Cancer Survival in Adults in Spain: A Population-Based Study of the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN)

Lung cancer survival trends and prognostic factors: A 26-year population-based study in Girona Province, Spain

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer (LC) is Europe's primary cause of cancer-related mortality largely due to its historically low survival rates. The aim of this study was to analyze 26-year survival trends in the province of Girona, Spain, and to identify key prognostic factors.

METHODS

Population-based study of LC cases collected between 1994 and 2019, with follow-up until December 31, 2021. Variables included date of diagnosis, sex, age, histology, and tumor stage (the latter since 2010). Diagnosis dates were categorized into three periods (1994-2002, 2003-2011, and 2012-2019). Multivariate flexible parametric models, incorporating age as a non-linear, time-varying covariate, were used to analyze net survival (NS) and trends. Annual absolute change in survival (AAC_S) was calculated using 3-year NS.

RESULTS

The analysis of 9,113 LC cases showed a NS improvement between the first and last period (7.1 months (95 %CI: 6.5;7.6) to 8.5 months (95 %CI: 7.9;9.1)). Squamous cell carcinoma (NSC-SCC) showed the greatest improvement with an AAC_S of 0.32 % (95 % CI: 0.21; 0.43), while survival for non-small cell lung cancer not otherwise specified declined (AAC_S of -0.19 % (95 %CI: -0.26; -0.12)). Prognostic analysis of the 3,642 cases (2010-2019) indicated a lower LC death risk for adenocarcinoma and NSC-SCC compared to LC not otherwise specified (HR 0.52 and 0.62, respectively). Increasing tumor stage correlated with higher LC mortality risk (1.8-, 4.0-, and 10.1-fold increase for stage II, III, and IV, respectively, compared to stage I).

CONCLUSIONS

LC survival has notably improved, particularly for NSC-SCC. Survival is influenced by sex, age, date of diagnosis, tumor histology and especially by stage, underscoring comprehensive data collection's importance.

Rising testicular cancer incidence in Spain despite declining mortality: an age-period-cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Testicular cancer, primarily affecting young men, has seen an alarming rise globally. This study delves into incidence and mortality trends in Spain from 1990 to 2019 using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database and the Age-Period-Cohort (A-P-C) model.

METHODS

We analyzed GBD data on testicular cancer cases and deaths in Spain, calculating age-standardized rates (ASIR and ASMR) and employing Joinpoint regression to identify significant shifts. The A-P-C model further dissected the effects of age, period, and birth cohort on these trends.

RESULTS

A striking doubling in testicular cancer incidence was observed, from 3.09 to 5.40 per 100,000 men (1.9% annual increase), while mortality rates remained stable and even decreased in younger age groups (0.34 to 0.26 per 100,000, 0.8% annual decrease). Joinpoint analysis revealed four distinct periods of increasing incidence, with a recent slowdown. The A-P-C model highlighted a consistent rise in incidence risk with each successive generation born after 1935, contrasting with a progressive decline in mortality risk across cohorts, particularly marked for those born since the 1960s.

CONCLUSION

While mortality rates are encouraging, Spain reflects the global trend of escalating testicular cancer incidence. The A-P-C analysis suggests a generational influence, but the underlying causes remain elusive. Further research is crucial to understand these trends and implement effective prevention strategies to combat this growing health concern.

Predictors of thyroid cancer survival in Saudi Arabia: A retrospective 10-year analysis

Background

Thyroid cancer (TC) is becoming more prevalent in Saudi Arabia, currently ranking among the top three cancers affecting women. Despite its rising prevalence, there has been limited assessment of the factors influencing the survival rate (SR) among the Saudi population over an extended period. Therefore, this study aims to address this critical gap in knowledge by identifying the factors affecting the SR of TC, comparing the SR with previous studies, and exploring potential areas for improving the SR of patients.

Methods

A retrospective study analyzed secondary data from patients diagnosed with TC, as recorded in the King Abdulaziz Medical City Cancer Registry in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, over 10 years from 2009 to 2018.

