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Background An increasing proportion of colorectal cancers (CRCs) are detected through screening due to the availability of organised population-based programmes. We aimed to analyse survival probabilities of patients with screen-detected CRC in European countries. Methods Data from CRC patients were obtained from 16 population-based cancer registries in nine European countries. We included patients with cancer diagnosed from the year organised CRC screening programmes were introduced until the most recent year with available data at the time of analysis, whose ages at diagnosis fell into the age groups targeted by screening. Patients were followed up with regards to vital status until 2016-2020 across the various countries. Overall and CRC-specific survival were analysed by mode of detection and stage at diagnosis for all countries combined and for each country separately using the Kaplan-Meier method. Findings We included data from 228 134 patients, of whom 134 597 (aged 60-69 years at diagnosis targeted by screening in all countries) were considered in analyses for all countries combined. 22·3% (38 080/134 597) of patients had cancer detected through screening. Most screen-detected cancers were found at stages I-II (65·6% [12 772/19 469 included in stage-specific analyses]), while the majority of non-screen-detected cancers were found at stages III-IV (56·4% [31 882/56 543 included in stage-specific analyses]). Five-year overall and CRC-specific survival rates for patients with screen-detected cancer were 83·4% (95% CI 82·9-83·9) and 89·2% (88·8-89·7), respectively; for patients with non-screen-detected cancer, they were much lower (57·5% [57·2-57·8] and 65·7% [65·4-66·1], respectively). The favourable survival of patients with screen-detected cancer was also seen within each stage – five-year overall survival rates for patients with screen-detected stage I, II, III, and IV cancers were 92.4% (95% CI 91·6-93·1), 87·9% (86·6-89·1), 80·7% (79·3-82·0), and 32·3 (29·4-35·2), respectively. These patterns were also consistently seen for each individual country. Interpretation Patients with cancer diagnosed at screening have a very favourable prognosis. In the rare case of detection of advanced stage cancer, survival probabilities are still much higher than those commonly reported for all patients regardless of mode of detection. Although these results cannot be taken to quantify screening effects, they provide useful and encouraging information for patients with screen-detected CRC and their physicians. Funding This study was supported in part by grants from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Cancer Aid

The management regarding metastatic colorectal cancer throughout Europe is not well known.To draw a European comparison of the management and prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancers.Factors associated with chemotherapy administration were identified through logistic regressions. Net survival was estimated and crude probabilities of death related to cancer and other causes using a flexible cumulative hazard model.Among the 13 227 patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2013 in cancer registries from 10 European countries, 3140 were metastatic. 62% of metastatic patients received chemotherapy. Compared to Spain, the related adjusted odds ratios ranged from 0.7 to 4.0 (P0.001) according to country. The 3-year net survival by country ranged between 16% and 37%. The survival gap between countries diminished from 21% to 10% when adjusting for chemotherapy, age and sex. Geographical differences in the crude probability of death related to cancer were large for patients70 or ≥80 years at diagnosis.Heterogeneity in the application of European guidelines partly explain these differences. General health between populations, accessibility to a reference centre, or provision of health care could also be involved. Further population-based studies are warranted to disentangle between these possible explanations.

Staging is essential for scientific exchanges on colorectal cancer. Lack of a consensual definition for synchronous and metachronous metastases for colorectal cancer may introduce artifactual differences between epidemiological studies according to stage. We investigated how variations in the cutoff for the definition of synchronous metastases influenced the stage-specific distribution and incidence and the survival of stage IV patients. Between 2007 and 2013, a total of 4636 cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma were registered in the cancer registry of Burgundy. Age-standardized incidence by stage was estimated for each cutoff from 0 to 12 months, differentiating between synchronous and metachronous metastases. Net survival was calculated from the date of the diagnosis of metastasis. The incidence of stage IV colorectal cancer increased from 6.0/100 000 when considering metastases diagnosed within the first month to 7.1/100 000 when including metastases diagnosed until 12 months after the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. When the cutoff increased from 1 to 12 months, the relative variation in the proportion of cancers was +21% for stage IV, -12% for stage III, and -5% for stage II. Similarly, the 1-year net survival for metachronous group was over 10% higher than that for the synchronous group when the cutoff was over 5 months. An objective definition of the relevant cutoff to distinguish between synchronous and metachronous metastases is required for scientific epidemiologic exchanges. Survival in the metachronous group was significantly better than survival in the synchronous group when the cutoff between synchronous and metachronous was over 4 months after the primary diagnosis.

Background This study aims to measure the association between deprivation, health care accessibility and health care system with the likelihood of receiving non-restorative rectal cancer surgery (NRRCS). Methods All adult patients who had rectal resection for invasive adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2007 and 2016 in four French specialised cancer registries were included. A multilevel logistic regression with random effect was used to assess the link between patient and health care structure characteristics on the probability of NRRCS. Results 2997 patients underwent rectal cancer resection in 68 health care structures: 708 (23.63%) had NRRCS. The likelihood of receiving NRCCS was associated with patients’ characteristics (97%): age, sub peritoneal rectal tumors, neoadjuvant therapy, residual tumour and stage III . There was no impact of European Deprivation Index or remoteness on NRRCS. Inter-health care structure variability was modest (3%), of which 50% was explained by the high group volume of colorectal procedures and the type of health care structure which were associated with less NRRCS (p Conclusion There is an influence of operating volume and type of structure on the probability of NRRCS, but it has truly little importance in explaining differences in performances. The probability of NRRCS is mainly affected by clinical determinant.

International audience; Aims: to describe, using data from a cancer registry in a well-defined French population, the therapeutic strategies and survival of patients with metastatic colon cancer (mCC).Methods: all patients with synchronous mCC diagnosed within the 2005-2014 period recorded in the digestive cancers registry of Burgundy were included.Results: 1286 mCC patients were included (57% male), of which 34.5% did not receive any antitumor treatment. Both, advanced age (≥75 years) and the Charlson comorbidity score ≥2 were significantly associated with the absence of antitumor treatment. Among the patients treated with chemotherapy, 59 and 33% received at least two and three lines, respectively. Most patients treated with chemotherapy (68%) did not receive first-line targeted therapy. Of patients aged ≥75 years, 57% received no chemotherapy and 56% of treated patients had first-line treatment only.Conclusion: this population-based study shows that more than one-third of patients with mCC receive no chemotherapy and that only 59% of treated patients receive treatment beyond the first line. This study also highlights the fact that more than half of patients ≥75 years do not get any antitumor treatment. In patients

Actually, pancreatic cancer is a major challenge in digestive oncology. Its prognosis remains very poor with a five-year net survival less than 10%. Although if pancreatic cancer incidence was low, data from French digestive cancer registries show a dramatic increase in recent years, more marked in women (annual variation of +3.6% between 1982 and 2012) than in men (+2.3%). The currently recognized risk factors like tobacco or obesity cannot explain this evolving epidemiology. Moreover, progress in understanding pancreatic carcinogenesis is still insufficient. Except for familial aggregation, systematic screening couldn't be proposed.

