Low-dose aspirin use and cancer characteristics: a population-based cohort study

Background:

Long-term daily use of aspirin has been associated with reduced cancer mortality. To explore this association, we compared tumour TNM characteristics among aspirin users with those among non-users.

Methods:

From the Swedish Cancer Register, we identified patients diagnosed with colorectal, lung, prostate and breast cancers between 2006 and 2009 and matched them to the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register to obtain information on low-dose aspirin use prior to diagnosis. Contingency table and logistic regression analyses were used to test for association and obtain odds ratios (ORs).

Results:

We identified 17 041 colorectal, 9766 lung, 29 770 prostate and 20 299 breast cancer patients. The proportion of low-dose aspirin users was ∼26% among colorectal, lung and prostate cancer patients and ∼14% among breast cancer patients. Adjusted for age, gender, education level and place of residence, low-dose aspirin use was associated with lower tumour extent (T) for colorectal and lung cancers (P<0.0001) but not for prostate and breast cancers. The adjusted OR of aspirin use for the T4 vs T1 categories was ∼0.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6–0.8). For all cancers, we found no evidence of association of aspirin use with nodal involvement (N). Except for a borderline result in prostate cancer (OR ∼0.9; 95% CI 0.8–1.0), aspirin use was associated with a lower rate of metastatic disease (ORs ∼0.6–0.8). Among the histological subgroups of lung cancer, significant differences in tumour extent were observed most clearly within the adenocarcinoma subgroup (OR ∼0.6, 95% CI 0.5–0.8), although numbers of other subtypes were more limited; and there was a significant reduction of ∼20–30% in the odds of metastasis among the aspirin users across the subgroups.

Conclusion:

Use of low-dose aspirin in the year prior to diagnosis was found to be associated with lower tumour extent and fewer metastatic disease for colorectal and lung cancers. For these cancers, the benefit of aspirin use appears to be during both early and late cancer progression.     

Individual and joint use of statins and low-dose aspirin and risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based case-control study

Recent research has drawn attention to protective effects of statins on colorectal cancer (CRC) and possible joint effects with other drugs. Because statins are often administered in combination with low-dose aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, the aim of our study was to investigate individual and combined effects of statins and low-dose aspirin on CRC risk. We assessed use of statins and low-dose aspirin in 540 cases with histologically confirmed incident CRC and 614 control subjects in a population-based case-control study in Germany. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the impact of regular use of either low-dose aspirin or statins, and of both drugs combined on CRC risk. We found modest risk reduction of CRC for regular use of low-dose aspirin (adjusted odds ratio 0.77, 95% confidence interval 0.55-1.07) and a stronger association with regular use of statins (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-0.99) or use of both drugs (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.36-1.10). Combined use of low-dose aspirin and statins was associated with risk reduction by 62% after 5 or more years (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.97). Combinational chemoprevention with low-dose aspirin and statins might provide stronger risk reduction than either of the single drugs after at least 5 years use, but confirmation is needed, preferably in prospective cohort studies and eventually by randomized controlled trials.     

Potential intrinsic subtype dependence on the association between metformin use and survival in surgically resected breast cancer: a Korean national population-based study

International Journal of Clinical Oncology - Numerous studies have suggested that metformin treatment can increase breast cancer survival; however, it is unclear whether its effects interact with...     

Bladder cancer in cancer patients: population-based estimates from a large Swedish study

Background:

This study quantified the risk of urinary bladder neoplasms in cancer patients taking into account the age at first diagnosis, the gender of the patients and the lead time between diagnoses.

Methods:

We used standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) to compare the incidence of bladder tumours in 967 767 cancer patients with the incidence rate in the general Swedish population. A total of 3324 male and 1560 female patients developed bladder tumours at least 1 year after first cancer diagnosis.

Results:

After bladder and renal pelvis cancers, the SIRs of bladder neoplasms were higher in female than in male patients. Men affected by lung, stomach and larynx tumours belonged to the population at high risk for bladder cancer. Treatment of breast, ovarian and cervical cancers seems to contribute to the subsequent development of bladder neoplasms. Long latencies (16–25 years) were observed after testicular, cervical and endometrial cancers. Detection bias had an important role after prostate cancer. Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and cisplatin, and also radiotherapy, seem to increase the risk of subsequent neoplasms in the bladder.

Conclusions:

These population-based results may help urologists to assess the risk of bladder neoplasms in cancer survivors. Our data should guide ongoing studies that investigate the effectiveness of bladder cancer screening in cancer patients.     

Inequity in colorectal cancer treatment and outcomes: a population-based study

Several uncertainties surround optimal management of colorectal cancer. We investigated treatment patterns and factors influencing treatment receipt and mortality in routine clinical practice. We included 15 249 individuals, recorded by the National Cancer Registry (Ireland), with primary invasive colon or rectal tumours, diagnosed during 1994-2002. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards were used to determine factors associated with treatment receipt within 1 year of diagnosis and with mortality, respectively. A total of 78% had colorectal resection, 31% chemotherapy, and 13% radiotherapy (4% colon; 28% rectum). Half of stage IV patients underwent resection. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy use increased by at least 10% per annum. There was a notable increase in pre-operative radiotherapy from 2000 onwards. Patient-related factors were significantly associated with treatment receipt. Patients who were male, older, not married, or smokers had significantly higher risks of death. Chemotherapy was significantly associated with lower mortality for stage III, but not stage II, colon cancer. For rectal cancer, pre-operative radiotherapy was associated with reduced mortality. Surgery and chemotherapy were associated with longer survival for stage IV patients. The observed inequities in treatment and outcomes suggest that there is potential for further dissemination of therapies in routine practice. Improving treatment availability overall, and equity, has the potential to reduce mortality.     

