Cancer Survival and Excess Mortality Estimates among Adolescents and Young Adults in Western Australia, 1982-2004: A Population-Based Study

Background: Data are limited on cancer outcomes in adolescents and young adults. Methods: Based on data from the Western Australian Data Linkage System, this study modelled survival and excess mortality in all adolescents and young adults aged 15-39 years in Western Australia who had a diagnosis of cancer in the period 1982-2004. Relative survival and excess all-cause mortality for all cancers combined and for principal tumour subgroups were estimated, using the Ederer II method and generalised linear Poisson modelling, respectively. Results: A cancer diagnosis in adolescents and young adults conferred substantial survival decrement. However, overall outcomes improved over calendar period (excess mortality hazard ratio [HR], latest versus earliest diagnostic period: 0.52, trend <0.0001). Case fatality varied according to age group (HR, oldest versus youngest: 1.38, trend <0.0001), sex (HR, female versus male: 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-0.71), ethnicity (HR, Aboriginal versus others: 1.47, CI 1.23-1.76), geographical area (HR, rural/remote versus urban: 1.13, CI 1.04-1.23) and residential socioeconomic status (HR, lowest versus highest quartile: 1.14, trend <0.05). Tumour subgroups differed substantially in frequency according to age group and sex, and were critical outcome determinants. Conclusions: Marked progressive calendar-time improvement in overall outcomes was evident. Further research is required to disentangle the contributions of tumour biology and health service factors to outcome disparities between ethno-demographic, geographic and socioeconomic subgroups of adolescents and young adults with cancer. © 2013 Haggar et al

Chemotherapy in elderly small-cell lung cancer patients: yes we can, but should we do it?

Background: Twenty percent of all newly diagnosed patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) are > 75 years. Elderly patients may show more toxicity due to co-morbidity. We evaluated motives for adherence to treatment guidelines, completion of treatment and toxicity. Patients and methods: Population-based data from patients aged >= 75 years and diagnosed with SCLC in 1997-2004 in The Netherlands were used (368 limited disease and 577 extensive disease). Additional data on co-morbidity (Adult Co-morbidity Evaluation 27), World Health Organisation performance status (PS), treatment, motive for no chemotherapy, adaptations and underlying motive and grade 3 or 4 toxicity were gathered from the medical records. Results: Forty-eight percent did not receive chemotherapy. The most common motives were refusal by the patient or family, short life expectancy or a combination of high age, co-morbidity and poor PS. Although only relatively fit elderly were selected for chemotherapy, 60%-75% developed serious toxicity, and two-thirds of all patients could not complete the full chemotherapy. Conclusions: We hypothesise that a better selection by proper geriatric assessments is needed to achieve a more favourable balance between benefit and harm

Cancer patients with cardiovascular disease have survival rates comparable to cancer patients within the age-cohort of 10 years older without cardiovascular morbidity

Due to aging of the population the prevalence of both cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer is increasing. Elderly patients are often under-represented in clinical trials, resulting in limited guidance about treatment and outcome. This study gives insight into the prevalence of CVD among unselected patients with colon, rectum, lung, breast and prostate cancer and its effects on cancer treatment and outcome. Over one fourth (N = 11,200) of all included cancer patients aged 50 or older (N = 41,126) also suffered from CVD, especially those with lung (34%) or colon cancer (30%). These patients were often treated less aggressively, especially in case COPD or diabetes was also present. CVD had an independent prognostic effect among patients with colon, rectum and prostate cancer. This prognostic effect could not be fully explained by differences in treatment. Conclusions: Many cancer patients with severe CVD have a poorer prognosis. More research is needed for explaining the underlying factors for the decreased survival. Such research should lead to treatment guidelines for these patients. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Improving Relative Survival, But Large Remaining Differences in Survival for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Across Europe and the United States From 1990 to 2004

Purpose Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematologic malignant neoplasm in adults. Monitoring differential changes in population-based survival is across Europe and the United States (US) could point to progress attained and impact of application of novel treatments. Patients and Methods We examined trends in age-specific 5-year relative survival among patients with NHL age 15 years or older between 1990 and 1994 and 2000 and 2004, on the basis of follow-up data from 12 population-based cancer registries across Europe, using period analysis techniques and compared the results with similar trends of patients with NHL in the US, as recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Results By 2000 to 2004, overall 5-year relative survival of patients with NHL across Europe was between 37% and 62%, achieved by overall increases in 5-year relative survival ranging from 4% to 12% units between 1990 and 1994 and 2000 and 2004. Changes in age-specific survival ranged from -1% to 43% units during the same time interval. For patients with NHL older than age 55 years, relative survival in individual European registries for the whole period was between 8% and 36% units lower than in the US, theoretically representing a lag of 4 to 10 years of progress. Conclusion Our analyses disclosed a strong and ongoing increase in long-term survival for patients with NHL in European populations. The geographic differences potentially indicate that further improvements could be possible, especially for patients age 55 years or older. The presumptive delay in improvement in survival among elderly patients with NHL in Europe remains to be clarified. J Clin Oncol 29:192-199. (C) 2010 by American Society of Clinical Oncolog