An Ecologic Analysis of the Association of Regional Cancer Center Presence with Cancer Mortality for the Continuous United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Treatment at a cancer center improves outcomes for individual patients, but the impact of cancer centers on the regions they serve is unknown. This study examines the association between cancer center presence and cancer mortality within health service areas (HSA), which define US regional care markets.

Methods

Cancer centers and cancer mortality were mapped to HSAs using geospatial analysis. The association between cancer center presence and cancer mortality was analyzed using a multivariable spatial lag model, adjusting for the percent of incident cases presenting at late stage, social vulnerability, environmental burden, and rurality. Results are reported as deaths per 100,000 people with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Of 940 HSAs, 43% (n = 407) c

SUBMITTER: Duncan N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12665173 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature