[Specific 5-year oral cancer survival and associated factors in cancer outpatients in the Brazilian Unified National Health System]

Factors influencing the 5-year survival rate of oral cancer patients in the Mongolian population: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction

The high mortality rate of head and neck cancers, particularly oral cancer, poses a significant health challenge in developing nations such as Mongolia. This retrospective survival analysis study was conducted to identify factors influencing the 5-year survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Methods

The study analyzed data from 173 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, including multiple variables such as age, gender, residence, education, tobacco and alcohol consumption, oral health indicators, family history, precancerous conditions, cancer characteristics, treatment, rehabilitation, cancer recurrence, and 5-year survival. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and STATA was used for statistical analysis.

Results

The study revealed a 5-year survival rate of 50.3% for oral cancer patients, with a survival rate of 38% for tongue cancer patients. Age, residence, cancer stage, and cancer recurrence were identified as significant survival predictors. Compared to those aged 60 or younger, the hazard ratio (HR) for patients aged 61 or older was 1.52. Survival was associated with female gender (HR = 0.47, CI = 0.29-0.77). Urban residence was associated with decreased survival (HR = 1.92, CI = 1.22-3.05). Significantly worse survival was associated with the presence of cancer recurrence (HR = 1.99, CI = 1.15-3.04). Oral cancer patients in stage IV had a fourfold higher risk of mortality compared to those in stage I (HR = 4.08, CI = 1.2-13.84).

Conclusion

This research highlights the influence of age, urban habitation, and cancer recurrence on oral cancer survival. Age, urban residence, and cancer recurrence were all associated with decreased survival, whereas cancer at stage IV substantially increased the risk of death. The significance of early detection, treatment, and active surveillance to identify oral cancer at an early stage is highlighted by these findings. Compared to industrialized nations, Mongolia's lower oral cancer survival rates emphasize the need to increase public awareness and education. A comprehensive approach is required to improve oral cancer patient survival rates and quality of life, including emphasizing early detection through active surveillance, implementing preventive measures, and advancing cancer education initiatives.

Tendência Temporal da Mortalidade por Câncer de Boca e da Cobertura de Atenção Primária no Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Introdução: O câncer de boca e comumente diagnosticado de forma tardia, comprometendo a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos ou os levando a óbito. Objetivo: Verificar a tendencia temporal da mortalidade por câncer de boca no Estado do Rio de Janeiro e da cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) e de equipes de saúde bucal (ESB). Método: Estudo ecológico com análise da tendencia temporal da mortalidade por câncer de boca, entre 1999 e 2018, e da cobertura da ESF e ESB, no período de 2002 a 2018, no Estado e Regiões de Saúde. Utilizou-se a regressão linear generalizada de Prais-Winsten no cálculo das tendencias para o Estado, cada Região de Saúde, sexo, faixa etária e localização do tumor. Resultados: Houve tendencia de mortalidade por câncer de boca decrescente no Estado e nas Regiões Metropolitana I e II; nas demais Regiões de Saúde, foi estacionaria. As tendencias dos óbitos em homens, das faixas etárias 40 a 59 anos e 80 anos ou mais, foram decrescentes. Na localização do tumor, houve tendencia decrescente entre óbitos por outras partes e partes não especificadas (C06) e uma tendencia crescente na mortalidade por câncer de base de língua (C01). Na cobertura de ESF e ESB, na maioria das Regiões de Saúde e no Estado, a tendencia foi crescente. Conclusão: A tendencia decrescente na mortalidade por câncer de boca e a tendencia crescente de ESF e ESB, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, não foram observadas em todas as Regiões de Saúde.

