Evaluation of the management of rectal cancers before and after the consensus conference in France

Trends in probabilities of death owing to cancer and owing to other causes in patients with colon cancer

BACKGROUND

It is of interest to both the clinicians and patients to estimate the probability of death owing to cancer in the presence of other causes as time elapses since diagnosis. The objective of this study was to depict for patients diagnosed with colon cancer between 1990 and 2010 in France, the probability of surviving up to 10 years after diagnosis and to disentangle the probability of death owing to cancer from that of death owing to other causes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Individuals with cancer were described, up to 10 years after diagnosis, as belonging to one of three categories: those who died owing to a cause related to cancer, those who died owing to another cause and those who survived. Net survival, crude probabilities of death related to colon cancer, death related to another cause and survival were estimated by modeling excess mortality hazard.

RESULTS

In women of all ages, 5 and 10-year net survival improved over calendar time. The 10-year probability of survival decreased when age increased in both sexes. It was higher in women than in men, and this difference increased with age. Crude probabilities of death related to colon cancer decreased between 1990 and 2010 for men and women, although this was not observed in the eldest men.

CONCLUSION

Crude probability of death related to colon cancer is an important indicator for patients and health policy makers. Results of cancer screening should be faced to trends in probability of death related to colorectal cancer.

Patterns of colorectal cancer care in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men worldwide. In this study, we used MEDLINE to conduct a systematic review of existing literature published in English between 2000 and 2010 on patterns of colorectal cancer care. Specifically, this review examined 66 studies conducted in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to assess patterns of initial care, post-diagnostic surveillance, and end-of-life care for colorectal cancer. The majority of studies in this review reported rates of initial care, and limited research examined either post-diagnostic surveillance or end-of-life care for colorectal cancer. Older colorectal cancer patients and individuals with comorbidities generally received less surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Patients with lower socioeconomic status were less likely to receive treatment, and variations in patterns of care were observed by patient demographic and clinical characteristics, geographical location, and hospital setting. However, there was wide variability in data collection and measures, health-care systems, patient populations, and population representativeness, making direct comparisons challenging. Future research and policy efforts should emphasize increased comparability of data systems, promote data standardization, and encourage collaboration between and within European cancer registries and administrative databases.

International preoperative rectal cancer management: staging, neoadjuvant treatment, and impact of multidisciplinary teams

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding variations in preoperative treatment and practice for rectal cancer (RC) on an international level, yet practice variation may result in differences in recurrence and survival rates.

METHODS

One hundred seventy-three international colorectal centers were invited to participate in a survey of preoperative management of rectal cancer.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-three (71%) responded, with a majority of respondents from North America, Europe, and Asia. Ninety-three percent have more than 5 years' experience with rectal cancer surgery. Fifty-five percent use CT scan, 35% MRI, 29% ERUS, 12% digital rectal examination and 1% PET scan in all RC cases. Seventy-four percent consider threatened circumferential margin (CRM) an indication for neoadjuvant treatment. Ninety-two percent prefer 5-FU-based long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT). A significant difference in practice exists between the US and non-US surgeons: poor histological differentiation as an indication for CRT (25% vs. 7.0%, p = 0.008), CRT for stage II and III rectal cancer (92% vs. 43%, p = 0.0001), MRI for all RC patients (20% vs. 42%, p = 0.03), and ERUS for all RC patients (43% vs. 21%, p = 0.01). Multidisciplinary team meetings significantly influence decisions for MRI (RR = 3.62), neoadjuvant treatment (threatened CRM, RR = 5.67, stage II + III RR = 2.98), quality of pathology report (RR = 4.85), and sphincter-saving surgery (RR = 3.81).

CONCLUSIONS

There was little consensus on staging, neoadjuvant treatment, and preoperative management of rectal cancer. Regular multidisciplinary team meetings influence decisions about neoadjuvant treatment and staging methods.