We conducted a prospective study to assess the prognostic impact of selected copy number variations (CNVs) in stage II-III microsatellite stable (MSS) colon cancer. A total of 401 patients were included from 01/2004 to 01/2009. The CNVs in 8 selected target genes, DCC/18q, EGFR/7p, TP53/17p, BLK/8p, MYC/8q, APC/5q, ERBB2/17q, and STK6/20q, were detected using a quantitative multiplex polymerase chain reaction of short fluorescent fragment (QMPSF) method. The primary end-point was the impact of the CNVs on the 4-year disease-free survival (DFS). The recurrence rate at 4 years was 20.9%, corresponding to 14% stage II patients vs 31% stage III patients (p

International audience; BACKGROUND:Small bowel cancer is not a single entity. Population-based studies taking into account histological diversity are scarce. The aim of this study was to report on their trends in incidence by histology in France over the past 20 years.METHODS:All patients with a small bowel cancer diagnosed in 15 French administrative areas covered by a registry from the network of French cancer registries (FRANCIM) were included. Age-standardized incidence rates were estimated using the world standard population. Incidence rates were calculated by gender, age group, histology, and 5-year period.RESULTS:The overall age-standardized incidence rates were 1.46/100,000 inhabitants in men and 0.9/100,000 inhabitants in women. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type (38%), followed by neuroendocrine tumors (35%), lymphoma (15%) and sarcoma (12%). Age at diagnosis and tumor location differed between adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumors. The incidence of all four tumor types increased significantly over the 20-year period, with the exception of lymphoma in men. The annual percentage change for neuroendocrine tumors was 3.89% in men and 3.61% in women; for sarcoma, it was 3.38% and 4.08%, respectively. The incidence of adenocarcinoma and lymphoma also increased in women with an annual percentage change of 3.05% and 3.32%, respectively.CONCLUSION:Small bowel cancer incidence has increased over time. This increase occurred with different amplitudes and patterns in the four major histological types. The improvement in imaging techniques could partly explain this increase. It is necessary to determine whether predisposing conditions may contribute to this change.

Purpose Conditional net survival in recurrence-free patients (CNS-RF) provides relevant clinical information and has never been assessed yet in a non-selected colon cancer population. We aimed to estimate conditional 5-year net survival in recurrence-free patients with colon cancer in the population-based Digestive Cancer Registry of Burgundy (France). Methods CNS-RF was estimated in the 3736 patients resected for cure for primary colon cancer between 1976 and 2006, using a flexible parametric model of net survival for every additional year survived at diagnosis and from 1 to 5 years thereafter. Results The net probability of surviving 5 more years increased from 72% at diagnosis to 92% for recurrence-free patients who survived 5 years after diagnosis. CNS-RF was over 90% 3 years after diagnosis in patients aged 75 and below. CNS-RF was over 95% in patients diagnosed after 2000 who were recurrence-free 3, 4 or 5 years after diagnosis. CNS-RF was similar between patients with stage I and II disease from 2 years after diagnosis and patients with stage III disease from 5 years after diagnosis. The initial differences in net survival related to gross features, clinical presentation, number of harvested nodes in stage II, and number of involved nodes in stage III disappeared after 2 years. Conclusions CNS-RF is a relevant measure of prognosis in patients who have already achieved a period of remission. Providing an updated estimation of prognosis in the years following diagnosis may improve the survivors’ quality of life and access to credit or insurance.

IF 2.014 (2017); International audience; BACKGROUND: It is of interest to both the clinicians and patients to estimate the probability of death owing to cancer in the presence of other causes as time elapses since diagnosis. The objective of this study was to depict for patients diagnosed with colon cancer between 1990 and 2010 in France, the probability of surviving up to 10 years after diagnosis and to disentangle the probability of death owing to cancer from that of death owing to other causes.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Individuals with cancer were described, up to 10 years after diagnosis, as belonging to one of three categories: those who died owing to a cause related to cancer, those who died owing to another cause and those who survived. Net survival, crude probabilities of death related to colon cancer, death related to another cause and survival were estimated by modeling excess mortality hazard.RESULTS: In women of all ages, 5 and 10-year net survival improved over calendar time. The 10-year probability of survival decreased when age increased in both sexes. It was higher in women than in men, and this difference increased with age. Crude probabilities of death related to colon cancer decreased between 1990 and 2010 for men and women, although this was not observed in the eldest men.CONCLUSION: Crude probability of death related to colon cancer is an important indicator for patients and health policy makers. Results of cancer screening should be faced to trends in probability of death related to colorectal cancer.

Pancreatic survival is one of the worst in oncology. To what extent wait times affect outcomes in unknown No population-based study has previously explored patient and treatment delays among individuals with pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate patient and treatment delays in patients with pancreatic cancer and to measure their association with survival in a nonselected population. All patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer for the first time between 2009 and 2011 and registered in two French digestive cancer registries were included. Patient delay (time from onset of symptoms until the first consultation categorized into

This chapter provides (1) updated data on time trends in colorectal cancer incidence and prognosis over the past decades in Europe and (2) a description of risk factors with a particular interest for colorectal cancer diagnosed in a context of emergency. Worldwide data show that colorectal cancer incidence is the third most common cancer in men (746,000 cases) and the second in women (614,000 cases) in 2012. Five-year colorectal cancer survival varied from 35% to 75%. Results from recent meta-analysis and systematic reviews studying the main risk factors for colorectal cancer incidence are presented: environmental factors (obesity, tobacco use, alcohol intake, sedentary behavior, and consumption of red and processed meat), inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), family or personal history of colorectal cancer or adenoma, and inherited genetic factors (approximately 5–10% of colorectal cancers). Diagnosis in a context of emergency for colorectal cancer remains a substantial problem: it occurs more likely in older patients, women, and patients with socioeconomic deprivation and comorbidities.

Background The optimal treatment for oesophageal cancer is a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to describe patterns of care and survival in a well-defined population for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) of the oesophagus. Design Data were provided by the Digestive Cancer Registry of Burgundy (France). Recurrence, excess mortality and net survival were calculated. Results Among non-metastatic patients, the proportion of patients resected for cure decreased between 2004 and 2013 from 16% to 9% for SCC and 48% to 22% for AC. The administration of chemoradiation increased from 45 to 53% for SCC and 21 to 30% for AC. A complete clinical response to chemoradiation was reported in 40% of the patients. Five-year net survival did not vary according to histology. It was 55% in the selected group of patients resected for cure, 44% in patients treated with chemoradiation with a complete clinical response. In multivariate analysis, treatment modality only was associated with survival. In metastatic patients, 3-year net survival was 14% for those treated with chemoradiation. Conclusion Chemoradiation has become the most frequently administered treatment. Cancelling or postponing surgery after chemoradiation with complete response should be assessed by a randomized clinical trial.