Tendência Temporal e Distribuição Espacial da Mortalidade por Câncer de Boca em Sergipe

Introdução: Anualmente, no Brasil, 15 mil pessoas são diagnosticadas com câncer de boca, e quase metade delas morre. Sergipe está entre os sete Estados brasileiros com maiores índices. Objetivo: Analisar a tendência temporal e a distribuição espacial da mortalidade por câncer de boca em Sergipe entre 2007 e 2016. Método: Estudo ecológico de série temporal de base populacional, utilizando técnicas de análise espacial. Os dados de mortalidade foram obtidos no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade (SIM). A análise das tendências temporais foi realizada no modelo de regressão de Joinpoint por meio da regressão de Poisson. Foram realizadas análises espaciais utilizando o estimador de intensidade Kernel e os índices de Moran Global e Local. Resultados: Foram analisadas 543 mortes por câncer de boca. Os casos mais frequentes ocorreram em homens (74%), com idade média de 64 anos e baixa escolaridade. As taxas de mortalidade global (variação percentual anual ‒ APC=2,5; IC 95% 0,9-6,7) e masculina (APC=2,96; IC 95% 1,2-5,6) aumentaram. Houve também uma tendência crescente de mortalidade por câncer na língua (APC=10,05; IC 95% 3,8-16,7). A mortalidade relacionada a outras localizações anatômicas foi estável. Houve concentração de óbitos nas Regiões Metropolitana, Centro-Sul e Centro-Agreste. Conclusão: Durante o período analisado, a taxa de mortalidade geral mostrou uma tendência crescente, com concentração nas Regiões Centro-Sul, Central e Metropolitana, sendo necessário manter medidas de prevenção e controle contra o câncer de boca em todo o Estado de Sergipe.

Tendências de Mortalidade por Câncer Bucal no Brasil por Regiões e Principais Fatores de Risco

Introdução: O câncer bucal ainda e destacado como preocupante problema de saúde publica. Objetivo: Verificar a tendência de mortalidade por câncer bucal por Região brasileira e fatores de risco, avaliando o intervalo de tempo entre o diagnóstico e o tratamento. Método: Estudo com dados secundários do DATASUS (taxa de mortalidade e tempo para tratamento) e do Vigitel (consumo de álcool e cigarro); analises de series temporais e correlações entre taxas de mortalidade (2010-2019) e consumo de álcool e cigarro (2010-2019), para idade superior a 40 anos, e analise descritiva do tempo entre diagnóstico e tratamento. Resultados: Houve aumento da tendência de câncer bucal por Regiões e sexo, com predominância para o sexo masculino. A variação percentual anual (VPA) da ingestão de álcool e o uso de cigarro foram considerados estacionários na maioria das Regiões analisadas. Ao correlacionar as variáveis, verificou-se correlação estatisticamente significativa entre taxa de mortalidade (2010-2019) e percentual de consumo de álcool (p=0,011; r=0,957), percentual de consumo de cigarro (p=0,019; r=0,936) e taxa bruta de mortalidade em homens (2019) (p=0,005; r=0,97). Verificou-se que, na maioria dos casos (74%), o tempo para início do tratamento e de mais de 60 dias. Conclusão: Embora o consumo de álcool e o tabagismo sejam fatores de risco para o câncer bucal, o presente estudo concluiu que houve aumento da mortalidade por câncer e os fatores de risco analisados permaneceram estacionários. O início de tratamento foi maior do que 60 dias a partir do diagnóstico.

Advances and weaknesses of the work process of the oral cancer care network in Brazil: A latent class transition analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the provision of oral cancer (OC) care services in the Dental Specialties Centers (Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas-CEO) in Brazil and identify changes over two cycles of external evaluation of the Program for the Improvement of Access and Quality-PMAQ, in 2014 and 2018.

METHOD

This is a nationwide panel ecological study, including 916 CEO. Data from interviews with managers and dentists of the CEO were used, including variables related to training on OC, clinical protocols, biopsies, referral for diagnosis and treatment, and registration of users with OC. We carried out Latent Transition Analysis (LTA) to identify patterns (latent status LS) of service adequacy and work processes' changes between the two assessment cycles. We tested models with three, four, and five LS, selecting the one with the best conceptual interpretability and good model fit parameters. Data from the LS were plotted on choropleth and hotspots maps in Brazil allowing us to identify areas with the better or worse provision of specialized OC services.

