Late Mortality, Subsequent Malignant Neoplasms and Hospitalisations in Long-Term Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Hematological Cancers

Long-term survival for lymphoid neoplasms and national health expenditure (EUROCARE-6): a retrospective, population-based study

BACKGROUND

Management of lymphoid malignancies requires substantial health system resources. Total national health expenditure might influence population-based lymphoid malignancy survival. We studied the long-term survival of patients with 12 lymphoid malignancy types and examined whether different levels of national health expenditure might explain differences in lymphoid malignancy prognosis between European countries and regions.

METHODS

For this observational, retrospective, population-based study, we analysed the EUROCARE-6 dataset of patients aged 15 or older diagnosed between 2001 and 2013 with one of 12 lymphoid malignancies defined according to International Classification of Disease for Oncology (third edition) and WHO classification, and followed up to 2014 (Jan 1, 2001-Dec 31, 2014). Countries were classified according to their mean total national health expenditure quartile in 2001-13. For each lymphoid malignancy, 5-year and 10-year age-standardised relative survival (ASRS) was calculated using the period approach. Generalised linear models indicated the effects of age at diagnosis, gender, and total national health expenditure on the relative excess risk of death (RER).

FINDINGS

82 cancer registries (61 regional and 21 national) from 27 European countries provided data eligible for 10-year survival estimates comprising 890 730 lymphoid malignancy cases diagnosed in 2001-13. Median follow-up time was 13 years (IQR 13-14). Of the 12 lymphoid malignancies, the 10-year ASRS in Europe was highest for hairy cell leukaemia (82·6% [95% CI 78·9-86·5) and Hodgkin lymphoma (79·3% [78·6-79·9]) and lowest for plasma cell neoplasms (29·5% [28·9-30·0]). RER increased with age at diagnosis, particularly from 55-64 years to 75 years or older, for all lymphoid malignancies. Women had higher ASRS than men for all lymphoid malignancies, except for precursor B, T, or natural killer cell, or not-otherwise specified lymphoblastic lymphoma or leukaemia. 10-year ASRS for each lymphoid malignancy was higher (and the RER lower) in countries in the highest national health expenditure quartile than in countries in the lowest quartile, with a decreasing pattern through quartiles for many lymphoid malignancies. 10-year ASRS for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the most representative class for lymphoid malignancies based on the number of incident cases, was 59·3% (95% CI 58·7-60·0) in the first quartile, 57·6% (55·2-58·7) in the second quartile, 55·4% (54·3-56·5) in the third quartile, and 44·7% (43·6-45·8) in the fourth quartile; with reference to the European mean, the RER was 0·80 (95% CI 0·79-0·82) in the first, 0·91 (0·90-0·93) in the second, 0·94 (0·92-0·96) in the third, and 1·45 (1·42-1·48) in the fourth quartiles.

INTERPRETATION

Total national health expenditure is associated with geographical inequalities in lymphoid malignancy prognosis. Policy decisions on allocating economic resources and implementing evidence-based models of care are needed to reduce these differences.

FUNDING

Italian Ministry of Health, European Commission, Estonian Research Council.

Long-term second primary cancer risk in adolescent and young adult (15-39 years) cancer survivors: a population-based study in the Netherlands between 1989 and 2018

BACKGROUND

Few studies have comprehensively investigated the long-term second cancer risk among adolescent and young adult (AYA, aged 15-39 years) cancer survivors. This study investigated the long-term second cancer risk by including the full range of first and second cancer combinations with at least 10 observations in the Netherlands between 1989 and 2018.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First and second primary cancer data of all 6-month AYA cancer survivors were obtained from the nationwide population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry. Excess cancer risk compared to the general population was assessed with standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and absolute excess risk (AER) statistics up to 25 years after diagnosis. Cumulative incidences were estimated, using death as a competing risk factor. Analyses were carried out with and without applying multiple cancer rules.

RESULTS

The cohort included 99 502 AYA cancer survivors. Male survivors had a 2-fold higher risk of developing any cancer compared to the general population, whereas this was around 1.3-fold in females. AERs were 17.5 and 10.1 per 10 000 person-years for males and females. The long-term excess risk of cancer was significantly higher for most first and second primary cancer combinations, but comparable and lower risk estimates were also observed. Application of the multiple cancer rules resulted in a noticeable risk underestimation in melanoma, testicular, and breast cancer survivors. Risk outcomes remained similar in most cases otherwise. The cumulative incidence of second cancer overall increased over time up to 8.9% in males and 10.3% in females at 25 years' follow-up. Highest long-term cumulative incidences were observed among lymphoma survivors (13.3% males and 18.9% females).

CONCLUSIONS

AYA cancer survivors have a higher cancer risk compared to the general population for most cancers up to 25 years after their initial cancer diagnosis. Additional studies that investigate risk factors for the specific cancer type combinations are needed to develop personalized follow-up strategies.