Survival of patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases is affected by treatment disparities among hospitals of diagnosis: A nationwide population-based study

Towards Equal Access to Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Survival in Patients with Isolated Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Before 2016, patients with isolated synchronous colorectal peritoneal metastases (PMCRC) diagnosed in expert centers had a higher odds of undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) and better overall survival (OS) than those diagnosed in referring centers. Nationwide efforts were initiated to increase awareness and improve referral networks.

METHODS

This nationwide study aimed to evaluate whether the between-center differences in odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC and OS have reduced since these national efforts were initiated. All patients with isolated synchronous PMCRC diagnosed between 2009 and 2021 were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Associations between hospital of diagnosis and the odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC, as well as OS, were assessed using multilevel multivariable regression analyses for two periods (2009-2015 and 2016-2021).

RESULTS

In total, 3948 patients were included. The percentage of patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC increased from 17.2% in 2009-2015 (25.4% in expert centers, 16.5% in referring centers), to 23.4% in 2016-2021 (30.2% in expert centers, 22.6% in referring centers). In 2009-2015, compared with diagnosis in a referring center, diagnosis in a HIPEC center showed a higher odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC (odds ratio [OR] 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.67) and better survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80, 95% CI 0.66-0.96). In 2016-2021, there were no differences in the odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC between patients diagnosed in HIPEC centers versus referring centers (OR 1.27, 95% CI 0.76-2.13) and survival (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.76-1.32).

CONCLUSION

Previously observed differences in odds of undergoing CRS-HIPEC were no longer present. Increased awareness and the harmonization of treatment for PMCRC may have contributed to equal access to care and a similar chance of survival at a national level.

Adoption of cytoreductive surgery in the management of peritoneal malignancies-Global trends

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) has now been accepted as an integral component in the management of gastrointestinal and gynecological cancers with peritoneal metastases. Since the adoption of CRS is influenced by access to advanced medical facilities, trained multidisciplinary teams, and funding, there is wide variability in incorporation of CRS into routine clinical practice between high- versus low- and middle-income countries. This review highlights the global trends in the adoption of CRS for peritoneal malignancies with a specific focus on the establishment of CRS programs and barriers to incorporate CRS into routine clinical care in low- and middle-income countries.

Sex differences in metastatic surgery following diagnosis of synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer

The aim was to investigate gender differences in the likelihood to receive metastatic surgery, and to compare overall survival between men and women, among patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in a population-based setting. All Swedish adult patients diagnosed with synchronous mCRC in 2007-2016 were identified using the nationwide colorectal cancer database (CRCBaSe). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression, comparing the odds of receiving treatment. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival proportions and Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of all-cause mortality rates. All multivariable models were adjusted for age, ASA score, Charlson comorbidity index, year of diagnosis, location of primary tumor and single or multiple metastatic locations. A total of 12 201 patients met the study criteria. Women received 23% less metastatic surgery for mCRC (adjusted OR = 0.77, CI:0.69-0.86) and experienced a slightly higher mortality following diagnosis (adjusted HR = 1.09, CI:1.05-1.14). In analyses restricted to patients who received metastatic surgery, no significant differences in mortality were found. In conclusion, this population-based study showed that women less often received metastatic surgery of mCRC and experienced slightly higher all-cause mortality compared with men. The differences persisted despite adjustments of patient and cancer characteristics. Gender differences in receiving treatment are unacceptable if the underlying explanation cannot be motivated. Further studies are needed to understand if the differences are based on sex (i.e., biology) or gender (including clinically unmotivated differences in treatment approach).

Establishing a Multicenter Network for Patients With Thyroid Nodules and Cancer: Effects on Referral Patterns

OBJECTIVE

To perform a qualitative evaluation of the Thyroid Network, with a quantitative analysis of second opinion referrals for patients in the southwestern part of the Netherlands who have thyroid nodules and cancer.

METHODS

This prospective observational study registered all patients with thyroid nodules and cancer who were referred to the academic hospital from 2 years before and 4 years after the foundation of the Thyroid Network. We implemented biweekly regional multidisciplinary tumor boards using video conference and a regional patient care pathway for patients with thyroid nodules and cancer. For qualitative evaluation, interviews were conducted with a broad selection of stakeholders via maximum variation sampling. The primary outcome was the change in second opinions after the foundation of the Thyroid Network.