Results

Of the total 665 TC cases, the mean age at diagnosis was 46.2 years (±SD 16), and most patients were women (78.5%), with the majority being under 50 years old. The most common type of cancer was papillary thyroid carcinoma, comprising 88.6% of all TCs. Over half of the cases were localized to one of the lobes of the thyroid gland, with almost equal frequency between the two lobes. The 5-year SR of localized papillary thyroid carcinoma reached 96.5%, in contrast to the extremely low SR of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, where most patients died within a few months of the diagnosis. Factors such as morphology, tumor extension, male gender, and age at diagnosis significantly impacted patient survival, as analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier test (p < 0.001). Compared to other types of cancer, those with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma had a lower SR.

Conclusion

The SR of TC patients is predicted by factors such as their age, morphological type, and the presence of distant metastasis.

A Comparative Analysis of Laparoscopic Gastrectomy Versus Laparoscopic-Assisted Gastrectomy: The Overall and Disease-Free Survival

Gastric cancer remains a significant global health challenge with varied survival rates, emphasizing the need for research into effective surgical treatments. In this retrospective study, we compared the 72-month overall and disease-free survival between laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) and laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy (AG) in a cohort of 139 patients treated for gastric cancer. The analysis revealed that patients undergoing LG exhibited a significantly higher overall survival rate at 72 months compared to those undergoing AG. Although disease-free survival rates were comparable between the two groups, LG showed a marginal advantage. Subgroup analyses based on the type of gastrectomy and anastomosis demonstrated varied survival probabilities, with laparoscopic-assisted partial gastrectomy yielding the most favorable outcomes. These results highlight the importance of the choice of surgical technique in influencing survival outcomes in gastric cancer.

Cancer survival analysis on population-based cancer registry data in Zhejiang Province, China (2018-2019)

Objective

This is a comprehensive overview of long-term cancer survival in Zhejiang Province, China. Hybrid analysis, a combination of cohort and period analysis, has been proposed to derive up-to-date cancer survival estimates. Using this approach, we aimed to timely and accurately analyze the 5-year relative survival (RS) and net survival (NS) in cancer registries of Zhejiang Province, China.

Methods

A total of 255,725 new cancer cases diagnosed during 2013-2017 were included in 14 cancer registries in Zhejiang Province, China, with a follow-up on vital status until the end of 2019. The hybrid analysis was used to calculate the 5-year RS and 5-year NS during 2018-2019 for overall and stratifications by sex, cancer type, region, and age at diagnosis.

Results

During 2018-2019, the age-standardized 5-year RS and NS for overall cancer in Zhejiang was 47.5% and 48.6%, respectively. The age-standardized 5-year RS for cancers of women (55.4%) was higher than that of men (40.0%), and the rate of urban areas (49.7%) was higher than that of rural areas (43.1%). The 5-year RS declined along with age, from 84.4% for ages <45 years to 23.7% for ages >74 years. Our results of the RS and NS showed the similar trend and no significant difference. The top five cancers with top age-standardized 5-year RS were thyroid cancer (96.0%), breast cancer (84.3%), testicular cancer (79.9%), prostate cancer (77.2%), and bladder cancer (70.6%), and the five cancers with the lowest age-standardized 5-year RS were pancreatic cancer (6.0%), liver cancer (15.6%), gallbladder cancer (17.1%), esophageal cancer (22.7%), and leukemia (31.0%).

Conclusions

We reported the most up-to-date 5-year cancer RS and NS in Zhejiang Province, China for the first time, and found that the 5-year survival for cancer patients in Zhejiang during 2018-2019 was relatively high. The population-based cancer registries are recognized as key policy tools that can be used to evaluate both the impact of cancer prevention strategies and the effectiveness of health systems.

Observed and relative survival trends of lung cancer: A systematic review of population-based cancer registration data

BACKGROUND

Using the published survival statistics from cancer registration or population-based studies, we aimed to describe the global pattern and trend of lung cancer survival.

METHODS

By searching SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and SEER, all survival analyses from cancer registration or population-based studies of lung cancer were collected by the end of November 2022. The survival rates were extracted by sex, period, and country. The observed, relative, and net survival rates of lung cancer were applied to describe the pattern and time changes from the late 1990s to the early 21st century.

RESULTS

Age-standardized 5-year relative/net survival rate of lung cancer was typically low, with 10%-20% for most regions. The highest age-standardized relative/net survival rate was observed in Japan (32.9%, 2010-2014), and the lowest was in India (3.7%, 2010-2014). In most countries, the five-year age-standardized relative/net survival rates of lung cancer were higher in females and younger people. The patients with adenocarcinoma had a better prognosis than other groups. In China, the highest 5-year overall relative/net survival rates were 27.90% and 31.62% in men and women in Jiangyin (2012-2013).

