Introduction

National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-designated cancer centers (CCs) offer patients state-of-the-art treatment. We sought to identify whether proximity to NCI/NCCN CCs was associated with survival outcomes for prostate cancer patients who undergo radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods

A total of 12,478 total patients diagnosed with clinical stage T1 or T2 prostate cancer between 2004–2011 using linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data were included. Multivariable regression analyses were used to quantify overall survival and use of secondary therapies for RP patients according to proximity to NCI/NCCN CCs. Cox proportional hazards models were used to quantify the association between survival outcomes and access to NCI/NCCN CCs

Results

Patients with proximity to ?2 NCI centers and those diagnosed in 2011 enjoyed a statistically significant overall survival advantage when compared to no access to an NCI center (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57–0.92, p<0.01). Proximity to an NCCN CC, when compared with men who did not have access, was associated with improved overall survival (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.61–0.95, p=0.015). There was no significant difference in use of secondary therapies according to NCI or NCCN access.

Conclusions

Patients who undergo RP with access to an NCI/NCCN CCs experienced improved overall survival with no significant difference in utilization of secondary therapies. Given the need for improved health quality measures in cancer care, these findings may support health policy implementation and regionalization of care to these centers._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_

Funding

none