Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have found that adolescents and young adults who have had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cancers have lower long-term survival compared to their cancer-free peers.. The study also showed that low long-term mortality outcomes persist up to three decades of survival..

The results, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers \u0026 Prevention, suggest there is a critical data surveillance gap that needs to be explored to better understand what influences long-term survival..

“We must think about the long-term life expectancy and quality of life of our patients. Treatment is not enough for our cancer survivors,” said Michael Roth, MD, assistant professor of pediatric patient care and director of the Pediatric Cancer Survival Clinic.. “Once these patients reach the survival stage of their journey, they may experience additional side effects as a result of intensive treatment, lack of access to quality medical care, and other problems that can negatively impact their health and overall survival.”.

AML and ALL are the two most common leukemias diagnosed in patients aged 15 to 39 years. The incidence of all cancers has increased by 30% over the past 50 years, although survival rates have also improved for all cancers affecting this age group.. However, cancer survivors tend to be at a higher risk of developing serious illness due to the treatment they receive..

To focus on survival-specific differences and learn about patient outcomes after they survived their initial diagnosis, the researchers analyzed data from cancer survivors who were at least five years post-treatment..

Roth and his team used data from the Program for Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) to study the long-term survival outcomes of 1938 AML patients and 2350 ALL survivors diagnosed between 1975 and 2011.. The demographic breakdown of ALL survivors was 6% Black, 7% Asian or Pacific Islander, 29% Hispanic, and 58% White, while AML survivors were 9% Black, 10% Asian or Pacific Islander, 22% Hispanic, and 59. Surveyed data included age, gender, and decade of diagnosis for each group of survivors.. The SEER data were then compared with data from the general US population..

Of the patients examined, the median age at diagnosis of ALL and AML survivors was 23 and 28 years, respectively.. The 10-year survival rate for AAS in the general population was about 10% higher than that for AML and ALL survivors.. Long-term survival has improved in recent decades.

“In previous decades, many more patients saw their disease return after a few years and they were not really cured of their original cancer.. We will likely see more progress over the next decade or two as the data continues to mature,” Roth said.. “Most of the improvements will come from new immunotherapies and targeted agents that are changing the standard of patient care.”.

Other key study data showed no difference in survival between male and female AML survivors, but male AML survivors lived only 61% longer than women.. In addition, other evidence suggests that men have twice the risk of heart disease, as well as other health problems that can exacerbate the problem..

Hispanics and blacks also had lower survival rates 10 years after diagnosis compared to other groups.. Overall, minorities were associated with higher disease risk, more intensive therapy, poorer short-term outcomes, and an increased risk of late side effects..

“Differences between male and female survival rates may be due to male survivors potentially having less medical follow-up than female survivors.; and minority groups may have less access to quality health care and ultimately less preventive care,” Roth said.. “Having access to more detailed socioeconomic data on survivors can also help provide a more accurate assessment of the outcomes that affect the data”.

Although leukemia is still the most common cause of death for this group at the five-year mark, mortality after 10 years is most likely due to secondary or late side effects, cardiovascular disease, or secondary cancer..

Roth also noted that most patients diagnosed with leukemia will have to undergo a stem cell transplant at some point, which can lead to the development of serious chronic diseases..

“National registry data used for this study gave us insight into some of the potential challenges patients may face throughout the survival period, but we need to take a closer look at their journey,” Roth said.. “Studying their socioeconomic status, comorbidities, access to quality health care, and other risk factors that may affect their survival is warranted”.

medical-heal. en.