International audience; Background: Studies carried out in the context of clinical trials have shown a relationship between survival and health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer patients.Aims: We assessed the prognostic value of health-related quality of life at diagnosis and of its longitudinal evolution on survival in older colorectal cancer patients. Methods: All patients aged >= 65 years, diagnosed with new colorectal cancer between 2003 and 2005 and registered in the Digestive Cancer Registry of Burgundy were eligible. Patients were asked to complete the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 at inclusion, three, six and twelve months after. Multivariate regression models were used to evaluate the prognostic value of health-related quality of life scores at diagnosis and their deterioration on relative survival.Results: In multivariate analysis, a role functioning dimension lower than median was predictive of lower survival (hazard ratio = 3.1, p = 0.015). After three and six months of follow-up, patients with greater appetite loss were more likely to die, with hazard ratios of 4.7 (p = 0.013) and 3.7 (p = 0.002), respectively.Conclusions: Health-related quality of life assessments at diagnosis are independently associated with older colorectal cancer patients' survival. Its preservation should be a major management goal for older cancer patients. (C) 2015 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modern chemotherapy aims to improve long-term survival for selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Publications suggest promising results, but the spread of these new aggressive treatment strategies in the general population is not well known.The aim of this study was to draw a picture of epidemiology, management, and survival in synchronous and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer.The cumulative risk of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis was estimated in patients resected for cure. Net survival rates were calculated for synchronous and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis.The study was conducted with the use of the Burgundy Digestive Cancer Registry.Overall, 9174 primary colorectal cancers registered between 1976 and 2011 by the population-based digestive cancer registry were considered.In total, 7% of patients were diagnosed with synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis. The 5-year cumulative risk of metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis was 6%, and the stage of the colorectal cancer at diagnosis was the major risk factor. Other independent risk factors were mucinous adenocarcinoma, ulceroinfiltrating tumors, and diagnosis after obstruction or perforation. The proportion of patients resected for cure was 11% and 9% for synchronous and metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis, and 3-year overall net survival was 8% and 5%. The corresponding rates after resection for cure were 21% and 17%. There was a dramatic increase in the proportion of patients receiving systemic chemotherapy: from 11% before 1997 to 48% in 2011 for synchronous peritoneal carcinomatosis and from 3% to 38% for metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis.This is a retrospective observational population-based study.Peritoneal carcinomatosis complicating colorectal cancer is a major reason for treatment failure. This study identified patients at a high risk of developing peritoneal carcinomatosis who may benefit from specific surveillance. New therapeutic modalities are also needed to improve the prognosis.

Background Traditionally, survival estimates have been reported as survival from the time of diagnosis. A patient's probability of survival changes according to time elapsed since the diagnosis and this is known as conditional survival. The aim was to estimate 5-year net conditional survival in patients with colorectal cancer in a well-defined French population at yearly intervals up to 5 years. Methods Our study included 18,300 colorectal cancers diagnosed between 1976 and 2008 and registered in the population-based digestive cancer registry of Burgundy (France). We calculated conditional 5-year net survival, using the Pohar Perme estimator, for every additional year survived after diagnosis from 1 to 5 years. Results The initial 5-year net survival estimates varied between 89% for stage I and 9% for advanced stage cancer. The corresponding 5-year net survival for patients alive after 5 years was 95% and 75%. Stage II and III patients who survived 5 years had a similar probability of surviving 5 more years, respectively 87% and 84%. For survivors after the first year following diagnosis, five-year conditional net survival was similar regardless of age class and period of diagnosis. Conclusions For colorectal cancer survivors, conditional net survival provides relevant and complementary prognostic information for patients and clinicians.

Although the decline in cancer mortality rates with the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in HIV-infected individuals can be mostly explained by a decrease in cancers incidence, we looked here if improved survival after cancer diagnosis could also contribute to this decline. Survival trends were analyzed for most frequent cancers in the HIV-infected population followed in the French Hospital Database on HIV: 979 and 2,760 cases of visceral and non-visceral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), 2,339 and 461 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), 446 lung, 312 liver and 257 anal cancers. Five-year Kaplan–Meier survival rates were estimated for four periods: 1992–1996, 1997–2000, 2001–2004 and 2005–2009. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare survival across the periods, after adjustment for confounding factors. For 2001–2004, survival was compared to the general population after standardization on age and sex. Between the pre-cART (1992–1996) and early-cART (1997–2000) periods, survival improved after KS, NHL, HL and anal cancer and remained stable after lung and liver cancers. During the cART era, 5-year survival improved after visceral and non-visceral KS, NHL, HL and liver cancer, being 83, 92, 65, 87 and 19% in 2005–2009, respectively, and remained stable after lung and anal cancers, being 16 and 65%, respectively. Compared with the general population, survival in HIV-infected individuals in 2001–2004 was poorer for hematological malignancies and similar for solid tumors. For hematological malignancies, survival continues to improve after 2004, suggesting that the gap between the HIV-infected and general populations will close in the future.

International audience; PIK3CA, which encodes the p110α catalytic subunit of PI3Kα, is one of the most frequently altered oncogenes in colon cancer (CC), but its prognostic value is still a matter of debate. Few reports have addressed the association between PIK3CA mutations and survival and their results are controversial. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of PIK3CA mutations in stage I–III CC according to mismatch repair status. Fresh frozen tissue samples from two independent cohorts with a total of 826 patients who underwent curative surgical resection of CC were analyzed for microsatellite instability and screened for activating point mutations in exon 9 and 20 of PIK3CA by direct sequencing. Overall, 693 tumors (84%) exhibited microsatellite stability (MSS) and 113 samples (14%) harbored PIK3CA mutation. In the retrospective training cohort (n = 433), patients with PIK3CA-mutated MSS tumors (n = 47) experienced a significant increased 5-year relapse-free interval compared with PIK3CA wild-type MSS tumors (n = 319) in univariate analysis (94% vs. 68%, Log-rank P = 0. 0003) and in multivariate analysis (HR = 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.029–0.48; P = 0.0027). In the prospective validation cohort (n = 393), the favorable prognostic impact of PIK3CA mutations in MSS tumors (n = 327) was confirmed (83% vs. 67%, Log-rank P = 0.04). Our study showed that PIK3CA mutations are associated with a good prognosis in patients with MSS stage I–III CC.

Germ-cell tumours (GCT) of the testis and penile squamous cell carcinoma (PeSCC) are a rare and a very rare uro-genital cancers, respectively. Both tumours are well defined entities in terms of management, where specific recommendations - in the form of continuously up-to-dated guide lines- are provided. Impact of these tumour is relevant. Testicular GCT affects young, healthy men at the beginning of their adult life. PeSCC affects older men, but a proportion of these patients are young and the personal consequences of the disease may be devastating. Deviation from recommended management may be a reason of a significant prognostic worsening, as proper treatment favourably impacts on these tumours, dramatically on GCT and significantly on PeSCC. RARECAREnet data may permit to analyse how survivals may vary according to geographical areas, histology and age, leading to assume that non-homogeneous health-care resources may impact the cure and definitive outcomes. In support of this hypothesis, some epidemiologic datasets and clinical findings would indicate that survival may improve when appropriate treatments are delivered, linked to a different accessibility to the best health institutions, as a consequence of geographical, cultural and economic barriers. Finally, strong clues based on epidemiological and clinical data support the hypothesis that treatment delivered at reference centres or under the aegis of a qualified multi-institutional network is associated with a better prognosis of patients with these malignancies. The ERN EURACAN represents the best current European effort to answer this clinical need.

