Associations between small intestine cancer and other primary cancers: an international population-based study

Long-term survival outcomes of duodenal adenocarcinoma: A cohort study with 15-year single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Duodenal adenocarcinoma (DA), a rare gastrointestinal malignancy, lacks clear natural history and management strategies. This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of patients with DA, focusing on long-term survival and the impact of tumor characteristics, surgery, and adjuvant therapy.

AIM

To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted a hospital-based cohort study in our 15-year experience with DA aimed at investigating the long-term outcomes of the patients with DA, along with analyzing the impact of the tumor characteristics, operations and adjuvant therapy on survival outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 208 patients diagnosed with non-ampullary DA at a single institution between 2009 and 2023 was performed. This study used SPSS 26.0 software to make a comprehensive statistical analysis of demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes. The effectiveness of surgical resection and adjuvant therapy in 5-year oval survival (OS) and disease-free survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, the Cox proportional hazards model, and statistical comparisons of survival distributions.

RESULTS

The median OS time for the cohort was 39 months, with 3- and 5-year OS rates of 51.2% and 43.6%, respectively. Radical resection was performed in 82.6% of cases, and was significantly associated with an improved 5-year OS, with a rate of 57.8%. Adjuvant therapy showed a survival benefit in the specific patient subsets, particularly in tumor stage II or III tumors, with an improved OS. Adjuvant therapy (hazard ratio= 2.71, 95% confidence interval: 1.30-5.62, P = 0.008), pancreatic invasion and advanced tumor stage were identified as significant predictors of OS in multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

Radical operation for DA is associated with a remarkable improvement in the 5-year OS. Importantly, postoperative adjuvant therapy can significantly prolong the OS time in patients with radical operation, especially in patients with stage III. It highlights the necessity for early diagnosis, tailored surgical approaches, and a nuanced understanding of the role of adjuvant therapy.

High incidence of lung cancer death after curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Following treatment of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), surveillance for a second primary malignancy (SPM) is necessary. However, detailed evidence regarding the timing and prognosis of SPMs is insufficient. We aimed to clarify the details of SPMs and their effects on patient outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective, multicenter study involved 11 hospitals. Patients with superficial ESCC curatively resected using endoscopic submucosal dissection between May 2005 and December 2012, were included in this study.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rate of 187 patients was 92.6% during a median follow-up duration of 96.8 months. Thirty-one patients died, 14 of whom died of SPMs. Compared to patients with SPMs detectable by esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), patients with SPMs detectable only by modalities other than EGD had a significantly higher mortality rate (p < 0.001). Patients with second primary lung cancer (LC) had a high mortality rate (56.3%). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that multiple Lugol-voiding lesions (LVLs) tended to be associated with SPMs (p = 0.077, hazard ratio [HR] 4.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-6.50), and metachronous ESCC was an independent risk factor for the incidence of second primary LC (p = 0.037, HR 3.51, 95% CI: 1.08-11.41).

CONCLUSIONS

SPMs that cannot be detected by EGD, such as LC, must be considered after the curative resection of ESCC. We suggest strict screening by both EGD and computed tomography for patients with multiple LVLs or metachronous ESCC to detect SPMs in their early stages.

Risk factors for small intestinal adenocarcinomas that are common in the proximal small intestine

The frequency of primary small intestinal adenocarcinoma is increasing but is still low. Its frequency is approximately 3% of that of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Considering that the small intestine occupies 90% of the surface area of the gastrointestinal tract, small intestinal adenocarcinoma is very rare. The main site of small intestinal adenocarcinoma is the proximal small intestine. Based on this characteristic, dietary animal proteins/lipids and bile concentrations are implicated and reported to be involved in carcinogenesis. Since most nutrients are absorbed in the proximal small intestine, the effect of absorbable intestinal content is a suitable explanation for why small intestinal adenocarcinoma is more common in the proximal small intestine. The proportion of aerobic bacteria is high in the proximal small intestine, but the absolute number of bacteria is low. In addition, the length and density of villi are greater in the proximal small intestine. However, the involvement of villi is considered to be low because the number of small intestinal adenocarcinomas is much smaller than that of colorectal adenocarcinomas. On the other hand, the reason for the low incidence of small intestinal adenocarcinoma in the distal small intestine may be that immune organs reside there. Genetic and disease factors increase the likelihood of small intestinal adenocarcinoma. In carcinogenesis experiments in which the positions of the small and large intestines were exchanged, tumors still occurred in the large intestinal mucosa more often. In other words, the influence of the intestinal contents is small, and there is a large difference in epithelial properties between the small intestine and the large intestine. In conclusion, small intestinal adenocarcinoma is rare compared to large intestinal adenocarcinoma due to the nature of the epithelium. It is reasonable to assume that diet is a trigger for small intestinal adenocarcinoma.

