East Montgomery Times

Starting treatment for rectal cancer within 60 days of initial evaluation significantly enhances survival rates, according to a recent study by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center and Temple Health. This finding is critical as the complexity of rectal cancer treatment increases, often requiring coordination among multiple specialists.

James Sun, MD, at Fox Chase and first author of the study, stated, "Our research affirms that timely treatment has real implications for patient survival." He emphasized the importance of adhering to the standard set by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), which recommends starting treatment within 60 days of diagnosis.

The research team, led by Sun and including colleagues from Fox Chase and Temple Health, analyzed data from over 117,000 patients in the National Cancer Database who were treated for stage I–III rectal cancer between 2004 and 2020. Their analysis revealed that patients treated within two months of diagnosis had notably better survival rates.

Disparities in timely treatment were also identified. Patients with higher incomes were more likely to receive prompt care compared to Black, Asian, Hispanic patients or those with Medicaid or no insurance who faced delays. "There’s a wide variation in care quality depending on where people live and what resources are available to them," Sun remarked. He noted that while Fox Chase offers all services on one campus, this convenience is not universal across America.

The researchers highlighted the role of programs like NAPRC in standardizing care to address these disparities. Established in 2017, NAPRC aims to improve consistency and outcomes for rectal cancer patients. Timely initiation of treatment is a key standard under NAPRC guidelines.

"As more institutions work toward NAPRC certification," Sun said, "we hope to see these disparities decrease and survival rates improve across all patient populations." While it will take years to gather comparative data fully, Sun expressed optimism about future improvements based on current findings.

The study titled “Effect of Rectal Cancer Treatment Timing Standardization on Patient Outcomes” was published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology.