Prognostic factors for sublingual gland carcinoma: a population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database study

OBJECTIVE

To identify the clinical features and prognostic factors for sublingual gland carcinoma.

METHODS

This was a case-control study. Patients with surgically treated sublingual gland carcinoma were retrospectively included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database and divided into adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and non-ACC groups. Primary outcome variables were disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). Prognostic factors for each group were analyzed using Cox models.

RESULTS

We included 251 patients (115 men and 136 women). Compared with the non-ACC group, the ACC group had a larger average tumor size and received more adjuvant radiotherapy. In patients with ACC, the pathologic grade had an independent impact on DSS and OS, and patients who were undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy had worse DSS than those who were not receiving chemotherapy. In the non-ACC group, pathologic grade IV, lymph node metastasis, and adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with poor DSS and OS, and tumor extension predicted worsening DSS.

CONCLUSIONS

In sublingual gland carcinoma, the pathologic grade and adjuvant chemotherapy were the most important prognostic factors, whereas lymph node metastasis had a negative impact in non-ACC patients but not in ACC patients.

The Impact of Ethnicity and Age on Distribution of Metastases in Patients with Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: Analysis of SEER Data

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) constitutes a rare and aggressive entity accounting for 5% to 10% of all urothelial tumors. The importance of stratification and disparities according to ethnicity and age has never been tested in a sufficiently large sample of patients with metastatic UTUC (mUTUC). We conducted this study to address this void, and we hypothesized that the distribution of metastases may vary according to age and ethnicity. Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2016), we identified 1115 patients with mUTUC. The chi-square and t-test tests were used to examine statistical significance in terms of proportions and mean differences. A total of 925 (83.0%) patients were Caucasians, while 190 (17.0%) were African Americans. Among both ethnicities, lungs were the most common metastatic site (39.1% vs. 48.9%). Brain metastases were infrequent among both ethnicities (1.2 vs. 2.6%; p = 0.13). The trends in the lung metastases decreased with age from 42.3% to 36.6% (p = 0.010) among Caucasians, whereas they increased among African Americans from 34.0% to 51.7% (p = 0.04). Overall, 32.8% of Caucasians and 40.5% of African Americans exhibited more than one metastatic site. Among Caucasians, increasing age was associated with lower rates of having multiple metastatic sites (from 34.3% to 30.2%) (p = 0.004). According to our multivariable analyses, younger age was associated with an increased risk of lung (OR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.71; p = 0.045) and bone metastases (OR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.07-1.79; p = 0.046). Racial differences exist in the distribution of mUTUC metastasis and vary according to age. Our findings may also be considered in the design of randomized trials.

Regional Lymph Node Metastasis and Axillary Surgery of Microinvasive Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Study

Microinvasive breast cancer (MBC for short) is a rare entity with the decision of axillary surgery under debate in clinical practice. We aimed to unravel the lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate, axillary surgery, and prognosis of MBC based on 11,692 patients derived from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database between 2003 and 2015. In this retrospective study, 19.5% (2276/11,692) of patients received axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), 80.5% (9416/11,692) received non-ALND. In the total cohort, 10-year breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) was 96.3%, and the LNM rate was 6.4% (754/11,692). Multivariate analyses showed that LNM had the strongest predictive weight (N3, HR 14.200, 95% CI 7.933−25.417; N2, HR 12.945, 95% CI 7.725−21.694; N1, HR 3.05, 95% CI 2.246−4.140, all p < 0.001). Kaplan−Meier analyses showed that ALND did not confer a survival benefit on 10-year BCS in patients with N0 (94.7% vs. 97.1%, p < 0.001) and in patients with 1−2 positive nodes (92.1% vs. 89.5%, p = 0.355), respectively, when compared to non-ALND. Our study demonstrated that the vast majority of MBC have a low LNM rate and excellent prognosis; patients with LNM showed poor prognosis. Assessment of lymph node status is necessary, and non-ALND surgery is required and sufficient for MBC with 0−2 positive nodes.