Correlation between clinical symptoms and pathological types in 197 cases of primary small intestinal tumors

AIM

To improve the primary and preoperative diagnosis of different pathological types of primary small intestinal tumors.

METHODS

The clinical and pathological data of 197 cases of primary intestinal tumors confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2011 to February 2017.

RESULTS

The most common clinical symptoms of different types of primary small bowel tumors were different. Abdominal mass was the most common symptom of high risk stromal tumors (38/63). Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common symptom of low/middle risk stromal tumors (35/60). Abdominal pain was the most common symptom of malignant lymphomas (25/32) and polyps (6/6), and abdominal distension (3/5) was the most common symptom of adenocarcinoma patients. The primary diagnosis rate of primary small bowel tumors was 11.2% (22/197), of which 90.91% (20/22) were confirmed by CT examination.

CONCLUSION

The most common symptoms of different pathological types of primary small intestine tumor are different. Combining the imaging features of different pathological types of tumor and selecting the way of examination reasonably can improve the primary and preoperative diagnosis of tumor pathology, help choose the treatment plan reasonably, and improve the survival of the patients.

Incidence of, phenotypes of and survival from small bowel cancer in Denmark, 1994-2010: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Small bowel cancer (SBC) is a rare and highly heterogeneous disease in respect to both anatomical distribution and histological morphology. We aimed to conduct a Danish nationwide population-based cohort study of the incidence of, phenotypes of, stage of, synchronous/metachronous cancer occurrence of and survival from SBC during 1994-2010.

METHODS

The study population included all individuals aged 16 years or older living in Denmark during 1994-2010 (n = 7,070,142). Patients with SBC were identified through the Danish Cancer Registry. Incidence rates were calculated overall and according to the anatomical origin and morphological subtype. Patients were followed up from the date of cancer diagnosis to the date of emigration, death or the end of the study (31 December 2010).

RESULTS

SBC was diagnosed in 1088 patients during 1994-2010. The total annual incidence of SBC was 1.10 per 100,000 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.17 per 100,000], with an annual percentage change of 1.9 % (95 % CI 0.6-3.1 %, p = 0.003) during the observation period. This increase was mainly explained by an increase in the occurrence of duodenal adenocarcinomas, with an annual percentage change of 7.5 % (95 % CI 4.9-10.2 %, p < 0.001). Further, 29 % of all SBC patients had metastatic cancer at the time of diagnosis and 32 % had one or more synchronous/metachronous cancers. All morphological subtypes were associated with poor 5-year prognoses, in particular duodenal adenocarcinomas, with a 5-year survival rate of only 16 % (95 % CI 12-22 %).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of SBC has increased in recent decades, mainly because of a large increase in the incidence of duodenal adenocarcinomas, which are also associated with the poorest prognosis.

Telomeres and telomere dynamics: relevance to cancers of the GI tract

Aberrations in telomere length and telomere maintenance contribute to cancer development. In this article, we review the basic principles of telomere length in normal and tumor tissue and the presence of the two main telomere maintenance pathways as they pertain to gastrointestinal tract cancer. Peripheral blood telomeres are shorter in patients with many types of gastrointestinal tract cancers. Telomere length in tumor DNA also appears to shorten early in cancer development. Tumor telomere shortening is often accompanied by telomerase activation to protect genetically damaged DNA from normal cell senescence or apoptosis, allowing immortalized but damaged DNA to persist. Alternative lengthening of telomeres is another mechanism used by cancer to maintain telomere length in cancer cells. Telomerase and alternative lengthening of telomeres activators and inhibitors may become important chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents as our understanding of telomere biology, specific telomere-related phenotypes and its relationship to carcinogenesis increases.

A large prospective study of risk factors for adenocarcinomas and malignant carcinoid tumors of the small intestine

PURPOSE

Small intestinal cancer is increasing in the U.S.A, yet little is known about its etiology. Our aim was to prospectively evaluate risk factors for this malignancy by the two main histologic subtypes (adenocarcinomas and carcinoids).

METHODS

Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for all incident small intestinal cancers (n = 237), adenocarcinomas (n = 84), and malignant carcinoids (n = 124), by demographic and lifestyle factors among 498,376 men and women.