RESULTS

The model with four LS was chosen. The four LS were named: 1.'Most indicators inadequate for OC care' (the worst); 2. 'Most indicators suitable for OC care' (the best); 3. 'CEO with a poor relation with Primary Health Care (PHC) services'; and 4. 'CEO with a poor relation with tertiary hospital services'. The comparison of the LS transition between the two cycles revealed that 419 (45.7%) CEO remained in the same LS (1→1, 3→4, 2→2); 228 (24.9%) switched to a worse status (2→1, 2→4, 3→1) and 269 (29.4%) switched to a better LS (1→2, 1→4, 3→2). While the majority of the CEO improved, we identified a decline of 17.8% in those who reported performing biopsies and 18.3% in the number of CEO that had hospitals for referring confirmed OC cases. Almost all Brazilian states had CEO that improved the work process. The Southeast and South regions had the highest percentage of CEO with the better work process in both cycles. Hotspots showed areas concentrating improvements in the work process in the Northeast region. However, some hotspots in the North revealed some CEO where the work process deteriorated or remained unsatisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

There are regional inequities in the provision of OC care in CEO. Most services improved their work process or remained stable. However, the biopsies and the referral to hospital care for confirmed cases declined, indicating that CEO need to improve planning and care provision to reduce OC morbimortality.

[Timeframe for initiating oral cancer treatment in Brazil since approval of new legislation in 2012: time trend, 2013-2019]

The study aimed to investigate whether the maximum delay (60 days) for initiating oral cancer treatment following diagnosis, as provided in Federal Law n. 12,732/2012, was achieved in Brazil from 2013 to 2019 and to describe the trend in the number of cases that initiated treatment within this timeframe. A time series was performed with treatment data (N = 37,417) from the Oncology Dashboard of the Brazilian Health Informatics Department (DATASUS) database, according to the patient's region of residence. Analysis of trend used Prais-Winsten regression. In 2018 and 2019, we observed higher percentages of treatments within 60 days, and especially within 30 days. In 2019, 61.5% of treatments began within 60 days, with the highest proportions in the South (71.3%), Southeast (60.1%), and Central-west (59.1%) regions of Brazil. The time trend for the category from 0-60 days was upward in the North of Brazil, with 15.7% annual percent change (APC), and was stationary in the other four major geographic regions of Brazil. The time trend for 0-30 days was only upward in the North and Northeast, with APCs of 29.75% and 20.56%, respectively. In conclusion, since 2018 there were more cases that initiated oral cancer treatment within the stipulated timeframe, as provided in Law n. 12,732/2012 (up to 60 days), with regional differences and a stationary trend in most regions and in Brazil as a whole. Partial achievement of the target, the predominance of a stationary trend, and regional inequalities indicate the need to continue monitoring time-to-treatment for oral cancer in Brazil and to intensify efforts to guarantee timely healthcare.

Prognostic factors and long-term survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: this study aimed to evaluate long-term survival and prognostic factors in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in an economically poor region of Brazil.Methods: the data were obtained from analysis of medical and mortality records of 210 patients with OSCC treated at an oncology hospital providing services to the Brazilian Unified National Health System in a State of northeastern Brazil between January 2006 and December 2008. Sociodemographic and clinical information, treatment performed, recurrence and evolution were collected. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log rank and Cox regression tests were used to compare the curves.Results: the median survival in the study period was 47.4 months (95% CI = 38.2 - 56.7). The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 29% and 19.8%, respectivelly. Individuals over 60 years of age (HR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.06 - 2.73), presence of regional metastasis (HR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.55 - 4.08), presence of recurrence (HR = 3.18; 95% CI = 1.88 - 5.39) and no surgical treatment (HR = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.31 - 3.35) had a worse prognosis.Conclusions: advanced age, presence of regional metastasis, tumor recurrence and non-surgical treatment predict poorer survival in patients diagnosed with OSCC.