Development and validation of a nomogram for primary duodenal carcinoma: a multicenter, population-based study

Aim: This study aimed to develop a predictive model for patients with duodenal carcinoma. Methods: Duodenal carcinoma patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2010-2015) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University (2010-2021) were enrolled. A nomogram was constructed according to least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis, the Akaike information criterion approach and Cox regression analysis. Results: Five independent prognostic factors were significantly associated with the prognosis of the duodenal carcinoma patients. A nomogram was constructed with a C-index in the training and validation cohorts of 0.671 (95% CI: 0.578-0.716) and 0.662 (95% CI: 0.529-0.773), respectively. Conclusion: The established nomogram model provided visualization of the risk of each prognostic factor.

The role of lymph node dissection and a new N-staging system for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a study from the SEER database

BACKGROUND

Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend routine lymph node dissection (LND) in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), the role of LND remains controversial, and the node (N) stage is oversimplified.

METHODS

Patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results research data 18 (SEER 18). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce bias, and Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare overall survival (OS). The best cutoff values were found using X-tile software.

RESULTS

Of 2037 patients included in SEER 18, 1147 underwent LND (56.3%); 389 (34.3%) had pathologically confirmed lymph node metastasis (LNM), and 316 (27.6%) had at least 6 LNDs. The median OS was worse for LND patients (34 months vs. 40 months, respectively), and this result remained after PSM. Male sex, age ≥60 years, tumor size > 5 cm, and LNM were independent prognostic risk factors for ICC. LNM ≥3 was associated with worse OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Only a few LNDs met the requirements per the guidelines. LND does not improve OS in ICC, and the best approach to LND and a better N staging method should be explored further.

Colorectal adenocarcinoma patients with M1a diseases gain more clinical benefits from palliative primary tumor resection than those with M1b diseases: A propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection is regarded as the only potentially curative treatment option for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines do not recommend palliative surgery unless there is a risk of severe symptoms. However, accumulating evidence has shown that palliative surgery is associated with more favorable outcomes for patients with metastatic CRC.

AIM

To investigate the separate role of palliative primary tumor resection for patients with stage IVA (M1a diseases) and stage IVB (M1b diseases) colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA).

METHODS

CRA patients diagnosed from 2010 to 2015 with definite M1a and M1b categories according to the 8^th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system were selected from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. To minimize potential selection bias, the data were adjusted by propensity score matching (PSM). Baseline characteristics, including gender, year of diagnosis, age, marital status, primary site, surgical information, race, grade, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, were recorded and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the separate role of palliative surgery for patients with M1a and M1b diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 19680 patients with metastatic CRA were collected from the SEER database, including 10399 cases of M1a diseases and 9281 cases of M1b diseases. Common independent prognostic factors for both M1a and M1b patients included year of diagnosis, age, race, marital status, primary site, grade, surgery, and chemotherapy. After PSM adjustment, 3732 and 3568 matched patients in the M1a and M1b groups were included, respectively. Patients receiving palliative primary tumor resection had longer survival time than those without surgery (P < 0.001). For patients with M1a diseases, palliative resection could increase the median survival time by 9 mo; for patients with M1b diseases, palliative resection could prolong the median survival time by 7 mo. For M1a diseases, patients with lung metastasis had more clinical benefit from palliative resection than those with liver metastasis (15 mo for lung metastasis vs 8 mo for liver metastasis, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

CRA patients with M1a diseases gain more clinical benefits from palliative primary tumor resection than those with M1b diseases. Those patients with M1a (lung metastasis) have superior long-term outcomes after palliative primary tumor resection.

Increased risk of second primary hematologic and solid malignancies in patients with mycosis fungoides: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results analysis

BACKGROUND

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is associated with increased risk of second primary hematologic malignancies, but its association with second primary solid tumors is less well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective analysis seeks to assess the risk of being diagnosed with a second primary hematologic or solid malignancy in patients with MF.

DESIGN

We performed an analysis of patients diagnosed with MF from 2000 through 2015 in the United States cancer registries of SEER-18 (N = 6742).