CONCLUSION

Over the past decades, the prognosis of lung cancer has gradually improved, but significant variations were also observed globally. Worldwide, a better prognosis of lung cancer can be observed in females and younger patients. It is essential to compare and evaluate the histological or stage-specific survival rates of lung cancer between different regions in the future.

Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer

Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, is a global concern. This study focuses on the evaluation of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab combination therapy as a promising alternative in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The objectives of this systematic review include evaluating the efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab combination therapy compared to conventional therapies with Sorafenib and other conventional therapies, analyzing the associated adverse effects, and exploring prognostic factors in the setting of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. A systematic literature review was carried out using the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Fifteen related articles were included and evaluated according to their level of evidence and recommendation. Results: The combination therapy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab, along with Sorafenib, showed positive results in the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Significant adverse effects were identified, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, arterial hypertension, and proteinuria, which require careful attention. In addition, prognostic factors, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and vascular invasion, were highlighted as key indicators of hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Conclusions: The combination of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab is shown to be effective in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, although it is essential to take into consideration the associated adverse effects. The prognostic factors identified may provide valuable information for the clinical management of this disease. This study provides a comprehensive overview of a promising emerging therapy for liver cancer.

Significantly reduced incidence and improved survival from prostate cancer over 25 years

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) was the second most frequent cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men in 2020. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in the incidence, mortality and survival of PCa in Girona, Spain, over 25 years.

METHODS

Population-based study of PCa collected in the Girona Cancer Registry, 1994-2018. Age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 men-year. Joinpoint regression models were used for trends, calculating the annual percentage changes (APC). Observed and net survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Pohar-Perme estimations, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 9,846 cases of PCa were registered between 1994-2018. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were 154.7 (95%CI: 151.7 157.8) and 38.9 (95%CI: 37.3 -40.6), respectively. An increased incidence of 6.2% was observed from 1994 to 2003 (95%CI: 4.4 -8.1), and a decrease of -2.7% (95%CI: -3.5 -;-1.9) between 2003 and 2018. Mortality APC was -2.6% (95%CI: -3.3 --2.0). Five-year observed and net survival were 72.8% (95%CI: 71.8 - 73.7) and 87.2% (95%CI: 85.9 - 88.4), respectively. Five-year net survival increased over time from 72.9% (1994-1998) to 91.3% (2014-2018).

CONCLUSIONS

The analyses show a clear reduction in PCa incidence rates from 2003 on, along with an increase in overall survival when comparing the earlier period with more recent years.

The Joint Research Centre-European Network of Cancer Registries Quality Check Software (JRC-ENCR QCS)

The core activity of population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) is to gather information from all new cancer cases in a defined geographic area, in order to measure the magnitude of cancer burden and to provide a basis for cancer research. The Joint Research Centre-European Network of Cancer Registries Quality Check Software (JRC-ENCR QCS) is a Java standalone desktop application, under development since 2015, created to support PBCRs in the validation of the collected data. The JRC-ENCR QCS performs internal consistency checks on the cancer registry dataset, to detect impossible or unlikely codes or combination of codes, and is thereby an important tool to support the validation efforts by registries and improve data quality and European-wide harmonisation. The software package also includes the JRC CSV Data layout converter, a complementary tool for transforming PBCR incidence files into a format compatible with the JRC-ENCR QCS. This paper gives an overview of the JRC-ENCR QCS, describing the role of the software in processing data files submitted by PBCRs contributing to the European Cancer Information System (ECIS) as well as its functionalities. The development of the JRC-ENCR QCS is an evolving process, with regular updates implementing new and revised European and International recommendations and classifications.

Epidemiology of human papillomavirus-associated anogenital cancers in Granada: a three-decade population-based study

Introduction

HPV infection is a common risk factor for all anogenital cancers. However, there are important differences in the epidemiology of anogenital cancers and these have not been compared considering diverse epidemiological indicators over a long period of time. To fill this gap, we investigated incidence, mortality, and survival trends of anogenital cancers over a period of three decades.