RESULTS

Age was the only risk factor for adenocarcinomas (HR for ≥ 65 vs. 50-55 years = 3.12, 95% CI 1.33, 7.31). Age (HR for ≥ 65 vs. 50-55 years = 3.31, 95% CI 1.51, 7.28), male sex (HR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.01, 2.05), body mass index (BMI, HR for ≥ 35 vs. 18.5-< 25 kg/m2 = 1.95, 95% CI 1.06, 3.58), and current menopausal hormone therapy use (HR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.07, 3.50) were positively associated with malignant carcinoids. A family history of any cancer or colorectal cancer (HR = 1.42, 95% CI 0.99, 2.03; 1.61, 0.97, 2.65, respectively), or a personal history of colorectal polyps (HR = 1.51, 95% CI 0.92, 2.46) produced elevated, but not statistically significant, risks for malignant carcinoids. Race, education, diabetes, smoking, physical activity, and alcohol intake were not associated with either histologic subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors differed according to cancer subtype; only age was associated with adenocarcinomas, whereas age, male sex, BMI, and menopausal hormone therapy use were positively associated with malignant carcinoids.

Familial risk of small intestinal carcinoid and adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Small intestinal cancer (SIC) is rare, and its etiology is poorly understood. We compared clusters of families with SICs of different histologic subtypes.

METHODS

By using the nationwide family cancer data sets of Sweden and Finland, we identified a cohort of 9964 first-degree relatives of 1799 patients with SIC, diagnosed from 1961 through 2009. Data were collected from time periods as long as 47 years (mean, 35.4 y), and cancer incidence was determined. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated and stratified by sex, age, time period, and cancer type, using the incidence rates for the entire national population as the reference.

RESULTS

Among the 1799 SIC cases, 1.1% had a sibling with SIC, so the SIR was 11.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.2-18.2); 1.1% had a parent or child with SIC (SIR, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.0-5.6). The SIR of concordant carcinoid histology of SIC among siblings was 28.4 (95% CI, 14.7-49.6; n = 12) and in parent-child pairs was 9.9 (95% CI, 5.4-16.6; n = 14). The familial risk of concordant histologic subtypes increased for siblings diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, but only 2 familial cases were identified. In family members of patients with SIC of the adenocarcinoma subtype, risks of colorectal and bladder cancer were modestly but significantly increased compared with the general population. Family members of patients with SIC of the carcinoid subtype had an increased risk for kidney cancer and polycythemia vera.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on data from our population-based study, first-degree relatives of patients with small intestinal carcinoid tumors have developed these tumors with high incidence. Because of the rareness of this tumor, the absolute risk remains moderate even within families. Gastroenterologists could inform patients with small intestinal carcinoids about the familial risk and encourage counseling for their first-degree relatives. Studies are needed to identify genetic factors that affect susceptibility to SIC.

Recurrence of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ileum diagnosed by elevation of serum SCC: report of a case

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the intestine is extremely rare. This report describes a patient with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the small intestine. A 72-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital because of a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. She underwent laparotomy owing to the diagnosis of mechanical intestinal obstruction due to a pelvic mass after conservative treatment. The affected ileum was resected, and histopathological examination revealed proliferation of differentiated squamous cell carcinoma at the submucosal area with no adenocarcinoma component. At the 4th month after the operation, the level of serum squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen was elevated. At 6 months after the operation, the serum SCC value was further elevated, and enhanced CT revealed two new pelvic tumors with enhancement at the mesentery and free space. A second laparotomy was performed 8 months after the operation. Histopathological examination showed differentiated squamous cell carcinoma as in the first operation. The level of serum SCC decreased at the 28th postoperative day. Chemotherapy including carboplatin and paclitaxel was performed as an adjuvant regimen. The patient has experienced no recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma for 55 months.

A population-based comparison of adenocarcinoma of the large and small intestine: insights into a rare disease

BACKGROUND

Because of its rarity, adenocarcinoma of the small intestine is frequently compared to adenocarcinoma of the colon, although the validity of this comparison is not known.

METHODS

Patients with small and large bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA and LBA) diagnosed between 1988 and 2007 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were determined. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) stratified by stage and by number of assessed lymph nodes was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 4518 and 261,521 patients with SBA and LBA, respectively, were identified. In comparison to LBA, patients with SBA were younger and presented with disease of higher stage and histologic grade. The age-standardized incidence rates decreased for LBA (-1.24% per year) but increased for SBA (+1.47% per year). Although age-standardized mortality rates decreased for both LBA and SBA, the decreases were more pronounced for LBA. Five-year CSS was worse for resected SBA compared with resected LBA, although this difference diminished when comparing cases having eight or more lymph nodes assessed. The relative reduction in CSS when selecting eight or more lymph nodes was much greater for duodenal as opposed to jejunal/ileal subsite of the small bowel. With nodal selection the absolute difference in CSS between LBA and SBA for stages I, II, and III was 13, 15.9, and 18.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Adequate nodal assessment is much less common in SBA than LBA; and it appears that SBA, in particular duodenal adenocarcinoma, is understaged. Even after corrections to minimize the effect of stage migration and inadequate lymph node evaluation, SBA demonstrated distinctly worse CSS than LBA.