RESULTS

Relative risks were estimated by using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). Among 6742 patients, there were 511 (7.5%) second cancer events (SIR, 10.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.29-11.07). These included 184 (36.0%) hematologic malignancies (SIR, 39.71; 95% CI, 34.05-46.05) and 327 (64.0%) solid tumor malignancies (SIR, 7.33; 95% CI, 6.56-8.17). Patients with MF were at increased risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma; Hodgkin lymphoma; melanoma; and lung, female breast, prostate, colon, and renal cancers. Females were at higher risk than males (P < .05). All ethnic groups showed a statistically significant elevation in SIRs. Elevation of SIRs was observed across all stages of MF.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Patients with MF are at increased risk for diagnosis of second primary malignancies and should be carefully screened for discernable signs and symptoms of second malignancies.

Conditional survival rate estimates of lobectomy, segmentectomy and wedge resection for stage IA1 non-small cell lung cancer: A population-based study

Conditional survival rate (CSR) is defined as the dynamic possibility of survival, considering the changes in the survival risk over time. The present study aimed to compare the CSR of the surgical procedures for stage IA1 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Overall, data for 2,535 patients with stage IA1 NSCLC after lobectomy, segmentectomy or wedge resection were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, and the overall survival (OS) rates were subsequently compared. CSR estimates, the possibility of patients who had already survived × years, to survive further y years, was calculated as CSR=S(x+y)/S(x), where S is the survival rate at a particular point in time. A Cox regression model and propensity-score matching were used to adjust confounding factors. There were no statistical differences in the OS among the three surgical procedures, except that OS of patients who underwent a lobectomy was improved compared with the wedge resection. The CSR of surviving to the 5th year after operation improved gradually over time. The 3-year CSR of lobectomy or segmentectomy was higher compared with that of the wedge resection. Moreover, the 3-year CSR of segmentectomy was higher compared with that of lobectomy from the 3rd year after surgery, particularly in some specific situations, such as female sex, patients ≥66 years old, patients with squamous cell carcinoma or patients with poor tumor differentiation. The present study is the first report to compare CSR following lobectomy, segmentectomy and wedge resection for patients with stage IA1 NSCLC, to the best of our knowledge. These findings indicated that lobectomy is the most conservative surgical procedure for stage IA1 NSCLC and raises questions regarding improved long-term prognosis of segmentectomy in some subsets of patients.

Effect of marital status on duodenal adenocarcinoma survival: A Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results population analysis

Numerous studies have shown that marital status may be a prognostic factor in various malignancies, but little is known about its effect on duodenal adenocarcinoma. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between marital status and survival in patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was utilized to analyze 2,018 patients who had been diagnosed with duodenal adenocarcinoma between January 2004 and December 2015. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were also used to determine the impact of marital status on overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS). The 5-year OS rate was higher in married patients (32.6%) compared with unmarried (26.8%) patients (P<0.001), as was the 5-year CSS rate (38.8 vs. 33.7%; P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that marital status was an independent prognostic factor for duodenal adenocarcinoma, with married patients having improved OS (P<0.001) and CSS (P=0.001) compared with unmarried patients. Subgroup analysis showed that marital status played a role in the survival of patients at American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage I, but not of patients at stages II, III or IV. The survival outcomes for duodenal adenocarcinoma are improved in married patients compared with those in unmarried patients. Therefore, attention should be paid to the impact of social factors and socio-economic factors on unmarried patients, in order to improve their survival outcomes.

Clinical associations and prognostic value of site-specific metastases in non-small cell lung cancer: A population-based study

The prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor, particularly for patients with metastatic disease. Numerous efforts have been made to improve the prognosis of these patients; however, only a small number of studies have explored the occurrence rate and prognostic value of different patterns of distant metastasis (DM) in NSCLC systematically. To investigate these, information from patients diagnosed with NSCLC between 2010 and 2014 was collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Survival rate comparisons were performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests. A Cox proportional hazard model was established to determine factors associated with improved overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The present study revealed that the most common site of single metastasis occurrence was bone, and the least common was the liver for NSCLC. As for multi-site metastases, the most common two-site metastasis involved bone and lung, and the most common three-site metastasis involved bone, liver and lung. As for NSCLC subtypes, large cell carcinoma (LCC) exhibited more specific metastatic features. The most common single metastatic site was the brain for patients with LCC, and the most common two-site metastatic combination was bone and liver. Patients with isolated liver metastasis exhibited the worst OS and CSS among patients with single metastasis. Furthermore, for patients with multi-site metastases, metastases involving the liver were associated with the worst OS and CSS among various combinations. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate the occurrence rate and prognostic value of different metastatic patterns of site-specific DM for NSCLC using a large population-based dataset. The findings of the present study may have vital implications for classifying patients with advanced NSCLC, thus laying a foundation for individualized precise treatment.