Methods

We conducted an observational registry-based study using data from the population-based cancer registry of Granada in southern Spain. We collected data on all incident cases of anogenital cancer (cervical, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancer) diagnosed between 1985 and 2017. We calculated crude and age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, and 1, 3, and 5-year overall and net survival. We further conducted time-trend analysis calculating annual percent changes (APC) for each cancer site.

Results

The incidence of anogenital cancers decreased slightly during the past 30 years, with the exception of vulvar cancer, where a slight increase was observed. Mortality decreased significantly for cervical cancer over the study period but increased non-significantly for the remaining cancer sites. Survival rates were similar to those reported in comparable countries and increased for cervical and vulvar cancer.

Discussion

Cervical cancer was the greatest contributor to the burden of anogenital cancers and showed a marked improvement in all indicators in comparison to the remaining cancer sites.

Epidemiological Trends of Haematological Malignancies in Belgium 2004-2018: Older Patients Show the Greatest Improvement in Survival

(1) Background: Haematological malignancies (HMs) represent a heterogeneous group of mostly rare cancers that differ in pathophysiology, incidence, and outcome. (2) Methods: Our study aims to understand the epidemiological situation and trends of 24 main types of HMs in Belgium over a 15-year period, with a focus on the impact of age. Age-standardised incidence, average annual percentage change (AAPC), 5- and 10-year relative survival (RS) and RS trends were estimated for all HMs (N = 94,415) diagnosed between 2004 and 2018. (3) Results: Incidence rates of HM increased, mainly in the 70+ age group (AAPC: 3%). RS varied by age and HM type. For each HM type, outcome decreased with age. The greatest decrease with age in 5-year RS is observed for aggressive HM, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and Burkitt lymphoma, from 67%, 90%, and 97% below 20 years, to 2%, 12%, and 16% above 80 years of age, respectively. The moderate improvement in 5-year RS over the 2004-2018 period for all HMs, of +5 percentage point (pp), masks highly heterogenous outcomes by HM type and age group. The most impressive improvements are observed in the 80+ group: +45, +33, +28, and +16 pp for Hodgkin lymphoma, immunoproliferative disorders, follicular lymphoma, and chronic myeloid leukaemia, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The increasing incidence and survival over the 2004-2018 period are likely explained by diagnostic and therapeutic innovations, which have spread to populations not targeted by clinical trials, especially older adults. This real-world population-based study highlights entities that need significant improvement, such as AML.

Time-trends and age and stage differences in 5-year relative survival for common cancer types by sex in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Survival trends help to evaluate the progress made to reduce the burden of cancer. The aim was to estimate the trends in 5-year relative survival of patients diagnosed with breast, prostate, lung, colorectal cancer and skin melanoma in the time periods 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2009 and 2010-2015 in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Furthermore, we investigated relative survival differences by TNM stage and age group.

METHODS

Data from the Cancer Registry of Zurich was used from 1980 to and including 2015, including incident cases of breast (N = 26,060), prostate (N= 23,858), colorectal (N= 19,305), lung cancer (N= 16,858) and skin melanoma (N= 9780) with follow-up until 31 December 2020. The cohort approach was used to estimate 5-year relative survival.

RESULTS

The 5-year relative survival increased significantly between 1980 and 1989, and 2010 and2015: from 0.70 to 0.89 for breast, from 0.60 to 0.92 for prostate, from 0.09 to 0.23 (men) and from 0.10 to 0.27 (women) for lung, from 0.46 to 0.66 (men) and from 0.48 to 0.68 (women) for colorectal cancer, and from 0.74 to 0.94 (men) and from 0.86 to 0.96 (women) for skin melanoma. Survival for stage IV tumors was considerably lower compared to lower-staged tumors for all cancer types. Furthermore, relative survival was similar for the age groups <80 years but lower for patients aged 80 years and older.

CONCLUSION

The observed increasing trends in survival are encouraging and likely reflect raised awareness around cancer, improved diagnostic methods, and improved treatments. The fact that stage I tumor patients have generally high relative survival reflects the efforts made regarding early detection.

SEOM-GEMCAD-TTD clinical guidelines for the systemic treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (2022)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Spain. Metastatic disease is present in 15-30% of patients at diagnosis and up to 20-50% of those with initially localized disease eventually develop metastases. Recent scientific knowledge acknowledges that this is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease. As treatment options increase, prognosis for individuals with metastatic disease has steadily improved over recent decades. Disease management should be discussed among experienced, multidisciplinary teams to select the most appropriate systemic treatment (chemotherapy and targeted agents) and to integrate surgical or ablative procedures, when indicated. Clinical presentation, tumor sidedness, molecular profile, disease extension, comorbidities, and patient preferences are key factors when designing a customized treatment plan. These guidelines seek to provide succinct recommendations for managing metastatic CRC.