Second malignancies among elderly survivors of cancer

The U.S. population is aging, life expectancy is increasing, and cancer is a disease associated with aging. Advances in screening and therapeutics have led to a growing number of cancer survivors who are at risk for the development of secondary malignancies. Although the risks for the development of second malignancies following a first diagnosis of cancer are well described for survivors of childhood malignancies, there are fewer data for malignancies common in older adults. With the aging of the U.S. population, and with improving survival statistics in many adult malignancies, there is an increasing need to identify those second malignancies that might develop in the older adult survivor of cancer. In this paper, we describe the types and rates of second malignancies following cancers commonly seen in older adults and review the literature on these malignancies. Comparisons are made between older and younger adults with regard to the risks for developing treatment-related cancers with different modalities. Recommendations for early detection of second malignancies are summarized, though there remains an unmet need for evidence-based guidelines for screening for second malignancies in the older adult in particular.

Successful one stage operation for a synchronous, duodenal carcinoma, colonic carcinoma and renal oncocytoma in an adult patient

We report a rare case of synchronous duodenal carcinoma, colonic carcinoma and renal oncocytoma successfully treated using a one-stage surgical approach. Potential risk factors for multiple primary malignancies associated with duodenal carcinoma are discussed. This case illustrates several practice points for consideration: 1. Patients presenting with small intestinal carcinomas have a higher than average chance of developing second primary tumors in other organs; this should be taken into consideration during staging and follow-up. 2. For full staging of patients presenting with small bowel tumors, upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy and PET scanning should be considered. 3. A one-stage surgical procedure can be used safely and successfully for multiple synchronous primary tumors.

Epidemiology of cancer of the small intestine

Cancer of the small intestine is very uncommon. There are 4 main histological subtypes: adenocarcinomas, carcinoid tumors, lymphoma and sarcoma. The incidence of small intestine cancer has increased over the past several decades with a four-fold increase for carcinoid tumors, less dramatic rises for adenocarcinoma and lymphoma and stable sarcoma rates. Very little is known about its etiology. An increased risk has been noted for individuals with Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, adenoma, familial adenomatous polyposis and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Several behavioral risk factors including consumption of red or smoked meat, saturated fat, obesity and smoking have been suggested. The prognosis for carcinomas of the small intestine cancer is poor (5 years relative survival < 30%), better for lymphomas and sarcomas, and best for carcinoid tumors. There has been no significant change in long-term survival rates for any of the 4 histological subtypes. Currently, with the possible exceptions of obesity and cigarette smoking, there are no established modifiable risk factors which might provide the foundation for a prevention program aimed at reducing the incidence and mortality of cancers of the small intestine. More research with better quality and sufficient statistical power is needed to get better understanding of the etiology and biology of this cancer. In addition, more studies should be done to assess not only exposures of interest, but also host susceptibility.

Risks of second primary cancer among patients with major histological types of lung cancers in both men and women

BACKGROUND

Patterns of second primary cancers (SPCs) following first primary lung cancers (FPLCs) may provide aetiological insights into FPLC.

METHODS

Cases of FPLCs in 13 cancer registries in Europe, Australia, Canada, and Singapore were followed up from the date of FPLC diagnosis to the date of SPC diagnosis, date of death, or end of follow-up. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated to estimate the magnitude of SPC development following squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), and adenocarcinoma (ADC).

RESULTS

Among SCC patients, male SIR=1.58 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.50-1.66) and female SIR=2.31 (1.94-2.72) for smoking-related SPC. Among SCLC patients, the respective ratios were 1.39 (1.20-1.60) and 2.28 (1.73-2.95), and among ADC patients, they were 1.73 (1.57-1.90) and 2.24 (1.91-2.61). We also observed associations between first primary lung ADC and second primary breast cancer in women (SIR=1.25, 95% CI=1.05-1.48) and prostate cancer (1.56, 1.39-1.79) in men.

