Factors contributing to time to diagnosis in symptomatic colorectal cancer: A scoping review

Reduction in the diagnostic interval after the introduction of cancer patient pathways for colorectal cancer in northern Sweden

OBJECTIVE

To compare the diagnostic interval for patients with colorectal cancer before and after the introduction of cancer patient pathways in northern Sweden.

DESIGN

A retrospective study comparing two cohorts (2012 and 2018) of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer before and after the introduction of cancer patient pathways in 2016.

SETTING

Three counties in northern Sweden with large sparsely populated areas and some cities (637143 residents ∼5.1 residents/km2).

SUBJECTS

Patients were included from the Swedish Cancer Register. Electronic health records reviews were performed and linked to socioeconomic data from Statistics Sweden.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Differences in the diagnostic intervals, the patient intervals and the characteristics associated with the longest diagnostic intervals and investigations starting at the emergency department.

RESULTS

The two cohorts included 411 patients in 2012 and 445 patients in 2018. The median diagnostic interval was reduced from 47 days (IQI 18-99) to 29 days (IQI 9-74) (p < 0.001) after the introduction of cancer patient pathways in general. Though for the cases of cancer in the right-side (ascended) colon, the reduction of the diagnostic interval was not observed and it remained associated with investigations starting at the emergency department.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that cancer patient pathways contributed to an improvement in the diagnostic interval for patients with colorectal cancer in general, yet not for patients with cancer in the right-side colon.

IMPLICATION

In general, cancer patient pathways seem to reduce the diagnostic interval for colorectal cancer but it is not a sufficient solution for all colorectal cancer localisations.

Oncology Clinical Trials in Greece: Progress in the Past Decade

Cancer is established as a major contributor to global burden as millions of deaths are reported every year. Advances in molecular, epidemiologic and clinical research have led to significant improvements in prevention, screening and treatment of tumors. The purpose of the study is to describe the progress of oncology clinical trials performed in Greece during the past decade and the obstacles that still need to be addressed in cancer research. A search was conducted in the public database EU Clinical Trials Register using the algorithm 'cancer AND Greece'. Results included relevant trials approved between 2010 and 2020. A total of 480 trials were approved for conduct in Greece from 2010 to 2020. The majority are multinational, phase III trials, exploring the efficacy and safety of agents in the management of lung cancer and multiple myeloma. A variety of small-molecules and monoclonal antibodies has and is being tested against key binding targets. Based on their promising effects on patients' responses and outcomes, many have been marketed for the treatment of several cancer types and are considered milestones in cancer discovery. It goes without saying that oncology research has made tremendous steps towards the development of potent and tolerable anticancer agents, with Greece having an active role. Current efforts focus on the use of alternative designs and tools aiming at further improving patients' survival and quality of life, while globalization of clinical research is also a matter of high importance.

Patient and tumour characteristics of screening-age adults diagnosed with screen-detected versus symptomatic colon cancer

AIM

International studies have shown that most colon cancers are diagnosed among people with symptoms, but research is limited in the United States. Here, we conducted a retrospective study of adults aged 50-85 years diagnosed with stage I-IIIA colon cancer between 1995 and 2014 in two US healthcare systems.

METHODS

Mode of detection (screening or symptomatic) was ascertained from medical records. We estimated unadjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing detection mode by patient factors at diagnosis (year, age, sex, race, smoking status, body mass index [BMI], Charlson score), prediagnostic primary care utilization, and tumour characteristics (stage, location).

RESULTS

Of 1,675 people with colon cancer, 38.4% were screen-detected, while 61.6% were diagnosed following symptomatic presentation. Screen-detected cancer was more common among those diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 versus 1995-1999 (OR 1.65, 95% CI: 1.19-2.28), and those with a BMI of 25-<30 kg/m² (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.21-1.98) or ≥30 kg/m² (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.18-1.96) versus <25 kg/m² . Screen-detected cancer was less common among people aged 76-85 (OR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.39-0.65) versus 50-64, those with comorbidity scores >0 (OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56-0.91 for score = 1, OR 0.34, 95% CI: 0.26-0.45 for score = 2+), and those with 2+ prediagnostic primary care visits (OR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37-0.76) versus 0 visits. The odds of screen detection were lower among patients diagnosed with stage IIA (OR 0.33, 95% CI = 0.27-0.41) or IIB (OR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.06-0.24) cancers versus stage I.

CONCLUSIONS

Most colon cancers among screen-eligible adults were diagnosed following symptomatic presentation. Even with increasing screening rates over time, research is needed to better understand why specific groups are more likely to be diagnosed when symptomatic and identify opportunities for interventions.