Worse survival in breast cancer among women with recent childbirth: results from a Swedish population-based register study

This study was designed to investigate how time since childbirth affects breast cancer survival using unselected population-based data linking data from the Swedish Cancer Registry, fertility register, and population census registers. A total of 14,693 parous women < or =45 years of age with breast cancer were identified. Information on deaths was collected, and 5- and 10-year survival rates were calculated according to time since most recent childbirth. Mortality during the first 10 years of follow-up was further investigated in a Cox analysis, with adjustments for age at diagnosis, time period during which the diagnosis was made, number of children, and age at the time of the first child's birth. Women with diagnosis during pregnancy had a 5-year survival rate of 52.1% (95% CI, 41.2%-61.9%) and a 10-year survival rate of 43.9% (95% CI, 33.1%-54.2%), compared with survival rates of 80.0% (95% CI, 79.6%-81.4%) and 68.6% (95% CI, 67.5%-69.7%), respectively, in women diagnosed >10 years since childbirth. In the multivariate model, we found that time since childbirth was associated with inferior survival rates in cases of diagnosis <8 years after childbirth, in which the lowest survival rates were seen in women with diagnosis during pregnancy in the first 5 years of follow-up (adjusted relative risk compared with women with >10 years since last childbirth, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.8-3.4). The adjusted hazard ratios could be described by a decreasing function of a logarithmic transformation of years since childbirth. We found that the time of follow-up was of importance, in that women with a recent pregnancy had particularly lower survival rates during the first 5 years after diagnosis. The mechanisms behind the poor survival in breast cancer for women with recent childbirth are not known, but we suggest that one explanation might be a lower proportion of hormone receptor-positive tumors.     

Pre-diagnostic aspirin use and mortality after breast cancer

Background

Whether aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammation drug (NSAID) use is associated with mortality following breast cancer remains unclear. Consideration of use patterns and interaction with obesity may help to clarify the inconsistent results.

Methods

Pre-diagnosis NSAID use, weight, and height were assessed?~?3 months after diagnosis through in-person interviews with a population-based cohort of 1,442 women with first primary breast cancer. Vital status was determined through the national death index after ~?18 years of follow-up (N?=?237/597 breast cancer-specific/all-cause deaths). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multiplicative interaction by body mass index (BMI) was evaluated using the likelihood ratio test.

Results

Ever aspirin use was inversely associated with breast cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.59–1.29), but positively associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.99–1.48); the CIs included the null values. The HRs, however, were more pronounced for the highest level of duration, frequency, regularity, and timing for all-cause, but not breast cancer-specific mortality. Interactions with BMI revealed no significant heterogeneity (p_interaction = 0.37 and p_interaction = 0.36, respectively).

Conclusion

Pre-diagnosis aspirin use was not strongly associated with mortality following breast cancer. The all-cause mortality associations, however, were slightly stronger when we considered patterns of use.

     

Diabetes mellitus and breast cancer: a retrospective population-based cohort study

SummaryPurpose Evidence suggests that women with type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk of breast cancer, possibly due to chronic exposure to insulin resistance and/or hyperinsulinemia. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women with and without diabetes.Methods Using population-based validated health databases from Ontario, Canada, this retrospective cohort study compared breast cancer incidence between women, aged 55–79 years, with newly diagnosed diabetes (n=73,796) to women without diabetes (n=391,714).Results Women with diabetes were slightly older, were more likely to reside in a lower income neighborhood, had greater comorbidity, and had more annual physician visits than women without diabetes. After 2.2 million person-years of follow-up from 1994 to 2002, breast cancer incidence was 2.97/1000 person-years in the diabetes group and 2.75/1000 person-years in the non-diabetes group. After adjustment for age and income, there was a significant increase in breast cancer among women with diabetes (hazard ratio, HR, 1.08, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.01–1.16, p=0.021).Conclusion This study found a small but significant increase in incident breast cancer in a predominantly postmenopausal population of women with diabetes, when compared to women without diabetes. These results support the possibility that insulin resistance or some other aspect of type 2 diabetes may promote breast cancer, and may further direct treatment and prevention strategies.     

乳腺癌与抑郁相关性的初步研究

目的:探讨抗抑郁治疗对乳腺癌化疗患者生活质量及其免疫功能的影响。方法:对363例乳腺癌术后化疗的患者行汉密顿抑郁量表(Hamilton Depression Scale,HAMD)(24项)法检测;将积分在20分以上的156例抑郁患者随机分成2组:化疗加抗抑郁治疗组78例(研究组)和单纯化疗组78例(对照组);6周后采用生活质量(quality of life,QOL)量表法观察患者治疗前后生活质量的改变,同时行血清免疫指标的检测和评定。结果:化疗加抗抑郁治疗组患者的情绪、睡眠障碍和依从性较单纯化疗组明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。化疗加抗抑郁治疗组患者血清中CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+及自然杀伤细胞数治疗后较治疗前均有提高,而对照组患者中CD3+治疗后较治疗前明显降低(P<0.05),研究组患者血清中CD3+和CD4+T细胞的含量在抗抑郁治疗后明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:抗抑郁治疗可明显提高乳腺癌化疗患者的生活质量及改善免疫损害。     

Rapid reporting of cancer incidence in a population-based study of breast cancer: one constructive use of a central cancer registry

Summary To support a study of genetic risk factors for breast cancer, the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry has implemented a rapid reporting procedure for hospitals in the study area. This system permits the identification of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases within a very short time period (less than one month). The procedures are straightforward, cost-effective, and greatly benefit the objectives of tissue collection and interviews with the cases. This article describes the rapid reporting procedures and their potential impact for population-based research. For the objective of making generalizable risk statements, the necessity of population-based research is stressed; participation with central cancer registries is endorsed for this and other molecular epidemiologic applications.