CONCLUSION

The FPLC patients carried excess risks of smoking-related SPCs. An association between first primary lung ADC and second primary breast and ovarian cancer in women at younger age and prostate cancers in men may reflect an aetiological role of hormones in lung ADC.

Double primary adenocarcinomas of the jejunum and descending colon with lung metastases presenting rare immunohistochemical phenotypes: a case report

We report a male patient with double advanced tumors in the jejunum and descending colon and multiple lung tumors. The intestinal cancers were surgically resected. Immunoprofiling of the specimens revealed a rare phenotype: the jejunal cancer was positive for cytokeratin (CK) 7, partially positive for CK20, and Cdx-2-negative, whereas the colon cancer was CK7(+), CK20(-), and Cdx-2(-). Biopsied lung tumor was diagnosed as tubular adenocarcinoma, and CK7(+)/CK20(+)/Cdx-2(-). Together with clinical information, we deduced that the jejunal adenocarcinoma had presumably metastasized to the lung. Moreover, postoperative oxaliplatin, including chemotherapy, significantly reduced the lung metastases, suggesting that this regimen is a promising treatment option for advanced small bowel adenocarcinoma.

The epidemiology and pathogenesis of neoplasia in the small intestine

PURPOSE

The mucosa of the small intestine encompasses about 90% of the luminal surface area of the digestive system, but only 2% of the total annual gastrointestinal cancer incidence in the United States.

METHODS

The remarkable contrast in age-standardized cancer incidence between the small and large intestine has been reviewed with respect to the cell type patterns, demographic features, and molecular characteristics of neoplasms.

RESULTS

Particularly noteworthy is the predominance of adenocarcinoma in the colon, which exceeds 98% of the total incidence by cell type, in contrast to that of 30% to 40% in the small intestine, resulting in an age-standardized ratio of rates exceeding 50-fold. The prevalence of adenomas and carcinomas is most prominent in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. The positive correlation in global incidence rates of small and large intestinal neoplasms and the reciprocal increases in risk of second primary adenocarcinomas suggest that there are common environmental risk factors. The pathophysiology of Crohn inflammatory bowel disease and the elevated risk of adenocarcinoma demonstrate the significance of the impaired integrity of the mucosal barrier and of aberrant immune responses to luminal indigenous and potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

CONCLUSION

In advancing a putative mechanism for the contrasting mucosal susceptibilities of the small and large intestine, substantial differences are underscored in the diverse taxonomy, concentration and metabolic activity of anaerobic organisms, rate of intestinal transit, changing pH, and the enterohepatic recycling and metabolism of bile acids. Experimental and epidemiologic studies are cited that suggest that the changing microecology, particularly in the colon, is associated with enhanced metabolic activation of ingested and endogenously formed procarcinogenic substrates.

Can we reduce the incidence of second primary malignancies occurring after radiotherapy? A critical review

Second primary malignancies (SPMs) occurring after oncological treatment have become a major concern during the past decade. Their incidence has long been underestimated because most patients had a short life expectancy after treatment or their follow-up was shorter than 15 years. With major improvement of long-term survival, longer follow-up, cancer registries and end-result programs, it was found that the cumulative incidence of SPM could be as high as 20% of patients treated by radiotherapy. This cumulative proportion varies with several factors, which ought to be studied more accurately. The delay between irradiation and solid tumor emergence is seldom shorter than 10 years and can be as long as half a century. Thus, inclusion in a cohort of patients with a short follow-up leads to an underestimation of the proportion of SPM caused by treatment, unless actuarial cumulative incidence is computed. The incidence varies with the tissue and organs, the age of the patient at treatment, hereditary factors, but also, and probably mainly, with dose distribution, size of the irradiated volume, dose, and dose-rate. An effort toward a reduction in their incidence is mandatory. Preliminary data suggest that SPMs are mainly observed in tissues having absorbed doses above 2 Gy (fractionated irradiation) and that their incidence increases with the dose. However, in children thyroid and breast cancers are observed following doses as low as 100 mGy, and in adults lung cancers have been reported for doses of 500 mGy, possibly due to interaction with tobacco. The dose distribution and the dose per fraction have a major impact. However, the preliminary data regarding these factors need confirmation. Dose-rates appear to be another important factor. Some data suggest that certain patients, who could be identified, have a high susceptibility to radiocancer induction. Efforts should be made to base SPM reduction on solid data and not on speculation or models built on debatable hypotheses regarding the dose-carcinogenic effect relationship. In parallel, radiation therapy philosophy must evolve, and the aim of treatment should be to deliver the minimal effective radiation therapy rather than the maximal tolerable dose.

