Report from the 20th annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; 28-29 September 2018

The 20th annual Western Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 28-29 September 2018. This interactive multidisciplinary conference is attended by health care professionals from across Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) who are involved in the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. In addition, invited speakers from other provinces participate. Surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, and allied health care professionals participated in presentations and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses current issues in the management of colorectal cancers.

Active treatment in low-risk prostate cancer: a population-based study

Background

Active surveillance instead of active treatment (at) is preferred for patients with low-risk prostate cancer (lr-pca), but practice varies widely. We conducted a population-based study to assess the proportion of patients who underwent at between January 2011 and December 2014, and to evaluate factors associated with at.

Methods

The provincial cancer registry was linked to administrative health datasets to identify patients with lr-pca and to acquire demographic, tumour, and treatment data. The primary outcome was receipt of at during the first 12 months after diagnosis, defined as any receipt of external-beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, radical prostatectomy, cryotherapy, or androgen deprivation. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation between patient and tumour factors and at.

Results

Of 1565 patients with lr-pca, 554 (35.4%) underwent at within 12 months of diagnosis. Radical prostatectomy was the most common treatment (58%), followed by brachytherapy (29.6%). Younger age [odds ratio (or) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (ci): 0.91 to 0.94], lower score (≥3) on the Charlson comorbidity index (OR: 0.36; 95% ci: 0.19 to 0.68), T2 stage (or: 3.05; 95% ci: 2.03 to 4.58), higher prostate-specific antigen (psa) at diagnosis (or: 1.13; 95% ci: 1.06 to 1.21), radiation oncologist consultation (or: 3.35; 95% ci: 2.55 to 4.39), and earlier diagnosis year (2012 or: 0.46; 95% ci: 0.34 to 0.63; 2013 or: 0.45; 95% ci: 0.32 to 0.63; 2014 or: 0.33; 95% ci: 0.23 to 0.47) were associated with a higher probability of at.

Conclusions

This contemporary population-based study demonstrates that approximately one third of patients with lr-pca undergo at. Patients of younger age, with less comorbidity, a higher tumour stage, higher psa, earlier year of diagnosis, and radiation oncologist consultation were more likely to undergo at. Further investigation is needed to identify strategies that could minimize overtreatment.

Oncology education for Canadian internal medicine residents: the value of participating in a medical oncology elective rotation

Background

Despite the high incidence and burden of cancer in Canadians, medical oncology (mo) rotations are not mandatory in most Canadian internal medicine (im) residency training programs.

Methods

All im residents scheduled for a mo rotation at 4 Canadian teaching cancer centres between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 were invited to complete an online survey before and after their rotation. The survey was designed to evaluate perceptions of oncology, comfort in managing cancer patients, and basic oncology knowledge.

Results

The survey was completed by 68 im residents pre-rotation and by 48 (71%) post-rotation. Cancer-related learning was acquired mostly from mo physicians in clinic (35%). Self-directed learning, didactic teaching, and resident or fellow teaching accounted for 31%, 26%, and 10% respectively of learning acquisition. Comfort level in dealing with cancer patients and patients at end of life improved to 4.0/5 from 3.2/5 (p < 0.001) and to 4.0/5 from 3.6/5 (p = 0.003) respectively. Mean knowledge assessment score improved to 83% post-rotation from 76% pre-rotation (p = 0.003), with the greatest increase observed in general knowledge of common malignancies. The 3 topics ranked as most important to learn during a mo rotation were oncologic emergencies, common complications of treatment, and approach to diagnosis of cancer.

Conclusions

A rotation in mo improves the perceptions of im residents about oncology and their comfort level in dealing with cancer patients and patients at end of life. Overall cancer knowledge is also improved. Given those benefits, im residency programs should encourage most of their residents to complete a mo rotation.

Chemotherapy-related thrombocytosis: does it increase the risk of thromboembolism?

