Trends and Variation in the Use of Radiotherapy in Non-metastatic Rectal Cancer: a 14-year Nationwide Overview from the Netherlands

AIMS

This study describes nationwide primary radiotherapy utilisation trends for non-metastasised rectal cancer in the Netherlands between 2008 and 2021. In 2014, both colorectal cancer screening and a new guideline specifying prognostic risk groups for neoadjuvant treatment were implemented.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with non-metastasised rectal cancer in 2008-2021 (n = 37 510) were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and classified into prognostic risk groups. Treatment was studied over time and age. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with (i) radiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy use for intermediate rectal cancer and (ii) chemoradiotherapy without versus with surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer.

RESULTS

For early rectal cancer, the use of neoadjuvant radiotherapy decreased (15% to 5% between 2008 and 2021), whereas the use of endoscopic resections increased (8% in 2015, 17% in 2021). In intermediate-risk rectal cancer, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (43% until 2011, 25% in 2015) shifted to radiotherapy (42% in 2008, 50% in 2015), the latter being most often applied in older patients. In locally advanced rectal cancer, the use of chemoradiotherapy without surgery increased (2-4% in 2008-2013, 17% in 2019-2021). Both neoadjuvant treatment in intermediate disease and omission of surgery following chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced disease varied with increasing age (odds ratio>75vs<50: 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.54-3.06) and treatment region (Southwest and Northwest odds ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.42-0.93 and odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.44-0.95, respectively, compared with the North).

CONCLUSION

Treatment patterns in non-metastasised rectal cancer significantly changed over time. Effects of both the national screening programme and the new treatment guideline were apparent, as well as a paradigm shift towards organ preservation (watch-and-wait). Observed regional variations may indicate adoption differences regarding new treatment strategies.

Improvement in survival for patients with synchronous metastatic esophageal cancer in the south of the Netherlands from 1994 to 2013

BACKGROUND

We assessed the use of external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer and evaluated the effect on overall survival.

METHODS

We included all patients diagnosed with synchronous metastatic esophageal cancer in the south of the Netherlands between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2013. Proportions of patients treated with external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy were described with respect to the period of diagnosis, patient and tumor characteristics. Independent risk factors for death were discriminated.

RESULTS

A total of 1020 patients were included, 61.5% of these patients received palliative treatment with external beam radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, brachytherapy and/or chemotherapy. The use of external beam radiotherapy decreased from 44.5% in 1994 to 22.2% in 2013 (p = 0.0001), whereas the use of chemoradiotherapy increased from 2.9% in 1994 to 19.1% in 2013 (p < 0.0001). The prescription of systemic chemotherapy as single modality increased from 13.9% to 30.5% (p < 0.0001). The use of brachytherapy decreased from 20.9% in 1994 to 7.4% in 2013 (p = 0.0013). The odds of receiving external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy were influenced by different tumor and patient characteristics, such as age, gender, histologic subtype and number of metastatic sites. The median overall survival in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer significantly improved over time from 18 weeks (one-year survival rate 14.4%) in 1994-1998 to 25 weeks (one-year survival rate 22.4%) in 2009-2013. Patients treated with chemoradiotherapy had the most favorable prognosis, followed by patients treated with chemotherapy as a single modality.

CONCLUSION

The median overall survival of patients diagnosed with metastatic esophageal cancer improved from 18 weeks in 1994-1998 to 25 weeks in 2009-2013. Although this increase could be attributed to stage migration, our population-based study suggests that major changes in treatment strategies and appropriate patient selection might have played a role as well.