Postoperative mortality after resection of colorectal cancer is an important issue. The aim of this study was to assess early postoperative mortality in a well-defined French population. Data on 30- and 90-day postoperative mortality after resection for colorectal cancer were extracted from the digestive cancer registry of Burgundy. Time trends of postoperative mortality between 1989 and 2013 were described for the large population. Case-control studies (death within 30 or 90 days = cases, alive at 90 days = controls) focused on the association between postoperative mortality and surgical approach, obesity and other comorbidities over the last [2010–2013] period, using conditional logistic regressions. Among the 11,448 concerned patients, 30- and 90-day postoperative mortalities were 4.9 and 7.2%. Thirty-day operative mortality decreased from 7.2% (1989–1993) to 4.4% (2010–2013; p

IF 2.969; International audience; Anti-Mi2 are dermatomyositis-specific autoantibodies (Aabs) that have been associated, in small cohorts, with a good prognosis possibly related to a lower malignancy risk. Our objective was to describe the phenotype of anti-Mi-2 dermatomyositis (DM) in a larger cohort. A national multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed including all patients with a clinical phenotype suggestive of DM (cutaneous manifestations and/or muscle involvement) and a positive anti-Mi2 Aabs. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to assess clinical and histological features, and presence of cancer occurring ± 3 years of diagnosing myositis (CAM).

IF 1.968; International audience; BackgroundLiver MRI is recommended as the preoperative imaging strategy in liver metastatic colorectal cancers.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess for the first time the use of liver MRI in a French population-based cancer registry.Patients and methodsAll liver-only metastatic colorectal cancers resected for their primary tumour diagnosed between 2009 and 2013 were included. Nonconditional logistic regression was used to search for associations between the MRI order and the characteristics of patients and tumours.ResultsThe primary tumour and liver metastases were resected for cure in 30% (69/233) of cases, and in 72% of these liver MRI was performed before resection of the liver metastases. Preoperative MRI ordering was not significantly higher in patients younger than 70 years when compared with that in older patients. Among patients who did not undergo resection of their liver metastasis, 22% had undergone a liver MRI. After adjustment for comorbidities, the probability of having undergone an MRI was higher for patients managed in the university hospital (P=0.004) and lower in those managed in nonuniversity hospitals (P=0.002) compared with the mean of odds for all facilities. Patients more than or equal to 70 years were 2.4 times less likely than younger patients to undergo an MRI (P=0.043).ConclusionLiver MRI was underused in patients with colorectal liver-only synchronous metastasis undergoing curative resection for metastases and in elderly patients.

IF 2.415; International audience; This study provides updates of net survival (NS) estimates at 5, 10, and 15 years as well as survival trends for 35 solid cancers in France using data from 19 population-based cancer registries. The study considered all cases of solid cancer diagnosed between 1989 and 2010 in patients older than 15 years of age who were actively followed up until 30 June 2013. NS was estimated using the Pohar-Perme method. The age-standardized NS used the international cancer survival standard weights. The 5-year age-standardized NSs ranged from 4% (pleural mesothelioma) to 93% (prostate) in men and from 10% (pancreas) to 97% (thyroid) in women. The 10-year age-standardized NSs ranged from 2% (pleural mesothelioma) in both sexes to 95% (testis) in men and 91% (thyroid) in women. The most frequent cancers (namely, breast and prostate cancers) had the highest NSs: 87 and 93% at 5 years and 78 and 84% at 10 years, respectively. Several cancers (especially lung, pancreas, and liver cancer) had very poor prognoses (5-year NSs under 20%). Fifteen-year NSs remained high for testis cancer. In most cancers, 5- and 10-year age-standardized NSs increased between 1989 and 2010. Advanced age was associated with a poor prognosis and little improvement in survival. The increases in cancer survival are probably related to earlier diagnosis and therapeutic advances over the last decade. However, poor prognoses are still found in some alcohol-related and tobacco-related cancers and in elderly patients, highlighting the need for more prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.

IF 7.522; International audience; Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal. Most countries have exhibited a stable or decreasing incidence over time. The aim of this study was to provide updated French temporal trends in pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality over the past three decades.Methods: Incidence was estimated using the French National Network of Cancer Registries (FRANCIM) and mortality using the French Mortality Statistics Office. World age-standardized incidence and mortality were modelled by age-period-cohort models. The net cumulative risk of developing pancreatic cancer by birth cohort was calculated, as were annual percentage changes (APCs) in incidence and mortality.Results: Between 1982 and 2012, age-standardized incidence increased from 4.8 in 1980 to 9.6 per 100 000 in men and from 2.3 to 6.8 in women. The mean APC was 2.3% (2.1–2.6) and 3.6% (3.3–3.9), respectively. The cumulative risk of developing pancreatic cancer before age 75 rose from 0.62% for males born around 1920 to 1.17% for those born around 1950. It was respectively 0.31% and 0.86% for women. Mortality did not vary in men (8.1 per 100 000). It slightly increased in women from 4.0 in 1982 to 5.4 in 2012.Conclusion: Pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality exhibited diverging trends. Incidence increased over the last 30 years in France whereas mortality did not vary in men and moderately increased in women. Incidence remained lower than mortality up to 2002. One cannot exclude the possibility that a similar trend may appear in other countries. Etiological studies are required to further explain this increase.

Background and Aims Data concerning the risk of long-term liver metastasis following surgery of colorectal cancer in the general population are scarce. The 10-year incidence and prognosis of metachronous liver metastases remain unknown. Methods Among 4584 patients resected for cure for colorectal cancer recorded in two French digestive population-based cancer registries between 1985 and 2000, 602 presented metastases including liver metastases. Results The cumulated incidence of liver metastasis was 15% at 5 years and 17% at 10 years, and was mainly related to stage at diagnosis. The 10-year cumulative incidence was 6% for stage I and 30% for stage III. The hazard ratio was 3.2 [2.4–4.3] for stage II and 6.9 [5.1–9.2] for stage III compared with stage I. Among survivors with no recurrence five years after diagnosis, 2.2% developed liver metastasis between 5 and 10 years. Resection for cure of liver metastases was performed in 35% of patients aged under 75 years and in 10% of patients over 75 (P

Background We investigated the impact of municipality of residence on colonoscopic surveillance and colorectal cancer risk after adenoma resection in a French well-defined administrative area. Methods This registry-based study included all patients residing in Cote d’Or (n = 5769) first diagnosed with colorectal adenomas between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1999. Information about colonoscopic surveillance and colorectal cancer incidence was collected until December 31, 2003. Results A rural place of residence reduced the probability of colonoscopic surveillance in men [HR = 0.89 (95%CI: 0.79–0.99), p = 0.041] and in patients without family history of colorectal cancer [HR = 0.91(0.82–0.99), p = 0.044]. After a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 87 patients developed invasive colorectal cancer. After advanced adenoma removal, the standardized incidence ratio for colorectal cancer was 3.03 (95%CI: 1.92–4.54) for rural patients and 1.87 (95%CI: 1.26–2.66) for urban patients compared with the general population. The risk of colorectal cancer was higher in rural patients than in urban ones only after removal of the initial advanced adenoma [HR = 1.73 (95%CI: 1.01–3.00, p = 0.048)]. Further adjustment for surveillance colonoscopy, physician location, and other confounders had little impact on these results. Conclusion The increased risk of subsequent colorectal cancer after advanced adenoma removal in French rural patients was not explained by a lower rate of colonoscopic surveillance. The role of socio-economic and environmental factors requires further exploration.