Small bowel obstruction secondary to gastric adenocarcinoma

A 77-year-old man presented with small bowel obstruction secondary to a solitary metastasis 7 years following resection of gastric carcinoma. At laparotomy, there was no evidence of local recurrence of gastric carcinoma and the liver was also noted to be grossly normal. Further exploration revealed the presence of a small bowel tumour in the ileum causing obstruction. A small bowel resection with side-to-side anastomosis was performed. On microscopy, the appearance of the resected small bowel tumour was consistent with a metastasis from the previously resected gastric carcinoma. The patient made an uneventful recovery following surgery and was later referred for further oncology management.

A prospective study of meat and fat intake in relation to small intestinal cancer

Diets high in red and processed meats are associated with carcinogenesis of the large intestine, but no prospective study has examined meat and fat intake in relation to cancer of the small intestine. We prospectively investigated meat and fat intakes, estimated from a food frequency questionnaire, in relation to small intestinal cancer among half a million men and women enrolled in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). During up to 8 years of follow-up, 60 adenocarcinomas and 80 carcinoid tumors of the small intestine were diagnosed. Despite slightly elevated HRs for red meat, there were no clear associations for red or processed meat intake and either adenocarcinoma or carcinoid tumors of the small intestine. In contrast, we noted a markedly elevated risk for carcinoid tumors of the small intestine with saturated fat intake in both the categorical (highest versus lowest tertile: HR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.62-6.25) and continuous data (HR, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.79-7.74 for each 10-g increase in intake per 1,000 kcal). Our findings suggest that the positive associations for meat intake reported in previous case-control studies may partly be explained by saturated fat intake.

Risk of second primary cancer among esophageal cancer patients: a pooled analysis of 13 cancer registries

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to assess the risk of second primary cancers following a first primary esophageal cancer as well as the risk of esophageal cancer as a second primary, following first primary cancers of other sites.

METHODS

The present investigation is a multicenter study of 13 population-based cancer registries in Europe, Australia, Canada, and Singapore. To assess excess occurrence of second cancers after esophageal cancers, we calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIR) by dividing the observed numbers of second cancers by the expected number of cancers calculated from the accumulated person-years and the age-, sex-, calendar period-, and registry-specific first primary cancer incidence rates.

RESULTS

During the study period, 959 cases of second primary cancers occurred after an initial esophageal cancer, resulting in a SIR of 1.15 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.22). Second primary stomach cancers were associated with first primary esophageal adenocarcinomas (SIR, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-3.37) and second primary cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx (6.68; 5.33-8.26), stomach (1.53; 1.14-2.01), larynx (3.24; 1.88-5.18), lung (1.55; 1.28-1.87), kidney (1.88; 1.18-2.85), and thyroid (2.92; 1.18-6.02) were associated with first primary squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus. An excess of esophageal cancer as a second primary were observed following first primary cancers of the aerodigestive tract, female breast, cervix, testis, bladder, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

CONCLUSION

We observed associations of esophageal cancer with second primary head and neck cancers and lung cancer regardless of years of follow-up, which may suggest that common risk factors play a role in multiple tumor development.

Risk of second primary cancer among patients with head and neck cancers: A pooled analysis of 13 cancer registries

The objective of the study was to assess the risk of second primary cancers (SPCs) following a primary head and neck cancer (oral cavity, pharynx and larynx) and the risk of head and neck cancer as a SPC. The present investigation is a multicenter study from 13 population-based cancer registries. The study population involved 99,257 patients with a first primary head and neck cancer and contributed 489,855 person-years of follow-up. To assess the excess risk of SPCs following head and neck cancers, we calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) by dividing the observed numbers of SPCs by the expected number of cancers calculated from accumulated person-years and the age-, sex- and calendar period-specific first primary cancer incidence rates in each of the cancer registries. During the observation period, there were 10,826 cases of SPCs after head and neck cancer. For all cancer sites combined, the SIR of SPCs was 1.86 (95% CI = 1.83-1.90) and the 20-year cumulative risk was 36%. Lung cancer contributed to the highest proportion of the SPCs with a 20-year cumulative risk of 13%. Excess second head and neck cancer risk was observed 10 years after diagnosis with lymphohaematopoietic cancers. The most common SPC following a first primary head and neck cancer was lung cancer. However, the highest excess of SPCs was in the head and neck region. These patterns were consistent with the notion that the pattern of cancer in survivors of head and neck cancer is dominated by the effect of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking.

