Survival analysis of patients treated at oncology practices with more aggressive end-of-life practice patterns

May 25, 2023

Summary

Despite a nationwide effort to reduce end-of-life (EOL) cancer treatment, recent studies indicate that many patients still receive systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) at the end of their lives, with a shift towards more targeted therapies. However, one criticism of this focus on deceased patients is that it fails to account for those who received treatment earlier in their disease and responded positively. 

To address this issue, this study aimed to investigate whether receiving treatment at oncologically aggressive (OA) practices (where there are higher rates of EOL SACT treatment) was associated with a survival benefit for patients with six common types of cancer. 

Why this matters

Continuing treatment beyond the point of benefit can result in adverse outcomes. By addressing the knowledge gap of whether oncology practice-level “aggressive” use of SACT at the EOL is associated with overall survival benefit among all patients with advanced solid tumors, we can help to develop more effective interventions to improve the quality of care. 

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