[Survival of cancer patients in Navarre and comparison with Spain]

BACKGROUND

To analyze the survival of adult cancer patients in Navarre, describe its trend, and compare the data for this Spanish Autonomous Community against that reported for Spain.

METHODS

Records of adult cancer patients were retrieved from the Navarre´s population-based cancer registry for two periods (1999-2007 and 2008-2016). The vital status had been updated to 2020. Observed survival, net survival and age-standardized net survival at five years with 95% confidence intervals were estimated overall and for twenty-nine cancer groups.

RESULTS

We analyzed 57,564 cases. Age-standardized net survival was 59.9% (59.1-60.8) and 63.8% (62.8-64.7) for males and females diagnosed with cancer during the 2008-2016 period, respectively. Age-standardized net survival ranged from 13.4% (10.4-17.4) for pancreatic cancer to 94.0% (88.1-100) for thyroid cancer in male patients, and from 11.9% (7.2-19.7) for liver cancer to 95.6% (92.6-98.6-%) for thyroid cancer in female patients. Compared with cases diagnosed in the 1999-2007 period, age-standardized net survival increased in 10 cancer groups, resulting in an overall increase of 5.1 (4.1-6.0) percentage points. The age-standardized net survival in Navarre was 2.7 (1.9-3.4) percentage points higher than that described for Spain for the 2008-2013 period.

CONCLUSIONS

In Navarre, the survival of cancer patients diagnosed during the 2008-2016 period improved significantly in comparison to the 1999-2007 period. Different factors may explain this improvement, including earlier diagnoses, more effective treatment options, and better healthcare processes. Overall, survival was higher in women than in men. Our results suggest a higher survival rate in Navarre than in Spain.

Socio-economic inequalities in lung cancer mortality in Spain: a nation-wide study using area-based deprivation

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer mortality worldwide and in Spain. Several previous studies have documented socio-economic inequalities in lung cancer mortality but these have focused on specific provinces or cities. The goal of this study was to describe lung cancer mortality in Spain by sex as a function of socio-economic deprivation.

METHODS

We analysed all registered deaths from lung cancer during the period 2011-2017 in Spain. Mortality data was obtained from the National Institute of Statistics, and socio-economic level was measured with the small-area deprivation index developed by the Spanish Society of Epidemiology, with the census tract of residence at the time of death as the unit of analysis. We computed crude and age-standardized rates per 100,000 inhabitants by sex, deprivation quintile, and type of municipality (rural, semi-rural, urban) considering the 2013 European standard population (ASR-E). We further calculated ASR-E ratios between the most deprived (Q5) and the least deprived (Q1) areas and mapped census tract smoothed standardized lung cancer mortality ratios by sex.

RESULTS

We observed 148,425 lung cancer deaths (80.7% in men), with 73.5 deaths per 100,000 men and 17.1 deaths per 100,000 women. Deaths from lung cancer in men were five times more frequent than in women (ASR-E ratio = 5.3). Women residing in the least deprived areas had higher mortality from lung cancer (ASR-E = 22.2), compared to women residing in the most deprived areas (ASR-E = 13.2), with a clear gradient among the quintiles of deprivation. For men, this pattern was reversed, with the highest mortality occurring in areas of lower socio-economic level (ASR-E = 99.0 in Q5 vs. ASR-E = 86.6 in Q1). These socio-economic inequalities remained fairly stable over time and across urban and rural areas.

CONCLUSIONS

Socio-economic status is strongly related to lung cancer mortality, showing opposite patterns in men and women, such that mortality is highest in women residing in the least deprived areas and men residing in the most deprived areas. Systematic surveillance of lung cancer mortality by socio-economic status may facilitate the assessment of public health interventions aimed at mitigating cancer inequalities in Spain.

Age-period-cohort analysis of lung cancer mortality inequalities in Southern Spain: missed opportunities for implementing equitable tobacco control policies

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer mortality in European countries shows different epidemiological patterns according to sex and socioeconomic variables. Some countries show decreasing rates in both sexes, while others show a delayed profile, with increasing mortality in women, inconsistently influenced by socioeconomic status. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of age, period and birth cohort on lung cancer mortality inequalities in men and women in Andalusia, the southernmost region in Spain.