Risk of second primary malignancies and causes of death in patients with adenocarcinoma and carcinoid of the small intestine

We studied risk of second malignancies and causes of death in 1829 cases of adenocarcinoma and 3055 cases of carcinoid tumours in the small bowel reported to the Swedish Cancer Registry from 1960 through to 2000. Data on causes of death were analysed as from 1966 whereas data on second tumours was available during the whole registry-period. Follow-up was available until 2001. Standard mortality ratio (SMR) and standard incidence ratio (SIR) were calculated. Female patients with adenocarcinoma had increased risk of acquiring cancer in the female genital organs (SIR 3.2; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.9-5.0) and breasts (SIR 2.7; 95% CI 1.1-5.4). Both sexes combined had increased risk of second tumours in the gastrointestinal tract (SIR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1-2.1) and skin (SIR 4.6; 95% CI 1.2-12). Men with carcinoid tumour had increased risk of prostate cancer (SIR 2.8; 95% CI 1.6-4.6). Increased risk was seen for both sexes with carcinoid for malignant melanoma (SIR 6.3; 95% CI 2.7-12), malignant skin tumours (SIR 3.6; 95% CI 1.7-6.7) and malignancies of endocrine organs (SIR 2.3 95% CI 1.3-3.8). Patients with adenocarcinoma had increased risk of dying from malignant diseases other than the primary cancer (SMR 9.5; 95% CI 8.6-10) and gastrointestinal disease (SMR 2.6 95% CI 1.6-4.2). The cohort with carcinoid had higher than expected risk of dying from malignant disease (SMR 4.3; 95% CI 4.0-4.6), gastrointestinal disease (SMR 2.8; 95% CI 2.1-3.6) and cardiovascular disease (SMR 1.1; 95% CI 1.0-1.3). The increased risk of second malignant tumours is an indication of common aetiology, or possibly, a general vulnerability to malignant disease for these patients. A detailed analysis of causes of death in a population-based cohort of small intestinal malignancies has not been presented before in the literature.

Chemotherapy in Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma: 10-year Experience of the British Columbia Cancer Agency

AIMS

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare, frequently lethal, malignancy. Little is known about the use and value of chemotherapy in patients with SBA. We assessed this issue in a consecutive cohort of patients from British Columbia, Canada.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive patients with SBA seen at the British Columbia Cancer Agency from January 1990 to September 2000 were identified. A retrospective systematic chart review was undertaken and a survival analysis conducted.

RESULTS

Forty-eight SBA were identified in 47 subjects. Chemotherapy was given to 21 of the 47 subjects (45%). Of 19 patients treated initially with curative intent, the median overall survival was 38.6 months. Five received adjuvant chemotherapy, with two subsequently recurring. Thirty-seven patients initially or eventually had advanced disease: 16 received 22 palliative intent fluoropyrimidine-based regimens. Only one partial response was seen in the first line (objective response rate 6%). The median overall survival for those who received palliative chemotherapy was 15.6 months compared with 7.7 months for those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy use is common in SBA. Our data and available published studies suggest that chemotherapy may provide benefit, but the optimal chemotherapy regimen and the degree of benefit remain to be defined. A sound approach to investigate the management of rare malignancies is desperately needed.

Second malignancies among survivors of germ-cell testicular cancer: a pooled analysis between 13 cancer registries

We investigated the risk of second malignancies among 29,511 survivors of germ-cell testicular cancer recorded in 13 cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated comparing the observed numbers of second malignancies with the expected numbers obtained from sex-, age-, period- and population-specific incidence rates. Seminomas and nonseminomas, the 2 main histological groups of testicular cancer, were analyzed separately. During a median follow-up period of 8.3 years (0-35 years), we observed 1,811 second tumors, with a corresponding SIR of 1.65 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57-1.73). Statistically significant increased risks were found for fifteen cancer types, including SIRs of 2.0 or higher for cancers of the stomach, gallbladder and bile ducts, pancreas, bladder, kidney, thyroid, and for soft-tissue sarcoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer and myeloid leukemia. The SIR for myeloid leukemia was 2.39 (95% CI: 1.41-3.77) after seminomas, and 6.77 (95% CI: 4.14-10.5) after nonseminomas. It increased to 37.9 (95% CI: 18.9-67.8; based on 11 observed cases of leukemia) among nonseminoma patients diagnosed since 1990. SIRs for most solid cancers increased with follow-up duration, whereas they did not change with year of testicular cancer diagnosis. Among subjects diagnosed before 1980, 20 year survivors of seminoma had a cumulative risk of solid cancer of 9.6% (95% CI: 8.7-10.5%) vs. 6.5% expected, whereas 20 years survivors of nonseminoma had a risk of 5.0% (95% CI: 4.2-6.0%) vs. 3.1% expected. In conclusion, survivors of testicular cancers have an increased risk of several second primaries, where the effect of the treatment seems to play a major role.