Direct healthcare costs of lip, oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil

The efficiency of public policies includes the measurement of the health resources used and their associated costs. There is a lack of studies evaluating the economic impact of oral cancer (OC). This study aims to estimate the healthcare costs of OC in Brazil from 2008 to 2016. This is a partial economic evaluation using the gross costing top-down method, considering the direct healthcare costs related to outpatients, inpatients, intensive care units, and the number of procedures, from the perspective of the public health sector. The data were extracted from the Outpatient and Inpatient Information System of the National Health System, by diagnosis according to the 10^th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases, according to sites of interest: C00 to C06, C09 and C10. The values were adjusted for annual accumulated inflation and expressed in 2018 I$ (1 I$ = R$2,044). Expenditure on OC healthcare in Brazil was I$495.6 million, which was composed of 50.8% (I$251.6 million) outpatient and 49.2% (I$244.0 million) inpatient healthcare. About 177,317 admissions and 6,224,236 outpatient procedures were registered. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy comprised the largest number of procedures (88.8%) and costs (94.9%). Most of the costs were spent on people over 50 years old (72.9%) and on males (75.6%). Direct healthcare costs in Brazil for OC are substantial. Outpatient procedures were responsible for the highest total cost; however, inpatient procedures had a higher cost per procedure. Men over 50 years old consumed most of the cost and procedures for OC. The oropharynx and tongue were the sites with the highest expenditure. Further studies are needed to investigate the cost per individual, as well as direct non-medical and indirect costs of OC.

Políticas de Prevenção e Controle do Câncer Bucal à luz da Teoria da Estruturação de Giddens

Resumo Passados mais de dez anos de continuidade das políticas de prevenção e controle do câncer e de saúde bucal, persistem desafios para garantia do acesso ao diagnóstico e tratamento. O objetivo do estudo é analisar as políticas de oncologia e de saúde bucal em vigor, no que se refere ao processo de implantação dos componentes assistenciais relacionados ao câncer bucal. Foram analisadas dez normativas que estruturam essas políticas, sob a ótica da Teoria da Estruturação, além de dados de oferta de serviços entre 2002 e 2017. Nas atenções básica e secundária, destacou-se a baixa cobertura assistencial e a distribuição regional inadequada, apesar do aumento do financiamento e do número de serviços. Na atenção terciária foi identificada a distribuição desigual da realização de cirurgias. Por sua vez, a limitação de serviços da atenção domiciliar tem dificultado o acesso dos usuários aos cuidados paliativos. Houve convergência entre as políticas analisadas e uma preocupação com a regulação dos recursos autoritativos e com o aumento de recursos alocativos, o que estimulou a expansão dos serviços. Deve-se investir na ampliação, regionalização e universalização dos serviços. Um possível retrocesso nessas políticas poderá agravar a situação e contribuir para o aumento das desigualdades em saúde.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer: epidemiology and survival analysis

Objective

To evaluate the epidemiological profile and survival rate of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients seen at a university hospital.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out by means of the pathological reports of patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer, seen at a university hospital of the Southern Region, between January 2004 and December 2014. Information was collected on patients and tumors. The mortality rate was gathered from the patient death registry in the Mortality Information System. Data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the log-rank test to compare variables.

Results

The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 42% and 38%, respectively. The anatomical location had a significant association with survival rate (p=0.001), with the rates were better in the lips (p=0.04), and worse in the oropharynx (p=0.03). There were no statistically significant differences between survival rates according to age, sex, ethnicity, schooling level and histologic grade.

Conclusion

The survival rates of oral and oropharyngeal cancer were and associated with the anatomical site of the tumor.

Trend of oral and pharyngeal cancer mortality in Brazil in the period of 2002 to 2013

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the trend of oral and pharyngeal cancer mortality rates in the period of 2002 to 2013 in Brazil according to sex, anatomical site, and macroregion of the country.