[Analysis of the quality of surgical treatment of colorectal cancer, in 2008. A national study]

OBJECTIVE

A national study conducted for the Spanish Association of Surgeons with the aim of analysing the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Spain and to compare it with scientific literature.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A multicentre, descriptive, prospective and longitudinal study of patients with CRC who were treated by elective surgery. A total of 50 hospitals in 15 Autonomous Regions took part, with 496 treated cases in 2008. A total of 88 variables were collected.

RESULTS

The median age was 72 years, increase in ASA III patients; correct preoperative studies, 4% with no staging in the rectum. There was a tendency not to use the colon cleansing or to do it only one day. The percentage of complications is within the ranges in the literature, with the exception of surgical wound infections (19%). Mean of resected lymph nodes: 13.2; 4.3% no mesorectal resection. Mechanical anastomosis: 80.8%, 65.9% of the operations performed by a colorectal surgeon. Preoperative radiotherapy in 43.5% of rectal cancers. Chemotherapy: 32.9%. Laparoscopy: 35.1% of cases, conversion rate 13.8%. Use of antibiotics: 37.1%, blood transfusion: 20.6% and parenteral nutrition: 26.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical treatment of CRC in Spain has a level of quality and peri-operative results similar to the rest of Europe. Compared to previous studies, it was observed that there were advances in preparation of the patient, preoperative studies, imaging techniques, and improvements in surgical techniques with adoption of mesorectal excision, appropriate lymphadenectomies and preservation of sphincters. There are areas for improvement, such as a reduction in surgical wound infections, increase use of protective stoma, appropriate use of antibiotics, parenteral nutrition or neoadjuvants and complete colonoscopies.

Changes in the risk of death from cancer up to five years after diagnosis in elderly patients: a study of five common cancers

Cancer mortality in elderly people is described to highlight the mechanisms that could potentially explain observed differences with other age groups. Data from 15 French cancer registries were considered in the search for the 5-year outcome of patients diagnosed during the period 1989-1997. Relative survival, excess mortality hazard, and hazard ratio of mortality were estimated to describe patient outcome according to age. Five cancer sites were selected: colon/rectum, prostate, breast, head/neck, and lung. An excess mortality rate was found in patients aged over 75 at the time of diagnosis. This excess mortality rate was mainly seen during the first months after diagnosis, then it decreased gradually with time. An initial phenomenon of patient selection, a greater disease severity at the time of diagnosis, and less-effective treatments given to elderly patients are the most plausible explanations for the increased risk of cancer-related death in the eldest patients.

Appropriateness of colonoscopy in a digestive endoscopy unit: a prospective study using ASGE guidelines

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Appropriate indications for colonoscopy (C) are essential for a rational use of resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate the appropriateness of indication for C according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guidelines and to evaluate whether appropriate use was correlated with the diagnostic yield of C.

METHODS

We analysed 677 consecutive C performed over an 11-month period in a digestive endoscopy unit with an open access system.

RESULTS

The rate of 'generally indicated' C was 77% and 'generally not indicated' C was 18%. The rate of indication not listed in the ASGE guidelines was 5%. The percentage of generally not indicated C requested by gastroenterologists for outpatients was lower than that requested by primary care surgeons or doctors (9.5%, 29%, 25.3%, respectively). In 38 (7.3%) and in 111 (21.3%) of 520 patients with appropriate C, cancer and polyps larger than 5 mm were found, respectively. Twenty polyps greater than 5 mm were detected in 15 cases (12%) of 122 inappropriate C, with only one case of intramucosal carcinoma; four (12%) polyps measuring over 5 mm were found in C not listed in ASGE guidelines. No advanced stage cancer was detected in the inappropriate group and in C not listed in ASGE guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed the high rate of inappropriate procedures, according to ASGE guidelines, requested by surgeons, internists and primary care doctors for both outpatients and inpatients. The proportion of not indicated endoscopic procedures requested by gastroenterologists must be reduced through more carefully application of ASGE guidelines. Endoscopic findings were more stringent in appropriate C.