RESULTS

Second opinions from Thyroid Network hospitals to the academic hospital decreased from 10 (30%) to 2 (7%) two years after the start of the Thyroid Network (P = .001), while patient referrals remained stable (n = 108 to 106). Qualitative evaluation indicated that the uniform care pathway and the regional multidisciplinary tumor board were valued high.

DISCUSSION

Establishing a regional network, including multidisciplinary tumor boards and a care pathway for patients with thyroid nodules and cancer, resulted in a decrease in second opinions of in-network hospitals and high satisfaction of participating specialists.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The concept of the Thyroid Network could spread to other regions as well as to other specialties in health care. Future steps would be to assess the effect of regional collaboration on quality of care and patient satisfaction.

Peritoneal metastases in elderly patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

With the introduction of cytoreductive surgery with intraperitoneal chemotherapy and the development of new systemic anti-cancer agents, the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with peritoneal metastases has changed. Real-world data on the treatment of elderly patients and their clinical outcomes is lacking.

METHODS

All CRC patients diagnosed with synchronous peritoneal metastases (SPM) during 2008-2019 (n = 7,748) were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Trends in treatment and postoperative mortality were described by age category (<70, 70-74, 75-79, ≥80 years) and period of diagnosis (2008-2013, 2014-2019). Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed, and log-rank tests were performed to evaluate differences in overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

With increasing age, less patients received multimodality treatment and systemic treatment. Of the patients aged <70 years, 38% underwent multimodality treatment and 35% palliative systemic therapy, declining to 4% and 12% in patients ≥80 years. A large and increasing proportion of elderly patients did not receive cancer-directed treatment, this increased from 32% in 2008-2013 to 41% in 2014-2019 in 75-79 years old patients and from 52% to 65% in ≥80 years old. Postoperative mortality decreased in all age categories over time, OS remained stable. The median OS of elderly patients ranged from 8 months in 70-74 years old to 3 months in patients aged ≥80 years.

DISCUSSION

Age strongly affects treatment of patients with SPM, with a large and increasing proportion of elderly patients not receiving cancer-directed treatment. Their prognosis remains very poor. There is a need for therapeutic options that are well tolerable for elderly patients.

Hospital factors and metastatic surgery in colorectal cancer patients, a population-based cohort study

Background

Only a limited proportion of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) receives metastatic surgery (including local ablative therapy). The aim was to investigate whether hospital volume and hospital level were associated with the chance of metastatic surgery.

Methods

This national cohort retrieved from the CRCBaSe linkage included all Swedish adult patients diagnosed with synchronous mCRC in 2009–2016. The association between annual hospital volume of incident mCRC patients and the chance of metastatic surgery, and survival, were assessed using logistic regression and Cox regression models, respectively. Hospital level (university/non-university) was evaluated as a secondary exposure in a similar manner. Both uni- and multivariable (adjusted for sex, age, Charlson comorbidity index, year of diagnosis, cancer characteristics and socioeconomic factors) models were fitted.

Results

A total of 1,674 (17%) out of 9,968 mCRC patients had metastatic surgery. High hospital volume was not associated with increased odds of metastatic surgery after including hospital level in the model, whereas hospital level was (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 1.94 (1.68–2.24)). All-cause mortality was lower in university versus non-university hospitals (hazard ratio (95% CI): 0.83 (0.78–0.88)).

Conclusions

Patients with mCRC initially cared for by a university hospital experienced a greater chance to receive metastatic surgery and had superior overall survival. High hospital volume in itself was not associated with a greater chance to receive metastatic surgery nor a greater survival probability. Additional efforts should be imposed to provide more equal care for mCRC patients across Swedish hospitals.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-10005-8.

Treatment Strategies and Prognosis of Patients With Synchronous or Metachronous Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases: A Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare treatment strategies and survival of patients with synchronous colorectal peritoneal metastases (CPM) and patients with metachronous CPM in a nationwide cohort.