Background In light of the impact of emerging hepatitis C virus treatments on morbidity and mortality, we sought to determine whether candidates for liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensated cirrhosis will decrease sufficiently to match liver grafts for hepatitis C virus-infected patients. Aims Using a Markov model, we quantified future liver graft needs for hepatitis C virus-induced diseases and estimated the impact of current and emerging treatments. Methods We simulated progression of yearly-hepatitis-C-virus-infected cohorts from the beginning of the epidemic and calculated 2013–2022 candidates for liver transplantation up until 2022 without and with therapies. We compared these estimated numbers to projected trends in liver grafts for hepatitis C virus. Results Overall, current treatment would avoid transplantation of 4425 (4183–4684) potential candidates during the period 2013–2022. It would enable an 88% and 42% reduction in the gap between liver transplantation activity and candidates for hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensated cirrhosis, respectively. Emerging hepatitis C virus treatments would allow adequacy in transplant activities for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, they would not lead to adequacy in decompensated cirrhosis from 2013 to 2022. Results were robust to sensitivity analysis. Conclusion Our study indicates that patients will benefit from public health policies regarding hepatitis C virus screening and therapeutic access to new emerging treatments.

Gastric cancer is still generating interest because of its poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in diagnostic assessment, patterns of care, and survival of gastric cancers.We considered 5,010 gastric cancers diagnosed between 1976 and 2007 in a well-defined French population. Logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with R0 resection and operative mortality. A multivariate relative survival analysis was performed.Diagnostic modalities have changed. Since 1988, endoscopy is performed when gastric cancer is suspected (95.5%). However, there has been no strong variation in stage over time: the proportion of stage I cancers increased from 5.5% to 13.4% between the periods 1976-1979 and 2004-2007 (p0.001) whereas that of advanced cases remained stable, 64.8% and 65.0%, respectively. R0 resections rose from 36.7% (1976-1979) to 46.7% between 1980 and 1999, and decreased to 32.7% thereafter. Age, tumor location, and period were associated with R0 resection. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy were rarely used before 2000, then reached 15.0% and 19.1%, respectively, during the later period. Operative mortality after R0 resection decreased from 18.3% during the 1976-1979 period to 4.3% during the 2004-2007 period (p0.001). Prognosis slightly improved during the three first periods, from 13.0% to 22.6%, then leveled off, not exceeding 26.0% thereafter. Stage, age, histology, and time period significantly influenced survival.Changes in diagnostic modalities were associated with minor changes in stage and prognosis for gastric cancer. Earlier diagnosis and new therapeutic strategies are the best way to improve the prognosis.

Background For gastric cancers, the benefits of adjuvant radiochemotherapy and of perioperative chemotherapy have been demonstrated since 2001 and 2006 respectively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diffusion of adjuvant treatments in a French population. Methods 334 incident gastric cancers UICC Stage IB, II, III or IVM0 resected for cure and recorded in the Burgundy digestive cancer registry were retrospectively included. Patients were classified as having received an effective adjuvant treatment if they had been treated by adjuvant radiochemotherapy since 2001 or perioperative chemotherapy since 2006. Results The proportion of patients treated with an effective adjuvant treatment increased from 21.8% (2001–2005) to 40.1% (2006–2009). Patients treated in 2006–2009 were twice as likely to receive effective adjuvant treatment as those treated during the period 2001–2005. During the 2004–2009 period, 62.4% of cases were presented in a multidisciplinary team meeting. These patients were almost three times more likely to receive effective adjuvant treatment than patients excluded from multidisciplinary team consultation. Age was a significant factor, independent of comorbidities. Conclusion Administration of adjuvant treatment is still far from being considered a reference regimen in routine practice for R0 resected gastric cancer. The increase in multidisciplinary team meetings should improve the situation.

To describe trends in survival of non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) over a 34-year period in a French population-based registry taking into account major advances in medical therapy.3804 patients with non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1976 and 2009 were included. Three periods (1976-96, 1997-2004 and 2005-09) were considered.The proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy dramatically increased from 19% to 57% between the first two periods, then increased steadily thereafter reaching 59% during the last period (p0.001). Median relative survival increased from 5.9 months during the 1976-96 period to 10.2 months during the 1997-2004 period but, despite the availability of targeted therapies, remained at 9.5 months during the 2005-09 period. During the last study period, less than 10% of elderly patients received targeted therapies compared to more than 40% for younger patients. Their median relative survival was 5.0 months compared to 15.6 months in younger patients.There was an improvement in survival in relation with the increased use of more effective medical treatment. However, at a population-based level, patients are not all treated equally and most of them, especially the elderly, do not benefit from the most up-to-date treatment options.

European guidelines recommend adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer but not for stage II.To determine the extent to which adjuvant chemotherapy was used in Italy and France.A common retrospective database of 2186 colon cancers diagnosed between 2003 and 2005 was analysed according to age, stage and presenting features.38.9% of patients with stage II and 64.6% with stage III received chemotherapy in Italy, 21.7% and 65.1% in France. For stage II, the association between country and chemotherapy was only significant in patients diagnosed out of emergency (ORItaly/France: 3.05 [2.12-4.37], p0.001) whereas patients diagnosed in emergency were as likely to receive chemotherapy in both countries. For stage III, there was a trend to a higher administration of chemotherapy for elderly patients in France compared to Italy. French patients were more likely than Italian to receive chemotherapy (OR: 1.91[1.32-2.78], p=0.001).Chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer was as extensively used in Italy as in France for young patients. Its administration could be increased in patients over 75. Stage II patients with a lower risk of relapse received chemotherapy more often in Italy than in France.

We examined trends in the incidence of the 3 AIDS-defining cancers (ADCs; Kaposi sarcoma [KS], non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL], and cervical cancer) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients relative to the general population between 1992 and 2009 in France, focusing on age at ADC diagnosis and on patients with controlled viral load and restored immunity on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Age- and sex-standardized incidence rates were estimated in patients enrolled in the French hospital database on HIV, and in the general population in France during 4 calendar periods (1992-1996, 1997-2000, 2001-2004, and 2005-2009). Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for all periods and separately for patients on cART, with CD4 counts ≥500 cells/µL for at least 2 years and viral load ≤500 copies/mL. Although the incidence of ADCs fell significantly across the calendar periods, the risk remained constantly higher in HIV-infected patients than in the general population. In patients with restored immunity, the relative risk remained significantly elevated for KS (SIR = 35.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 18.3-61.9), and was similar to that of the general population for NHL (SIR = 1.0; 95% CI, .4-1.8). ADCs were diagnosed at a younger age in HIV-infected patients, with a particularly marked difference for NHL (-11.3 years, P < .0001). The incidence of all ADCs continued to fall, including cervical cancer, in the cART period, but the risk remained higher than in the general population in 2005-2009. In patients with stably restored immunity, KS remained significantly more frequent than in the general population.

