database with large sample sizes (13,800) found rising incidence of ureteral cancer over the past 30 years with worsened outcomes in older patients, males, and patients with regional/distant spread. However, to date, these studies have not used the available data in the SEER databases to stratify survival outcomes based on different treatment modalities. The purpose of this study is to assess the overall survival (OSS), cause-specific survival (CSS) and effect of intervention (surgery and postoperative radiotherapy) in patients with ureteral carcinoma. Method

Trends in Cancer Incidence Rates in Georgia, 1982-2011

Background: Although data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End results (SEER)-affiliated cancer registry are accessible to the public, there is a shortage of published research describing cancer incidences for White, Black, and other residents in Georgia. The objective of this research is to provide an overview of the trends in incidence of cancer in Georgia. Methods: Incidence data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 9 program, supported by the National Cancer Institute, spanning the years 1982 to 2011. To assess trends over time, age-adjusted cancer incidence rates relative to the 2000 Standard US population and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated using SEER*Stat software. Results: In Georgia, cancer incidence rates for women increased from 365.1 per 100,000 in 1982 to 404.2 per 100,000 in 2011, with an overall APC of 0.3% (95% confidence interval: 0.2 to 0.4), but, for men, cancer incidence rates showed a slight decline from 528.0 per 100,000 in 1982 to 513.7 per 100,000 in 2011 (APC of 0.2%, 95% CI: -0.6 to 0.1). For Black, White, and Other (Asian/Pacific Islanders/American Indians) females, there were increases in incidence in this period, with APC values of 0.6, 0.4, and 0.3, respectively. For all males and for Black and White males, there were overall decreases in incidence, with APC values of -0.2. For Other males, however, the APC value was -0.9. Conclusions: In Georgia, increases in cancer incidence rates occurred during 1982-2011 among the female population and within various racial groups in this population, but there was relative stability in incidence rates among the male population, except for Other males

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 and estrogen receptor expression, a demonstration project using the residual tissue respository of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program

In 2001, the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program established Residual Tissue Repositories (RTR) in the Hawaii, Iowa, and Los Angeles Tumor Registries to collect discarded tissue blocks from pathologic laboratories within their catchment areas. To validate the utility of the RTR for supplementing SEER’s central database, we assessed human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) and estrogen receptor expression (ER) in a demonstration project