METHODS

All patients from the Netherlands Cancer Registry with synchronous or metachronous CPM whose primary colorectal cancer (CRC) was diagnosed between 1 January and 30 June 2015 were included in the study. Treatments were categorized as (A) cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy [CRS-HIPEC]; (B) palliative treatment; or (C) best supportive care. Overall survival (OS) for all the patients and disease-free survival (DFS) for those who underwent CRS-HIPEC were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Of 7233 patients, 743 had a diagnosis of CPM, including 409 patients with synchronous CPM and 334 patients with metachronous CPM. The median OS was 8.1 months for the patients with synchronous CPM versus 12 months for the patients with metachronous CPM (p = 0.003). After multivariable correction, OS no longer differed between the patients with synchronous CPM and those with metachronous CPM (HR 1.03 [0.83-1.27]). The patients with metachronous CPM more often underwent CRS-HIPEC than the patients with synchronous CPM (16 % vs 8 %; p = 0.001). The two groups did not differ statistically in terms of DFS and OS (median DFS, 21.5 vs 14.1 months, respectively; p = 0.094; median OS, 37.8 vs. 35.8 months, respectively; p = 0.553).

CONCLUSION

This population-based study showed that survival for the patients with synchronous CPM and patients with metachronous CPM did not significantly differ. This suggests that a similar prognosis may be expected for patients selected for treatment regardless of the onset of CPM.

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer with Synchronous Peritoneal Metastases: Multicenter Study of 'Italian Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Oncoteam-S.I.C.O.'

Background

The development of multimodality treatment, including cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), has led to promising results in selected patients with peritoneal disease of gastric origin. The aim of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term outcomes of CRS/HIPEC in the treatment of synchronous peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer.

Methods

The Italian Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Oncoteam—S.I.C.O. retrospective registry included patients with synchronous peritoneal malignancy from gastric cancer submitted to gastrectomy with CRS and HIPEC between 2005 and 2018 from 11 high-volume, specialized centers.

Results

A total of 91 patients with a median age of 58 years (range 26–75) were enrolled. The median overall survival (OS) time for the whole group of patients was 20.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.8–28.5] and the median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 7.3 months (95% CI 4–10.6). The completeness of cytoreduction score (CCS) of 0 and Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score of ≤ 6 groups showed a significantly better long-term survival (median OS 40.7 and 44.3 months, respectively) compared with the incomplete resected groups (median OS 10.7 months, p = 0.003) and PCI score of > 6 group (median OS 13.4 months, p = 0.005). A significant difference was observed in the survival rate according to neoadjuvant treatment (untreated patients: 10.7 months, 95% CI 5.1–16.2; treated patients: 35.3 months, 95% CI 2.8–67.8; p = 0.022).

Conclusions

In referral centers, CRS and HIPEC after neoadjuvant treatment significantly improved survival in selected patients. Patients with a PCI score ≤ 6, complete cytoreduction, negative nodal involvements, and negative cytology had encouraging results, showing a clinically meaningful survival.

Diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for colorectal peritoneal metastases. A consensus of the peritoneal surface malignancies onco-team of the Italian society of surgical oncology

AIM

the surgical workup for colorectal cancer peritoneal metastases (CRCPM) is complex and should be managed in specialized centers. Diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms (DTA) have been proposed to balance optimal patients management and correct use of resources. Aim of this study was to establish a consensus on DTA for CRCPM patients in Italy.

METHOD

a panel of 18 delegated members of centers afferent to Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Onco-team of the Italian Society of Surgical Oncology was established. A list of statements regarding the DTA of patients with CRCPM was prepared according to different activities and decision-making nodes with a defined entry and exit point. Consensus was obtained through RAND UCLA methodology.

RESULTS

two different DTA were defined and approved according to the modality of presentation of CRCPM (synchronous and metachronous). A consensus was also obtained on 17 of the 19 statements related to DTA.

CONCLUSION

a shared model of DTA is now available for healthcare providers to monitor appropriateness in diagnosis and treatment of patients with isolated peritoneal metastases from CRC.