OBJECTIVES

Chemotherapy increases the risk of thromboembolism in patients with cancer. Although thrombocytopenia is a known side effect of chemotherapy, reactive thrombocytosis related to chemotherapy is uncommonly reported. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of gemcitabine-related thrombocytosis and the associated risk of thromboembolism.

METHODS

Medical records of 250 consecutive patients with a malignant disease who received gemcitabine-based therapy were reviewed. A multivariate analysis was done to determine factors associated with thromboembolism.

RESULTS

A total of 220 eligible patients with a median age of 63 years (range 26-83) were identified. Of these 220 patients, 95% had advanced malignancy and 59% had received prior chemotherapy. A total of 69% of patients received a platinum combination. In all, 46% patients experienced thrombocytosis following chemotherapy, with a median platelet count of 632 × 10(9)/l (range 457-1,385). Twenty-three of the 220 patients experienced a vascular event within 6 weeks of treatment. Eleven patients with thrombocytosis experienced a vascular event compared with 10 patients without thrombocytosis (not significant). On multivariate analysis, leukocytosis (odds ratio 5.8, 95% confidence interval 2.1-15.8) and comorbid illnesses (odds ratio 4.1, 95% confidence interval 1.4-12.6) were correlated with thromboembolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Although gemcitabine-based therapy has been associated with an increased incidence of thrombocytosis, it does not increase the risk of thromboembolism in cancer patients. Leukocytosis and comorbid illnesses do increase the risk of thromboembolism.

P1-08-15: Pattern of Cardiac Monitoring and Risk of Trastuzumab Associated-Cardiac Dysfunction in a Clinical Practice: A Population Based Study

Background: Adjuvant trastuzumab therapy (ATT) in women with early-stage HER2+ breast cancer has been associated with significant reduction in the disease recurrence and mortality. Cardiac dysfunction (CD) is a known serious adverse effect of ATT. Although periodic cardiac monitoring is recommended during ATT, little is known about pattern of cardiac monitoring and incidence of CD in a clinical setting. The study aimed to determine extent of cardiac monitoring and rate of CD during ATT and to identify factors correlated with CD.

Methods: Medical records of women with localized HER+ breast cancer diagnosed between the years 2005–2007 in the province of Saskatchewan was reviewed. Women with advanced or recurrent disease or if they were treated in the setting of an adjuvant trastuzumab trial were excluded. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine various clinical variables correlated with CD.

Results: A total 116 eligible women with median age of 54 yrs (range: 27–74) and median BMI of 27 (range: 44–17) were indentified. 40% had a cardiac risk factor & 30% were premenopausal. 51% had node positive & 53% had ER or PR+ breast cancer. 92% received anthracycline-based chemotherapy and 23% received sequential ATT. Of 62 patients with ER/PR+ breast cancer, 61% received adjuvant aromatase inhibitors. Baseline cardiac assessment was performed in 93% women. 98% women underwent periodic cardiac monitoring during ATT, 55% had monitoring performed at the interval of 3–4 months & 82% women had monitoring performed at the interval of 3–6 months. Mean baseline cardiac ejection fraction (EF%) prior to the commencement of chemotherapy and ATT were 65% & 63.9% respectively (p=NS). CD was observed in 32 (28%) women and only 4% were symptomatic. Trastuzumab was interrupted in 34%, and was discontinued in 20% women. Of 32 women with CD, 59% were referred to a cardiologist and 53% were treated with medication. CD was reversible in 84% cases. On multivariate analysis adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy was significantly correlated with cardiac dysfunction (Odd ratio 6.9 [95% CI: 1.4−33.0]). During the follow up period 18% women developed recurrent disease and 16% were died.

Conclusions: Our results confirm high compliance with cardiac monitoring, though not as frequently as recommended in the clinical trial setting. Overall the rate of symptomatic decline in cardiac function was similar to the rate reported in the clinical trials, however, a relatively higher incidence of asymptomatic decline in the left ventricle EF% was noted. Among various variables examined, adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy was associated with an increased risk of CD.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-08-15.