Comparison of Latino and Non-Latino Patients With Ewing Sarcoma

BackgroundEwing sarcoma (ES) is a malignancy of bone and soft tissue in children and adults. Previous registry-based studies indicate that Latino patients with ES have inferior outcomes compared to non-Latino patients, though an etiology for this difference could not be identified. To explore possible differences that might underlie this disparity, we conducted a retrospective study to compare clinical characteristics, tumor features, healthcare access, and treatment outcomes between Latino and non-Latino patients with ES. MethodsPrimary data for 218 ES patients treated at two academic medical centers between 1980 and 2010 were collected. Categorical data were compared using Fisher exact tests; Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used for continuous variables. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared using log-rank testing. ResultsLatino patients were diagnosed at a younger age (P=0.014). All other clinical and histological data were similar between groups, including radiologic and histologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Latino patients had lower socioeconomic status (P=0.001), were less likely to have insurance (P=0.001), and were more likely to present to the emergency room at onset of symptoms (P=0.031) rather than to primary care physicians. Five-year event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were similar between Latino and non-Latino patients (EFS: 60.5% vs. 50.9% P=0.37; OS: 77.6% vs. 68.6% P=0.54). ConclusionLatino patients with ES present at a younger age, and have evidence of impaired access to healthcare. Response to initial therapy appears similar between Latino and non-Latino patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:233-237. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.