Poor results after surgery for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is suggested to be less aggressive than other types of lung cancer. To assess the option of treatment modification, actual outcome data were studied and compared with results for other types of lung cancer. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who underwent resection for stage I lung cancer in our hospital. For 18 BAC cases, histological specimens were re-evaluated and in three cases diagnosis was revised. RESULTS: In the period 1989 through 2000, 15 patients with BAC and 260 patients with other tumour types underwent surgery in our hospital. Five-year survival rates were 24 and 53%, respectively, (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Given the poor results after standard surgery, parenchyma-sparing operations do not seem justified in patients with invasive BAC.     

Population-based survival for malignant mesothelioma after introduction of novel chemotherapy

Malignant mesothelioma is known for its dismal prognosis and poor response to conventional treatment. Chemotherapy with cisplatin-antifolate combinations recently showed promising response rates and prolonged survival in randomised trials. To assess the impact of this development on clinical practice and survival at a population-based level, treatment patterns and survival trends were studied for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma in the period 1995-2006. 4,731 records were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and chemotherapy use and median survival were analysed. For the periods 1995-1998 to 2005-2006, chemotherapy use increased from 8% to 36%. Median survival increased over time from 7.1 months to 9.2 months. For pleural mesothelioma, multivariable analysis demonstrated that survival was poorer for elderly patients and sarcomatoid tumours. The prognostic impact of chemotherapy increased with time. Median survival for chemotherapy treated patients improved from 10.1 months (1995-1998) to 13.1 months (2005-2006). For peritoneal mesothelioma, median survival was poor (3.9 months) but better for females and younger patients. This study demonstrates that chemotherapy use increased at a national level and coincided with an improvement in survival. The novel chemotherapy regimen appears to be more effective but, due to the observational nature of this study, alternative explanations cannot be excluded.     

Screening for lung cancer in the Netherlands: the role of spiral CT scan

The very poor prognosis of lung cancer has barely changed in the last two decades despite all efforts. However, prognosis is better when the disease is detected earlier, so that curative surgery or radiotherapy can be applied. Lung cancer screening in the past by chest X-ray did not lead to a decrease in lung cancer mortality, because the chest X-ray has low sensitivity for early invasive stages. With the advent of the low-dose spiral CT scan it has become feasible to detect early invasive stage I lung cancer in 80-90%. Modern screening for lung cancer by spiral CT scan could possibly decrease lung cancer mortality. Despite the first favourable results of screening the question remains whether lung cancer screening will be cost-effective. These questions can only be resolved in a randomised controlled trial with lung cancer mortality as unbiased end-point. Such a study should be initiated in the Netherlands, a country with large experience in screening trials and a good health care system. Only after lung cancer screening has proven to be cost-effective can appropriate implementation be recommended to prevent uncontrolled and opportunistic diffusion of this new screening technique into clinical practice in the near future.     

Survival differences between European and US patients with colorectal cancer: role of stage at diagnosis and surgery

BACKGROUND: Population based colorectal cancer survival among patients diagnosed in 1985-89 was lower in Europe than in the USA (45% v 59% five year relative survival). AIMS: To explain this difference in survival using a new analytic approach for patients diagnosed between 1990 and 1991. SUBJECTS: A total of 2492 European and 11 191 US colorectal adenocarcinoma patients registered by 10 European and nine US cancer registries. METHODS: We obtained clinical information on disease stage, number of lymph nodes examined, and surgical treatment. We analysed three year relative survival, calculating relative excess risks of death (RERs, referent category US patients) adjusted for age, sex, site, surgery, stage, and number of nodes examined, using a new multivariable approach. RESULTS: We found that 85% of European patients and 92% of US patients underwent surgical resection. Three year relative survival was 69% for US patients and 57% for European patients. After adjustment for age, sex, and site, the RER was significantly high in all 10 European populations, ranging from 1.07 (95% confidence interval 0.86-1.32) (Modena, Italy) to 2.22 (1.79-2.76) (Thames, UK). After further adjustment for stage, surgical resection, and number of nodes examined (a determinant of stage), RERs ranged from 0.77 (0.62-0.96) to 1.59 (1.28-1.97). For some European registries the excess risk was small and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: US-Europe survival differences in colorectal cancer are large but seem to be mostly attributable to differences in stage at diagnosis. There are wide variations in diagnostic and surgical practice between Europe and the USA.     

Peritoneal dialysis treatment in children and parental stress

The burden placed on the parents of a child in dialysis treatment can induce negative effects on the medical treatment and on the psychological development of the child. To identify which families are at risk, both parents of 14 out of 16 eligible patients in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) answered an extensive questionnaire three times during one year. Large differences were found between the families with regard to the amount of stress experienced. Parents of older children (< 5 years) (and particularly parents of children with a failed transplantation) experienced significantly more stress. The nature of the stress was determined more by the psychological aspects than by the medical aspects of the treatment. Concern about the future contributed most to the stress experienced. Therefore, emotional support as well as practical help for families at risk is recommended.     

Usage of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in Elderly Patients With Small-cell Lung Cancer

Background

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) reduces the risk of overt brain metastases in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and is currently recommended in guidelines for both limited and extensive disease. Given the concerns about the greater frequency of neurologic side effects in elderly patients, we studied the association among age, PCI usage, and survival for SCLC patients in the Netherlands.