Commission on Cancer Facility Type is Associated with Overall Survival in Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma in the United States

In the United States, “high-volume” centers for gastric cancer treat significantly fewer cases per year compared with centers in Asia. Factors associated with oncologic outcomes, aside from volume, are poorly understood. Patients with gastric adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2015 were analyzed in the NCDB cohort. Commission on Cancer facility types were classified as either Academic/Research Programs (ARP) or Non-Academic Programs (NAP). Factors associated with treatment at facility type were assessed by logistic regression. Overall survival was compared between facility types by Cox proportional hazard models. Thirty-nine percent of patients were treated at ARPs. In multivariable analysis, patients treated at ARPs were younger, healthier (Charlson–Deyo score), and had lower AJCC stage. Treatment at an ARP was associated with superior median OS compared with treatment at a NAP (17.3 months vs. 11.1 months, respectively, P < 0.001,) and in each stage of disease. Treatment of stages II and III patients at ARPs increased over time. Among patients with stages II and III disease, adherence to therapy guidelines was higher and postoperative mortality was lower at ARPs. Although patients at ARPs tend to have favorable characteristics, superior overall survival may also be due to better adherence to therapy guidelines and capacity to rescue after surgical complications.