IF 2.755; International audience; To assess the risk of second primary malignancy (SPM) in patients with gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) Lymphoma (GML), we included 175 patients with GML in the present study. The incidence of SPM in the general population, used for reference, was determined from the French network of cancer registries. During the 1442.9 patient-years of follow-up, 29 patients were diagnosed with incident SPM, including five patients diagnosed with gastric cancer (20.1/1000 patient-years). An increased incidence of SPM was observed in patients with GML (standardized incidence ratios [SIR]: 1.71 [1.14-2.45]) compared to the general French population especially for gastric cancer (SIR: 16.1 [5.19-37.56]). This elevated risk of SPM was significantly increased only in patients treated with immuno/chemotherapy but not in patients treated with Helicobacter pylori eradication alone. Long-term follow-up of patients with GML is mandatory even in patients who have achieved complete remission.

IF 10.103; International audience; Cancer occurs frequently in dermatomyositis and is a major cause of mortality. Yves Allenbach et al. report that patients with necrotising auto-immune myopathies also have an increased risk of malignancy, and that myositis-specific antibodies can be used to identify those at greatest risk.Cancer occurs frequently in dermatomyositis and is a major cause of mortality. Yves Allenbach et al. report that patients with necrotising auto-immune myopathies also have an increased risk of malignancy, and that myositis-specific antibodies can be used to identify those at greatest risk.Cancer can occur in patients with inflammatory myopathies. This association is mainly observed in dermatomyositis, and myositis-specific antibodies have allowed us to delineate patients at an increased risk. Malignancy is also reported in patients with necrotizing autoimmune myopathies, but the risk remains elusive. Anti-signal recognition particle or anti-HMGCR antibodies have been specifically associated with necrotizing autoimmune myopathies. We aimed at screening the incidence of cancer in necrotizing autoimmune myopathies. A group of patients (n = 115) with necrotizing autoimmune myopathies with or without myositis-specific antibodies was analysed. Malignancy occurred more frequently in seronegative necrotizing autoimmune myopathies patients and in HMGCR-positive patients compared to anti-signal recognition particle positive patients. Synchronous malignancy was diagnosed in 21.4% and 11.5% of cases, respectively, and incidence of cancer was higher compared to the general population in both groups. No specific type of cancer was predominant. Patients suffering from a synchronous cancer had a decreased median survival time. Cancer screening is necessary in seronegative necrotizing autoimmune myopathies and in HMGCR-positive patients but not in anti-signal recognition particle-positive patients.

IF 2.415; International audience; The aim of this study was to assess the impact of area deprivation and primary care facilities on colorectal adenoma detection and on colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in a French well-defined population before mass screening implementation. The study population included all patients aged 20 years or more living in Cote d'Or (France) with either colorectal adenoma or invasive CRC first diagnosed between 1995 and 2002 and who were identified from the Burgundy Digestive Cancer Registry and the Cote d'Or Polyp Registry. Area deprivation was assessed using the European deprivation index on the basis of the smallest French area available (Ilots Regroupes pour l'Information Statistique). Healthcare access was assessed using medical density of general practitioners (GPs) and road distance to the nearest GP and gastroenterologist. Bayesian regression analyses were used to estimate influential covariates on adenoma detection and CRC incidence rates. The results were expressed as relative risks (RRs) with their 95% credibility interval. In total, 5399 patients were diagnosed with at least one colorectal adenoma and 2125 with invasive incident CRC during the study period. Remoteness from GP [RR=0.71 (0.61-0.83)] and area deprivation [RR=0.98 (0.96-1.00)] independently reduced the probability of adenoma detection. CRC incidence was only slightly affected by GP medical density [RR=1.05 (1.01-1.08)] without any area deprivation effect [RR=0.99 (0.96-1.02)]. Distance to gastroenterologist had no impact on the rates of adenoma detection or CRC incidence. This study highlighted the prominent role of access to GPs in the detection of both colorectal adenomas and overall cancers. Deprivation had an impact only on adenoma detection.

IF 5.65; International audience; Background Every colorectal cancer (CRC) patient should be tested for microsatellite instability (MSI, a marker for defective DNA mismatch repair) as a first screen for Lynch syndrome (LS). In this study, we investigated whether it may be possible to improve the detection of MSI in CRC. We examined whether the HT17 DNA repeat (critical for correct splicing of the chaperone HSP110) might constitute a superior marker for diagnosis of the MSI phenotype in patients with CRC compared with the standard panel of markers (pentaplex).Methods The HT17 polymorphism was analysed in germline DNA from 1037 multi-ethnic individuals. We assessed its sensitivity and specificity for detecting MSI in a multicentre, population-based cohort of 685 patients with CRC and an additional series of 70 patients with CRC considered to be at-risk of LS. All cases were screened earlier for MSI using pentaplex markers. Cases showing discordant HT17/pentaplex results were further examined for the expression of mismatch repair proteins.Results HT17 status was analysed independently and blinded to previous results from pentaplex genotyping. HT17 showed no germline allelic variation outside a very narrow range. Compared with the pentaplex panel, HT17 showed better sensitivity (0.984 (95% CI 0.968 to 0.995) vs 0.951 (95% CI 0.925 to 0.972)) and similar specificity (0.997 (95% CI 0.989 to 1.000) for both) for the detection of MSI. Furthermore, HT17 alone correctly classified samples judged to be uncertain with the pentaplex panel and showed excellent ability to detect MSI in patients with LS.Conclusions HT17 simplifies and improves the current standard molecular methods for detecting MSI in CRC.

Background: Few data are available on the incidence, characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated colorectal cancer (CRC) in population-based cohorts. Methods: Among the 19,451 new cases of CRC recorded in the Burgundy digestive cancer registry between 1976 and 2008, all cases of IBD-associated CRC were identified. Incidence rates were age-standardized according to the world standard population. Prognosis was determined using univariate and multivariate relative survival. Results: Thirty-eight IBD-associated CRC were identified (ulcerative colitis, n = 29; Crohn's disease, n = 9). The mean age at CRC diagnosis was greater for patients without IBD than those with IBD (70.9 vs. 56.9 years, respectively; P < 0.001). Distributions of gender, stage at presentation, location, and histological type of CRC did not differ from those of sporadic cases. The overall world age-standardized incidence of IBD-associated CRC per 100,000 was 0.11 (standard deviation [SD]: 0.03) for men and 0.06 (SD: 0.02) for women. Only age was independently associated with IBD-associated CRC (odds ratio [OR]: 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12–0.43; P < 0.001). Treatment modalities did not differ between IBD and non-IBD patients. Five-year relative survival was 51.9% (95% CI: 51.1–52.8%) in non-IBD patients and 41.3% (95% CI: 24.6–57.2%) in IBD patients (P = 0.201). After adjustment for age, gender, and stage at diagnosis, the excess hazard of death was 1.46 times higher in IBD than in non-IBD patients (95% CI: 0.94–2.27; P = 0.070). Conclusions: Apart from age, the characteristics of IBD-associated CRC were similar to those of non-IBD CRC. The prognosis of CRC may be poorer in patients with IBD than in those without IBD. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012;)

Background The correct examination of lymph nodes is decisive for tumour classification into stage 2 and stage 3. The aim of this specialised population-based study was to investigate the influence of clinical factors and volume of surgical activity on lymph node assessment in France for patients diagnosed with localised colorectal cancer. Methods From 1997 to 2004, French digestive cancer registries recorded a total of 4197 cases of colorectal cancer. The volume of surgical activity was appreciated by the annual number of digestive surgery admissions in 2004. The probability of having at least 12 lymph nodes examined after surgical resection was analysed using a multilevel logistic regression model. Results Only 1900 patients had more than 12 lymph nodes examined (45.2%). The percentage of patients with at least 12 lymph nodes examined after tumour resection is directly associated with the volume of surgical activity within care centres for patients diagnosed between 1997 and 2000. This association was no longer significant during the second period study (2001–2004). Conclusion(s) This population-based study reports that only 55% of colorectal patients have a sufficient number of lymph nodes examined. This insufficient number of examined lymph nodes could be considered as a potential prospect for increasing treatment quality in cancer patients in France.