METHODS

We used the Longitudinal Database of the Andalusian Population, which collects demographic and mortality data from the 2001 census cohort of more than 7.35 million Andalusians, followed up between 2002 and 2016. Mortality rates were calculated for men and women by educational level, and small-area deprivation. Poisson models were used to assess trends in socioeconomic inequalities in men and women. Finally, age-period-cohort (APC) models were used separately for each educational level and gender.

RESULTS

There were 39,408 lung cancer deaths in men and 5,511 in women, yielding crude mortality rates of 78.1 and 11.4 × 105 person-years, respectively. In men higher mortality was found in less educated groups and inequalities increased during the study period: i.e. the rate ratio for primary studies compared to university studies increased from 1.30 (CI95:1.18-1.44) to 1.57 (CI95:1.43-1.73). For women, educational inequalities in favour of the less educated tended to decrease moderately. In APC analysis, a decreasing period effect in men and an increasing one in women were observed. Cohort effect differed significantly by educational level. In men, the lower the educational level, the earlier the peak effect was reached, with a 25-year difference between the least-educated and college-educated. Conversely, college-educated women reached the peak effect with a 12-year earlier cohort than the least-educated women. The decline of mortality followed the same pattern both in men and women, with the best-educated groups experiencing declining rates with earlier birth cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals that APC analysis by education helps to uncover changes in trends occurring in different socioeconomic and gender groups, which, combined with data on smoking prevalence, provide important clues for action. Despite its limitations, this approach to the study of lung cancer inequalities allows for the assessment of gaps in historical and current tobacco policies and the identification of population groups that need to be prioritised for public health interventions.

Factors from healthcare delivery affecting breast cancer survival in a health area of Northern of Spain

OBJECTIVE

Clinical breast cancer decision-making significantly affects life expectancy and management of hospital resources. The aims of the present study were to estimate the time of survival for breast cancer patients and to identify independent factors from healthcare delivery associated with survival rates in a specific health area of Northern of Spain.

METHODS

Survival analysis was conducted among a cohort of 2545 patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 2006 and 2012 from the population breast cancer registry of Asturias-Spain and followed up till 2019. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify the independent prognostic factors of all-cause from death.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rate was 80%. Advanced age (>80 years) (hazard ratio, HR: 4.35; 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.41-5.54), hospitalization in small hospitals (HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.09-1.97), treatment in oncology wards (HR: 3.57; 95% CI: 2.41-5.27), and length of stay >30 days (HR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.32-3.79) were the main predictors of death. By contrast, breast cancer suspected via screening was associated with a lower risk of death (HR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35-0.87).

CONCLUSION

There is room for improvement in survival rates after breast cancer in the health area of Asturias (Northern of Spain). Some healthcare delivery factors, and other clinical characteristics of the tumor influence the survival of breast cancer patients. Strengthening population screening programs could be relevant to increasing survival rates.

Small-cell neuroendocrine tumor of the bladder: Unexpected long-term survival with carboplatin-etoposide therapy in a patient with metastatic stage disease

Neuroendocrine small-cell bladder cancer is an extremely rare and aggressive entity, it constitutes <1% of all bladder malignancies. The small-cell neuroendocrine histological variant has a worse prognosis than the classical subtypes. A case of a 53-year-old female consulting with gross hematuria is presented. Cystoscopy revealed a solid aspect lesion involving the posterior wall and dome that was resected. Histopathological findings showed small-cell pure variant carcinoma, high grade, with lymph, vascular, and perineural infiltration, infiltrating the muscle layer. The extension study made by hole body computed tomography scan, showed evidence of multiple lymph nodes and multiple visceral radiological involvements, with pulmonary, hepatic, and peritoneal implants. More than 10 years later, after receiving nine cycles of carboplatin-etoposide remains in complete remission and without radiological evidence of the disease. This is, to our knowledge, one of the longest disease-free survival cases in metastatic small-cell bladder cancer published nowadays.

Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Activity Levels and Health Parameters in Young Adults with Cancer

The lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted physical activity (PA) levels around the world, affecting health parameters in young adults with cancer (YAC). To our knowledge, there is no evidence of the impact of the lockdown on the Spanish YAC. To analyse the changes in PA levels before, during, and after the lockdown of the YAC and its impact on health metrics in Spain, in this study, we utilized a self-reported web survey. PA levels decreased during the lockdown, and a significant increase in PA was observed after the lockdown. Moderate PA had the largest reduction (49%). Significant increases in moderate PA were noted after the lockdown (85.2%). Participants self-reported more than 9 h of sitting per day. HQoL and fatigue levels were significantly worse during the lockdown. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in this cohort of Spanish YAC showed a decrease in PA levels during the lockdown, affecting sedentarism, fatigue and HQoL. After lockdown, PA levels partially recovered, while HQoL and fatigue levels remained altered. This may have long-term physical effects such as cardiovascular comorbidities associated with sedentarism and psychosocial effects. It is necessary to implement strategies such as cardio-oncology rehabilitation (CORE), an intervention that can be delivered online, potentially improving participants' health behaviours and outcomes.

Uptake patterns and predictors of colorectal cancer screening among adults resident in Spain: A population-based study from 2017 to 2020

Background

Although population screening has improved the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), most cases are diagnosed in symptomatic patients. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and evolution over time of uptake patterns to fecal immunochemical test (FIT) as a screening test for CRC among individuals aged 50-69 in Spain, and to determine the predictive factors for uptake patterns to this type of screening based on sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with 14,163 individuals from the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey and the 2020 European Health Survey was performed, including as the main variable uptake pattern to FIT screening within the last 2 years, with which we analyzed sociodemographic factors, health status and lifestyle habits.

Results

38.01% of participants had undergone FIT in the previous 2 years, and from 2017 to 2020, a significant increase in the uptake rate for CRC was observed (2017: 32.35%, 2020: 43.92%, p < 0.001). The positive predictors to FIT uptake pattern included factors such as being between 57 and 69 years, having a higher educational level or a higher social class, having at least one chronic illness, frequent contact with the primary care physician, alcohol consumption and physical activity, while immigration and smoking habit were negative predictors.

Conclusion

In Spain, although the evolution of FIT uptake pattern over time is positive, the prevalence of FIT uptake is still low (38.01%), not reaching the level considered as acceptable in the European guidelines. Moreover, there are disparities in CRC screening uptake among individuals.

Incidence and survival of lymphoid neoplasms in Spain, 2002-2013: A population-based study from the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN)

Introduction

The aim of this study was to describe incidence, incidence trends and survival patterns of lymphoid neoplasms (LNs) and its subtypes in Spain in the period 2002-2013 using data from the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN).

Materials and Methods

Data were extracted from 13 Spanish population-based cancer registries. LNs incident cases were codified using the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) and grouped according to the WHO 2008 classification. Age-standardized incidence rates to the 2013 European standard population (ASIRe) were obtained. Poisson regression models were used to analyze trends in incidence rates and estimate the annual percentage change (APC) for each subtype. The number of cases in Spain for 2023 was estimated by applying the estimated age-specific rates for the year 2023 to the 2023 Spanish population. Observed survival (OS) was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and net survival (NS) by the Pohar-Perme method. Sex- and age-specific estimates of 5-year NS were calculated, as well as its changes according to two periods of diagnosis (2002-2007 and 2008-2013).

Results

LNs accounted for 69% (n=39,156) of all hematological malignancies (n=56,751) diagnosed during the period of study. Median age at diagnosis was 67 years (interquartile range (IQR) = 52-77). The overall ASIRe was 34.23 (95% confidence interval (CI): 33.89, 34.57) and showed a marked male predominance in almost all subtypes (global sex ratio = 1.45). During the study period, incidence trends of LNs remained stable (APC: 0.3; 95% CI: -0.1, 0.6), nevertheless some subtypes showed statistically significant variations, such as LNs NOS category (APC: -5.6; 95% CI: -6.8, -4.3). Around 17,926 new cases of LNs will be diagnosed in 2023 in Spain. Survival rates differed considerably across age-groups, while they were similar between men and women. Five- year NS was 62.81% (95% CI: 62.1, 63.52) for all LNs, and varied widely across LNs subtypes, ranging from 39.21% to 90.25%. NS for all LNs improved from the first period of diagnosis to the second one, being 61.57% (95% CI: 60.56, 62.61) in 2002-2007 and 64.17% (95% CI: 63.29, 65.07) in 2008-2013.