METHODS

The mortality data were obtained from the Mortality Information System and the population data were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The trend of the rates standardized by sex and age was calculated using the Prais-Winsten estimation, and we obtained the annual percentage change and the respective 95% confidence intervals, analyzed according to sex, macroregion, and anatomical site.

RESULTS

The average coefficient of oral cancer mortality was 1.87 per 100,000 inhabitants and it remained stable during the study period. The coefficient of pharyngeal cancer mortality was 2.04 per 100,000 inhabitants and it presented an annual percentage change of -2.6%. Approximately eight in every 10 deaths occurred among men. There was an increase in the rates of oral cancer in the Northeast region (annual percentage change of 6.9%) and a decrease in the Southeast region (annual percentage change of -2.9%). Pharyngeal cancer mortality decreased in the Southeast and South regions with annual percentage change of -4.8% and -5.1% respectively. Cancer mortality for tonsil, other major salivary glands, hypopharynx, and other and unspecified parts of mouth and pharynx showed a decreasing trend while the other sites presented stability.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharyngeal cancer mortality decreased in the period of 2002 to 2013. Oral cancer increased only in the Northeast region. Mortality for tonsil cancer, other major salivary glands, hypopharynx, and other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx decreased.

Patient survival and risk of death after prostate cancer treatment in the Brazilian Unified Health System

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the probability of specific survival and factors associated with the risk of death of patients with prostate cancer who received outpatient cancer treatment in the Brazilian Unified Health System, Brazil.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study using the National Database of Oncology, developed through the deterministic-probabilistic pairing of health information systems: outpatient (SIA), hospital (SIH) and mortality (SIM). The probability of overall and specific survival was estimated by the time elapsed between the date of the first ambulatory treatment, from 2002 to 2003, until the patient’s death or the end of the study. Fine and Gray’s model of competing-risks regression was adjusted according to the variables: age of diagnostic, region of residence, tumor clinical staging, type of outpatient cancer treatment and hospitalization in the assessment of factors associated with risk of patient death.

RESULTS

Of 16,280 patients studied, the average age was 70 years, approximately 25% died due to prostate cancer and 20% for other causes. The probability of overall survival was 0.50 (95%CI 0.49–0.52) and the specific was 0.70 (95%CI 0.69–0.71). The factors associated with the risk of patient death were: stage III (HR = 1.66; 95%CI 1.39–1.99) and stage IV (HR = 3.49; 95%CI 2.91–4.18), chemotherapy (HR = 2.34; 95%CI 1.76–3.11) and hospitalization (HR = 1.6; 95%CI 1.55–1.79).

CONCLUSIONS

The late diagnosis of the tumor, palliative treatments, and worse medical condition were factors related to the worst survival and increased risk of death from prostate cancer patients in Brazil.

Tapirira guianensis Aubl. Extracts Inhibit Proliferation and Migration of Oral Cancer Cells Lines

Cancer of the head and neck is a group of upper aerodigestive tract neoplasms in which aggressive treatments may cause harmful side effects to the patient. In the last decade, investigations on natural compounds have been particularly successful in the field of anticancer drug research. Our aim is to evaluate the antitumor effect of Tapirira guianensis Aubl. extracts on a panel of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines. Analysis of secondary metabolites classes in fractions of T. guianensis was performed using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Mutagenicity effect was evaluated by Ames mutagenicity assay. The cytotoxic effect, and migration and invasion inhibition were measured. Additionally, the expression level of apoptosis-related molecules (PARP, Caspases 3, and Fas) and MMP-2 was detected using Western blot. Heterogeneous cytotoxicity response was observed for all fractions, which showed migration inhibition, reduced matrix degradation, and decreased cell invasion ability. Expression levels of MMP-2 decreased in all fractions, and particularly in the hexane fraction. Furthermore, overexpression of FAS and caspase-3, and increase of cleaved PARP indicates possible apoptosis extrinsic pathway activation. Antiproliferative activity of T. guianensis extract in HNSCC cells lines suggests the possibility of developing an anticancer agent or an additive with synergic activities associated with conventional anticancer therapy.