Basaloid nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A population-based analysis of a rare tumor

OBJECTIVES

Basaloid nasopharyngeal carcinoma (BNPC) is an extremely rare malignancy with a paucity of cases reported in the literature. This analysis represents the largest cohort of BNPC to date.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective population-based analysis.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry from 2001 to 2015 was utilized to extract a total of 82 cases of BNPC. Data were analyzed for incidence trends, demographic, and tumor characteristics, as well as potential outcome prognosticators.

RESULTS

White male patients between the ages of 40 to 79 years were most commonly affected. The incidence was measured at 0.06 per 100 thousand people. The majority of tumors were considered high grade (grade III/IV; 92.2%). At presentation, patients were most commonly advanced stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage IV) at 29.3%, followed by AJCC stages II and III (20.7%, respectively). T2 tumors were most common at 28.8%. Cervical node involvement and distant metastasis were measured at 53.7% and 10.4%, respectively. One-year, 5-year, and 10-year disease-specific survival was 87.7%, 60.7%, and 29.8%, respectively. No prognostic factors were identified in this study.

CONCLUSION

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma represents a histologic subtype of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with excellent short-term outcomes but poor survival at 10 years when compared to conventional squamous cell carcinomas.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 129:2727-2732, 2019.

Incidence and outcomes of lymphoid malignancies in adolescent and young adult patients in the United States

Lymphoma incidence and survival in adolescent and young adult (AYA, defined as 15-39 years of age) and adult patients (>39 years) were assessed using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. From 2000 to 2014, 431 721 lymphoma cases were reported to SEER, 9% in AYA patients. In the AYA group, the highest age-adjusted incidence rate was for classical Hodgkin lymphoma [HL; 3·4 per 100 000 person-years; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3·38-3·49] followed by diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL; 1·56, 95% CI, 1·53-1·60) and for adults, it was plasma cell neoplasms (14·17, 95% CI, 14·07-14·27), DLBCL (13·86, 95% CI, 13·76-13·96) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL; 13·19, 95% CI, 13·09-13·29). HL comprised 42% of lymphoma cases for AYAs, but only 4% in adults. The occurrence of DLBCL among AYAs and adults was similar, 18% and 20%, respectively. Twenty-eight percent of AYAs compared with 9% of adults presented with stage II disease, and 21% of AYAs compared with 10% of adults had B-symptoms. Extranodal disease was less common (33%) in AYAs than adults (59%). Overall, AYA patients with lymphoma have better 2- and 5-year relative survival rates (RSRs) compared to adults. When restricted to HL and DLBCL, RSR of AYA patients exceeds adult RSR.

A Comparative Study of Primary Adenoid Cystic and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Lung

Background

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) and pulmonary adenoid cystic carcinoma (PACC) are the two major types of primary salivary gland-type (PSGT) lung cancers. The demographic profile, clinicopathological features, and predictors of survival as an overall group have not been described for PSGT cancers of lung.

Methods

In this study, we analyzed demographic, clinical, and survival data from 1,032 patients (546 PMEC and 486 PACC) who were diagnosed of PSGT lung cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database from 1973 to 2014.

Results

The PSGT constituted 0.09% of all lung cancers with age-adjusted incidence rate of 0.07 per 100,000 person-years and change of −32% from 1973 to 2014. The incidence of PMEC was slightly higher than PACC but there were no differences in the age and sex distribution. PACCs (55%) were significantly higher at trachea and main bronchus while PMECs were more common at peripheral lungs (85%). Most of the tumors were diagnosed at an early stage and were low grade irrespective of histology. As compared to PMEC, significantly higher number of patients with PACC underwent radical surgery and received adjuvant radiation. The 1- and 5-year cause-specific survival was 76.6 and 62.8%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the survival was affected by age at diagnosis, tumor stage, histological grade, period of diagnosis, and surgical resection. The histology showed strong interaction with time and hazard ratio of patients with PACC was significantly worse than patients with PMEC only after 5 years.