Background Because few data are available on this topic, we investigated the influence of geographical determinants on colorectal adenoma detection and cancer incidence rates. Methods Between 1990 and 1999, 6220 Cote d’Or inhabitants (France) were first-diagnosed with a colorectal adenoma, and 2389 with an invasive adenocarcinoma. The impact of the rural–urban place of residence and of a physician location in municipalities on adenoma and cancer detection rates was studied using Poisson regression. Results World-standardized adenoma detection rate was significantly higher in urban areas (102 [95%CI: 97–107]) than in rural areas (78 [95%CI: 72–84]). The impact of the absence of physicians in municipalities was only found in rural areas. The detection rate ratio associated with the absence of a primary care physician was 0.70 [95%CI:0.61–0.81], and the detection rate ratio associated with the absence of a gastroenterologist was 0.75 [95%CI:0.64–0.89]. Colorectal cancer incidence rates were similar in urban and rural areas with only marginal variations related to physician location. Conclusions These results suggested a differential impact of geographical variables on the detection rates of colorectal adenomas and cancers in the population. Further studies are needed to examine socio-economic factors likely to be involved in these disparities.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of comorbidities on treatment modalities of colorectal cancer according to the age of patients and French recommendations. DESIGN: Population-based study SETTING: French Digestive Cancer Registry, Burgundy. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand nine hundred twenty-one incident colorectal cancers diagnosed between 2004 and 2007. MEASUREMENTS: The independent influence of comorbidities (recorded according to the Charlson index) on treatment was analyzed using multivariate logistic regressions controlling for age, sex, and their interaction. RESULTS: The association between comorbidities and resection for cure was significant only in patients younger than 75 (P interaction=.008). For Stage III colon cancer, 40.4% of the patients aged 75 and older had adjuvant chemotherapy, versus 90.5% of those younger than 75 (P

Background & Aims Little is known about the impact of changes in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over time. We assessed trends in the pattern of care and in prognosis at a population level. Methods Data on diagnostic conditions, treatment, and prognosis from 1976–2005 were collected by the population-based digestive cancer registry of Burgundy (France). A nonconditional logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with treatment for cure. A multivariate relative survival analysis was also performed. Results The context of HCC diagnosis has changed; the proportion of asymptomatic patients increased from 5.6% (1976–1985) to 37.2% (1996–2005). The proportion of cases diagnosed on the basis of morphologic criteria increased from 14% during 1976–1985 to 35.6% during 1996–2005, whereas histologically verified cases decreased from 62.2% to 41.2% between the same time periods. The proportion of patients who were treated with intent to cure increased from 2.7% (1976–1985) to 19.6% (1996–2005). This increase was associated with improvements in relative survival from 4.7% (1976–1985) to 32.8% (1996–2005) at 1 year and from 1.4% to 10.0% at 5 years. The 5-year relative survival of patients treated with curative intent increased, reaching 46.6% for the 1996–2005 period. In the multivariate relative survival analysis, age, period of diagnosis, clinical presentation, alpha-fetoprotein level, and treatment were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions During a 30-year period, there was an increase in the number of HCCs diagnosed in asymptomatic subjects that was associated with the development of new effective therapies; this association might account for improvements in prognosis of patients with HCC.

e13593Background: Sarcomas are a group of heterogeneous and rare malignant neoplasms occurring in any anatomical site characterized by various histological subtypes. Because survival is rarely desc...

Introduction The objective of this study was to estimate prevalence of colorectal cancers requiring care or follow-up. Materials and methods Prevalence was observed in 2005 on the population-based digestive cancer registry of Burgundy (France). Total and 5-year partial prevalences were calculated. The prevalence of patients requiring follow-up was estimated using non-mixture cure models. The prevalence of patients with recurrence was estimated using annual recurrence rates. Results Total prevalence was 262,244 cases in France. The mean variation in 5-year partial prevalence between successive 5-year periods was +8.0%. Time to cure was estimated to be 9.3 years, suggesting that follow-up is needed over a 10-year period, corresponding to 71.7% of prevalent cases. In 2005, 5.4% of prevalent cases had recurrent cancer requiring treatment. Conclusion This study underlines the burden of colorectal cancer on the health system. Prevalence of patients requiring follow-up or treatment provides interesting information in addition to classic indicators.

Objective Few data are available from population-based statistics on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to report on their management and their prognosis in a French population. Methods Between 1997 and 1998, 1,007 cases of HCC were registered in nine French departments: clinical presentation of patients with and without cirrhosis were compared as well as treatment. Prognosis was determined using crude and relative survival rates. A multivariate relative survival analysis was performed. HCC was associated with cirrhosis in 795 patients (79%) and to the absence of cirrhosis in 156 (15%). Results Whereas the presence of symptoms was the principal mode of discovery (63% of cirrhotic cases and 70% of non-cirrhotic cases), the follow-up of hepatic affections revealed the cancer in respectively 26% and 3% (P = 0.001). The diagnosis was histologically verified in 50% of cirrhotic patients and 80% of non-cirrhotic patients (P = 0.01). The size of tumours was significantly greater in non-cirrhotic than in cirrhotic cases (P = 0.004). Treatment for cure were implemented in respectively 15% and 30% (P = 0.001), resulting in 5-year survival rates of respectively 34% and 28%. Only 24 HCC cases received a liver transplant, with a 5-year survival rate of 60%. Surgical resection for cure was carried out in respectively 10% and 31% of HCC and HCNC cases (P = 0.001), with a 5-year survival rate of respectively 39% and 29%. The overall 5-year survival rates of HCC and HCNC were respectively 6% and 9%. Conclusion HCC with and without cirrhosis has a poor prognosis with the majority of patients receiving palliative treatments, the efficiency of which is very limited. Considerable efforts are needed to develop primary and secondary prevention. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;98:505–509. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Background The aim of this population-based study was to report on the incidence, treatment and prognosis of synchronous colorectal carcinomas. Methods Data were obtained from the population-based cancer registry of Burgundy. Results Between 1976 and 2004, 15 562 colorectal cancers were diagnosed. Some 3·8 per cent of patients had synchronous colorectal cancers. The risk of having synchronous cancers was higher in men (odds ratio (OR) 1·41 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 1·19 to 1·68)), when associated adenomas were present (OR 2·02 (95 per cent c.i. 1·69 to 2·41)), when there were adenomatous remnants on pathological examination (OR 2·10 (95 per cent c.i. 1·73 to 2·55)) and in patients aged over 75 years (OR 1·31 (95 per cent c.i. 1·08 to 1·59)). Synchronous tumours were more often located on the same intestinal segment, although the correlation was weak (κ = 0·26). Resection for cure was performed in 74·8 per cent of synchronous cancers and 72·0 per cent of single cancers (P = 0·131). Five-year relative survival for synchronous (48·7 per cent) and single (48·3 per cent) cancers was almost identical. Stage, age, associated adenomas and adenomatous remnants were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion Synchronous colorectal cancers convey a similar prognosis to single tumours. Men and patients aged over 65 years with associated adenomas are more prone to multiple colorectal cancers.