Cytoreduction and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Versus Surgery Without HIPEC for Goblet-Cell Carcinoids and Mixed Adenoneuroendocrine Carcinomas: Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Centers in the Netherlands and Belgium

BACKGROUND

The value of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for patients with peritoneally metastasized goblet-cell carcinoids (GCCs) and mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas (MANECs) is currently unclear. We compared outcomes of CRS-HIPEC to surgery alone for peritoneally metastasized GCCs and MANECs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two cohorts were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (n = 569): patients with peritoneally metastasized GCCs and MANECs treated with CRS-HIPEC in Dutch and Belgian centers (n = 45), and patients treated with surgery alone. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were morbidity and hospital mortality. After propensity score matching, OS was compared in univariate and multivariate analyses. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines from database inception to June 25, 2018.

RESULTS

After matching for sex, tumor stage, lymph node stage, and liver metastases, CRS-HIPEC was associated with improved median OS in the combined GCC and MANEC group and the separate GCC subgroup in univariate (GCC + MANEC: 39 vs. 12 months, P < .001; GCC: 39 vs. 12 months, P = .017) and multivariate analysis (GCC + MANEC: hazard ratio 4.27, 95% confidence interval 1.88-9.66, P = .001; GCC: hazard ratio 2.77, 95% confidence interval 1.06-7.26, P = .038). Acceptable grade III-IV morbidity (17.5%) and mortality (0) were seen after CRS-HIPEC. The literature review supported these findings.

CONCLUSION

CRS-HIPEC is associated with substantial survival benefit in patients with peritoneally metastasized GCCs and MANECs compared to surgery alone and is a safe treatment option. These data support centralized care of GCC and MANEC patients with peritoneal spread in expert centers offering CRS-HIPEC.

Are academic hospitals better at treating metastatic colorectal cancer?

BACKGROUND

There is a strong association between hospital volume and surgical outcomes in resectable colorectal cancer. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between hospital facility type and survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Adults from the National Cancer Database (2010-2015) with a primary diagnosis of colorectal metastases were included and stratified by facility type: community cancer program, comprehensive community cancer program, and academic/research program. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival, analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, log-rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTS

Among the 52,958 included patients, 13.72% were treated at a community cancer program, 49.89% at a comprehensive community cancer program, and 36.29% at an academic/research program. A significant increase in the proportion of patients being treated in an academic/research program has been observed from 2010 to 2015. An academic/research program tended to use more chemotherapy with colorectal radical resection and liver or lung resection and immunotherapy with chemotherapy. In adjusted analysis, the academic/research program had decreased risk of mortality in comparison to the community cancer program and the comprehensive community cancer program (hazard ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.86-0.94; 0.87, 0.85-0.90; each P < .001; respectively). Similar results were seen after stratifying by metastatic site and treatment type.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis and overall survival of patients with metastatic disease is better in an academic/research program compared with a community cancer program or a comprehensive community cancer program, with this difference persisting across sites of metastatic disease and treatment types. Further studies are required to validate these results and investigate disparities in the management of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer: results from the German database

BACKGROUND

Patients with peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer have a poor prognosis with a median survival of 7 months. A benefit of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) could be shown in several selected patient cohorts but remains controversial. The aim of this study was, to reflect the results of a national German HIPEC registry initiated by the German Society of General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV).

METHODS

The DGAV HIPEC registry StuDoQ|Peritoneum documents patients with peritoneal malignancy contributed from 52 hospitals. All consecutive documented patients from 2011 until 2016 (n = 3078) were treated with CRS and HIPEC and were analysed. A total of 315 (10%) suffered from gastric cancer and were analysed.

RESULTS

A complete data set of 235 patients was available for this study, including 113 male (48.1%) and 122 female (51.9%) patients with a median age of 53.4 years (SD ± 11.9). The median PCI was 8.0 (range 1-30). A complete cytoreduction was achieved in 121 patients (71.6%). Postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grades 3-4) occurred in 40 patients (17%). The median overall survival (OS) time was 13 months. The 5-year survival rate was 6%. According to the PCI from 0-6 (n = 74); 7-15 (n  = 70) and 16-39 (n = 24) the median OS differs significantly (18 months vs. 12 months vs. 5 months; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

CRS and HIPEC in selected patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal spread can improve survival when they are treated in centers. An accurate staging and patient selection are of major importance to achieve long-term survival.