Conclusions

This study presents the first complete and extensive population-based analysis of LNs incidence and survival in Spain. These population-based data provide relevant information to better understand the epidemiology of LNs in Southern Europe and it features some useful points for public health authorities and clinicians. However, additional improvements regarding the registration of these hematological neoplasms can be implemented.

Meat Intake, Cooking Methods, Doneness Preferences and Risk of Gastric Adenocarcinoma in the MCC-Spain Study

BACKGROUND

The association of meat intake with gastric adenocarcinoma is controversial. We examined the relation between white, red, and processed meat intake and gastric adenocarcinoma, considering doneness preference and cooking methods, by histological subtype and anatomical subsite.

METHODS

MCC-Spain is a multicase-control study that included 286 incident gastric adenocarcinoma cases and 2993 controls who answered a food-frequency questionnaire. The association of gastric adenocarcinoma with meat intake, doneness preference and cooking methods was assessed using binary multivariate logistic regression mixed models and a possible interaction with sex was considered. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate risk by tumor subsite (cardia vs. non-cardia) and subtype (intestinal vs. diffuse). Sensitivity analyses were conducted comparing models with and without data on Helicobacter pylori infection.

RESULTS

The intake of red and processed meat increased gastric adenocarcinoma risk (OR for one serving/week increase (95% CI) = 1.11 (1.02;1.20) and 1.04 (1.00;1.08), respectively), specifically among men and for non-cardia and intestinal gastric adenocarcinoma. Those who consume well done white or red meat showed higher risk of non-cardia (white: RRR = 1.57 (1.14;2.16); red: RRR = 1.42 (1.00;2.02)) and intestinal tumors (white: RRR = 1.69 (1.10;2.59); red: RRR = 1.61 (1.02;2.53)) than those with a preference for rare/medium doneness. Stewing and griddling/barbequing red and white meat, and oven baking white meat, seemed to be the cooking methods with the greatest effect over gastric adenocarcinoma. The reported associations remained similar after considering Helicobacter pylori seropositivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing red and processed meat intake could decrease gastric adenocarcinoma risk, especially for intestinal and non-cardia tumors. Meat cooking practices could modify the risk of some gastric cancer subtypes.

Effect of the use of prediagnosis hormones on breast cancer prognosis: MCC-Spain study

OBJECTIVE

To extend knowledge about the long-term use of hormones in hormone therapy or oral contraception as prognostic factors in breast cancer.

METHODS

The MCC-Spain project is a cohort of 1,685 women with incident breast cancer recruited in Spain. Recruitment was carried out between 2007 and 2010, and the follow-up finished in December 2017. The impact of hormone therapy or oral contraception on breast cancer prognosis was analyzed considering year of birth and menopausal status (1,095 women [65%] were postmenopausal). Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using Cox regression models. Death by any cause was considered as the event, and hormone therapy or oral contraception were analyzed as regressors.

RESULTS

Oral contraception use for less than 5 years shows an HR of 1.10 (95% CI, 0.75 to 1.62), whereas use for 5 or more years shows an HR of 1.46 (95% CI, 0.95 to 2.25), with a P trend of 0.01, showing a dose-dependent response. Regarding hormone therapy and restricting the analysis to postmenopausal women born between1940 and 1959, where most hormone therapy (consumption) is concentrated, the results did not show any trend.

CONCLUSION

Concerning oral contraception use, our results demonstrate that their use is related to poor prognosis in breast cancer. However, research in this field is limited and controversial, indicating the need for more research in this area. Regarding hormone therapy consumption, our results indicate no association with better prognosis, which contradicts what has previously been published.

[PAPPS Expert Groups. Cancer prevention recommendations: Update 2022]

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity are some of the lifestyle risk factors that have led to an increase in cancer. This article updates the evidence and includes recommendations for prevention strategies for each of the cancers with the highest incidence. These are based on the reduction of risk factors (primary prevention) and early diagnosis of cancer through screening and early detection of signs and symptoms, in medium-risk and high-risk populations. This update of the 2022 PAPPS has taken into account the vision of the National Health System Cancer Strategy, an update approved by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System on January 2021 and the European Strategy (Europe's Beating Cancer Plan) presented on 4 February 2021.