Summary Background Little is known about the descriptive epidemiology of colorectal adenomas diagnosed in the population. Aim To describe time trends in the rate of first diagnosis of colorectal adenomas and estimate the proportion of adenoma-bearing individuals detected over a 24-year period. Methods A total of 11 027 patients were first-diagnosed with colorectal adenomas among Cote-d’Or residents (France) between 1976 and 1999. Annual percentage changes were estimated using a Poisson regression model. The proportion of diagnosed adenoma-bearing individuals was estimated using the prevalence of adenomas in an autopsy study performed in the area. Results Standardized diagnosis rates were 89.6/100 000 men and 50.3/100 000 women. During the period 1976–1993, diagnosis rates significantly increased with annual percentage changes in men and women of respectively +17.1% and +22.3% for proximal adenomas, +7.5% and +9.1% for distal adenomas and +7.2% and +8.0% for advanced adenomas. Changes were less marked during the period 1994–1999. The estimated proportion of adenoma-bearing individuals diagnosed during the 24-year period was 20.0% in men and 16.0% in women. Conclusion Despite a marked increase in the rate of first adenoma diagnosis, the proportion of diagnosed adenoma-bearing individuals seems too low to induce a significant decrease in colorectal cancer incidence.

Summary Background The influence of socioeconomic environment on cancer survival has been established in numerous studies in the EU and the US, prognosis being constantly poorer for the most underprivileged patients. Aim To investigate the influence of distance to care centre and deprivation on colon cancer survival, using a multilevel Cox model and taking into account cancer stage at diagnosis and treatment modalities. Methods The study population comprised all cases of colon cancer diagnosed between 1997 and 2000 in two French areas covered by specialized cancer registries (n = 2066). Results Road distance to the nearest reference care centre was associated with poorer prognosis even after adjustment for stage at diagnosis (P for trend = 0.01). Subgroups analysis showed that this association was maximal for patients with advanced cancer [RR = 1.27 (1.04–1.51); P for trend = 0.015] for whom access to chemotherapy varying according to distance explained the major part of geographic inequalities in survival. Conclusions The major effect of distance from reference care centre on survival suggests that current regional health planning does not guarantee equity in cancer management. Improvement in access to adjuvant therapy, especially for patients with advanced cancers, seems crucial for reducing geographic disparities in colon cancer survival.

Hazard regression models and cure rate models can be advantageously used in cancer relative survival analysis. We explored the advantages and limits of these two models in colon cancer and focused on the prognostic impact of the year of diagnosis on survival according to the TNM stage at diagnosis. The analysis concerned 9,998 patients from three French registries. In the hazard regression model, the baseline excess death hazard and the time-dependent effects of covariates were modelled using regression splines. The cure rate model estimated the proportion of 'cured' patients and the excess death hazard in 'non-cured' patients. The effects of year of diagnosis on these parameters were estimated for each TNM cancer stage. With the hazard regression model, the excess death hazard decreased significantly with more recent years of diagnoses (hazard ratio, HR 0.97 in stage III and 0.98 in stage IV, P0.001). In these advanced stages, this favourable effect was limited to the first years of follow-up. With the cure rate model, recent years of diagnoses were significantly associated with longer survivals in 'non-cured' patients with advanced stages (HR 0.95 in stage III and 0.97 in stage IV, P0.001) but had no significant effect on cure (odds ratio, OR 0.99 in stages III and IV, P0.5). The two models were complementary and concordant in estimating colon cancer survival and the effects of covariates. They provided two different points of view of the same phenomenon: recent years of diagnosis had a favourable effect on survival, but not on cure.

The RAS-MAPK, PI (3)K signaling pathways form a network that play a central role in tumorigenesis. The BRAF, KRAS and PI3KCA genes code 3 partners of this network and have been found to be activated by mutation in colorectal cancer; these mutations lead to unrestricted cell growth. We evaluated the clinicopathological features and the prognosis of patients with activated-network colon cancers in a population-based study. A total of 586 colon adenocarcinomas were evaluated using sequencing for mutations of KRAS and PI3KCA, and allelic discrimination for mutation of BRAF. Clinicopathological characteristics were correlated to the risk of bearing a mutation of the network using logistic regression. Three-year survival rates were compared with the Log rank test. A multivariate survival analysis using the Cox model was performed. After adjustment for age and microsatellite instability, activation of the network by mutation of at least 1 of the 3 genes was significantly associated with female sex (p = 0.02) and proximal location (p < 0.001). Lower levels of 3-year survival were associated with activation of the network by mutation of at least 1 of the 3 genes (59.4 and 69.4%, respectively; p = 0.009). These results remained significant in a multivariate analysis adjusted for sex, age, location, stage and microsatellite instability (HR = 1.48; CI CI(95%) = [1.07-2.04]). Our study is the first report to underline the potential role of RAS-MAPK, PI (3)K network mutations on survival in colon cancers. Because of the role of this signaling network on anticancer agents, the evaluation of its mutations could have clinical implications.

Few studies have investigated rectal cancer management at the population level. We compared how rectal cancers diagnosed in Italy (2003-2005) and France (2005) were managed, and evaluated the extent to which management adhered to European guidelines.Samples of 3938 Italian and 2287 French colorectal cancer patients were randomly extracted from 8 and 12 cancer registries respectively. Rectal cancer patients (860 Italian, 559 French) were analysed. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) of being treated with curative intent, receiving sphincter-saving surgery, and receiving preoperative radiotherapy.Similar proportions of Italian and French patients were treated with curative intent (70% vs. 67%; OR=0.92 [0.73-1.16]); the respective proportions receiving sphincter-saving surgery were 21% and 33% (OR=1.15 [0.86-1.53]). In about 50% of those treated with curative intent, ≥ 12 lymph nodes were harvested in both countries. The proportion receiving postoperative radiotherapy was higher in Italy than in France (25% vs. 11%, p0.01), but French patients were more likely to receive preoperative radiotherapy (52% vs. 21%; OR=4.06 [2.79-5.91]).The proportions of patients receiving preoperative radiotherapy and the numbers of lymph nodes sampled were low in both countries. Centralising treatment and potentiating screening would be practical ways of improving outcomes and adhering to guidelines.