Second primary cancers in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a pooled analysis of 13 cancer registries

OBJECTIVE

To study the risk of second primary cancers in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients and the risk of NPC as second primary cancer.

METHODS

We used data from the cancer registries from Singapore and from 12 low-incidence areas, including a total of 8,947 first occurring NPC cases, and 167 second occurring cases. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) by comparing the second cancer incidence in NPC patients to the first primary cancer incidence in non-cancer population. We also calculated SIRs of second NPC after other primaries.

RESULTS

In Singapore, the risk of cancers of the lung (SIR=0.42), stomach (SIR=0.41), and colon (SIR=0.23) was significantly decreased after NPC, whereas that of cancer of the tongue (SIR=11.1) was significantly increased. In Australia, Canada, and Europe, the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (SIR=3.06), tongue cancer (SIR=5.29), brain cancer (SIR=3.89), myeloid leukemia (SIR=3.85), and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) (SIR=3.47) was significantly increased after NPC. Incidences of second occurring NPCs following various primary cancers were not significantly altered compared to the incidence of first occurring NPCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Immune suppression (NHL, NMSC), shared genetic factors (lung cancer, NHL, myeloid leukemia), and shared environmental risk factors (tongue and brain cancers) might explain the associations. Except for NHL, there was no evidence of association with other Epstein-Barr virus-related cancers.

Second primary malignancies in females with primary fallopian tube cancer

Primary fallopian tube cancer (PFTC) is a rare disease, and its aetiological factors are poorly understood. Studies on PFTC in the setting of 2nd primary malignant neoplasms can provide clues on aetiology and also define the possible side effects of different treatment modalities for PFTC. A cohort of 2,084 cases with first PFTC was extracted from the data from 13 cancer registries from Europe, Canada, Australia and Singapore and followed for second primary cancers within the period 1943-2000. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated and Poisson regression analyses were done to find out the RRs related to age at, period of and time since the PFTC diagnosis. There were 118 cancer cases observed after first PFTC (SIR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.6). Elevated SIRs were seen for colorectal cancer (1.7, 95%CI 1.0-2.6), for breast cancer (1.5, 95%CI 1.1-2.2), for bladder cancer (2.8, 95%CI 1.0-6.0), for lung cancer (1.8, 95% CI 0.9-3.2) and for nonlymphoid leukaemia (3.7, 95%CI 1.0-9.4). Significant risk increases were detected for colorectal cancer during the 2nd to 5th year after the first PFTC diagnosis, for breast cancer in follow-up 10+ and for nonlymphoid leukaemia during the 2nd to 10th year. The clustering of cancers of the lung and bladder in PFTC patients may suggest shared smoking aetiology. The excess of colorectal and breast cancers after PFTC may indicate a genetic aetiology.

Associations between ocular melanoma and other primary cancers: An international population-based study

Ocular melanoma is a rare neoplasm with a poorly understood etiology, especially concerning its link with ultraviolet-light exposure. Studying the risk of second primary cancers may help to formulate causal hypotheses. We used data from 13 cancer registries, including 10,396 first occurring ocular melanoma cases, and 404 second occurring cases. To compare the second cancer incidence in ocular melanoma patients to that in noncancer population, we calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of 32 types of cancer. We also calculated SIRs of second ocular melanoma after other primaries. Ocular melanoma patients had significantly increased risk of cutaneous melanoma (SIR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.77-3.14), multiple myeloma (SIR = 2.00, 1.29-2.95), and of liver (SIR = 3.89, 2.66-5.49), kidney (SIR = 1.70, 1.22-2.31), pancreas (SIR = 1.58, 1.16-2.11), prostate (SIR = 1.31, 1.11-1.54), and stomach (SIR = 1.33, 1.03-1.68) cancers. Risks of cutaneous melanoma were highly variable between registries and were mainly increased in females, in younger patients, in first years following diagnosis, and for patients diagnosed after 1980. The risk of ocular melanoma was significantly increased only after prostate cancer (SIR = 1.41, 1.08-1.82). Risk of cutaneous melanoma after ocular melanoma had epidemiological patterns, similar to cutaneous melanoma screening in the general population. The increased risk of cutaneous melanoma would be largely due to greater skin cancer surveillance in ocular melanoma patients, and not to common etiological factors. The high SIR found for liver cancer may be explained by misclassification bias. Common etiological factors may be involved in ocular and prostate cancers.