Structural and Socio-Spatial Determinants Influencing Care and Survival of Patients with a Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Results of the PANDAURA Cohort

Simple Summary Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, complicated to manage, and highly lethal due to its aggressivity. Optimizing its diagnosis and care pathways is a key challenge. This multicentric French cohort included 538 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 76 French centers. Among the most important results, the delays of care did not statistically influence survival in this cohort; high access to a general practitioner was associated with better chances to be resectable and survival was correlated with volume of pancreatic surgeries in healthcare centers. Background and aims: Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal and often diagnosed at an advanced stage. This cohort study analyzes the impact of care pathways, delays, and socio-spatial determinants on pancreatic cancer patients' diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Method: Patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma newly diagnosed at all stages between January and June 2016 in the AuRA French region were included. The influence on survival of delays of care, healthcare centers' expertise, and socio-spatial determinants was evaluated. Results: Here, 538 patients were included in 76 centers including 116 patients (21.8%) with resectable, 64 (12.0%) borderline-resectable, 147 (27.6%) locally-advanced tumors, and 205 (38.5%) with metastatic disease. A delay between first symptoms and CT scans did not statistically influence overall survival (OS). In resected patients, OS was significantly higher in centers with more than 20 surgeries (HR 20 surgeries/year p = 0.0081). Regarding socio-spatial determinants, patients living in municipalities with greater access to a general practitioner (HR = 1.673, p = 0.0153) or with a population density below 795.1 people/km(2) (HR = 1.881, p = 0.0057) were significantly more often resectable. Conclusion: This cohort study supports the pivotal role of general practitioner in cancer care and the importance of the centralization of pancreatic surgery to optimize pancreatic cancer patients' care and outcomes. However, delays of care did not impact patient survival.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the impact of care pathways, delays, and socio-spatial determinants on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. It found that general practitioners play a crucial role in cancer care, and centralization of pancreatic surgery is important for optimizing patient care and outcomes.