Proportion of Early-Onset Gastric and Esophagus Cancers Has Changed Over Time With Disproportionate Impact on Black and Hispanic Patients

PURPOSE The proportion of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma is increasing. This study evaluated trends in early-onset gastric and esophageal cancers and compared socioeconomic and clinical characteristics between early-onset versus late-onset disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS We included all patients with gastric and esophageal cancer from 2004 to 2015 from the National Cancer Database. Patients were categorized by age, 50, 50-69, and >= 70 years. Differences in pathologic and socioeconomic factors between early-onset and late-onset cancers were assessed by using chisquare test. The effects of demographic and socioeconomic factors on overall survival (OS) were assessed using Cox models. RESULTS The proportion of patients with early-onset gastric cancer increased from 23.9% in 2004-2006 to 26.2% in 2013-2015, whereas the proportion of early-onset esophageal cancer decreased from 27.3% in 20042006 to 23.1% in 2013-2015. For both malignancies, the early-onset group was more likely to be Black or Hispanic and more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Black patients had the worst median OS in both malignancies. In gastric cancer, within the Black patient group, patients experienced worse OS if they had government insurance versus private insurance (hazard ratio 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.3; P value<.0001) or if they were in the lowest community median income category versus the highest category (hazard ratio 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.3; P value<.0001). CONCLUSION Early-onset gastric cancer is increasing, whereas early-onset esophageal cancer is declining. Earlyonset gastric cancer disproportionately affects non-White patients, particularly Hispanic patients. Black patients have worse outcomes compared with other races for both gastric and esophageal cancer.