Conclusion

The incidence of pulmonary PSGT cancer is 7 cases per 10 million population in the United States and is decreasing. There was no difference between demographic profile of patients with PMEC and PACC but pathological features were diverse. The difference in the survival of patients with the two histological types surfaced only after 5 years when survival of patients with PMEC was better than PACC.

A Population-Based Analysis of Survival for Sinonasal Rhabdomyosarcoma

Objectives Literature detailing factors affecting survival in sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma (SNRMS) is limited due to its rarity. We analyze the demographics, potential prognostic factors, overall survival, and treatment efficacy of SNRMS. Study Design and Setting Administrative database study. Methods SNRMS was queried in the SEER database (1973-2013; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results). Data were analyzed for demographic and clinicopathologic trends. Kaplan-Meier model was utilized for assessing survival. Results A total of 286 cases of SNRMS were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 24.5 years, and the mean tumor size was 5.1 cm. Overall 5-, 10-, and 20-year disease-specific survival was 35.1%, 25.4%, and 12.0%, respectively. Regional lymph node involvement was present at diagnosis in more than half of cases (54.3%) and distant metastasis in 32.2% of cases. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (54.9%) and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (23.8%) were the primary histologies. Alveolar-type SNRMS was more likely than the embryonal type to metastasize to distant sites (41.7% vs 24.1%), and it possessed poorer 5-year survival (29.2% vs 45.6%). Distant metastasis decreased 5-year survival from 35.1% to 3.8%, whereas lymph node involvement did not significantly affect survival. Patients <10 years old had the highest survival rates. Primary tumor origin by subsite did not significantly affect survival. Smaller tumor sizes and earlier Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group stages were associated with improved outcomes. Surgical therapy had the highest survival rates. Conclusion SNRMS has overall poorer prognosis than all other parameningeal rhabdomyosarcomas studied. Age <10 years, smaller tumor sizes, lack of distant metastasis, localized tumors, earlier Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group stages, and embryonal histology were all associated with improved outcomes.

Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma: a population-based analysis of 694 cases

BACKGROUND

Currently, limited literature exists about sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma (SNACC). In this study, we analyze the demographics, survival, and treatment efficacy of this rare entity.

METHODS

Our study was a retrospective population-based analysis of SNACC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database assessing the 40-year time-frame of 1973 to 2013.

RESULTS

Six hundred ninety-four SNACC patients were identified; 53.2% were female and 46.8% were male. Caucasians were most commonly affected (77.1%). SNACC most often arose from the maxillary sinuses, followed by the nasal cavity. The majority of SNACC cases presented as stage IV disease. Nodal and distant metastases were present in 3.6% and 7.1% of all cases, respectively. Overall 5-, 10-, and 20-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 66.5%, 41.1%, and 17.6%, respectively. The presence of distant metastasis dropped the 5-year DSS rate from 64.5% to 20.0%. Cases treated with combined surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy had a slightly improved 5-year DSS rate compared with surgery alone (73.5% vs 72.5%). Surgery alone resulted in higher 10- and 20-year DSS rates (54.2% and 36.8%, respectively) when compared with combined therapy (44.2% and 15.5%), radiotherapy alone (10.8% and 0%), and no surgery or radiotherapy (9.3% and 0%).

CONCLUSION

This study represents the largest cohort of SNACC patients to date. Factors that confer a survival benefit in SNACC include M0 disease, and presentation primarily in the nasal cavity. Overall low rates of nodal metastasis may not warrant the use of elective neck dissections, unless there is clinical suspicion. Modalities of therapy that include surgery greatly improve survival. Adjuvant radiotherapy appears to slightly improve 5-year disease-free survival but does not impact long-term survival.

Survival of patients with superficial esophageal adenocarcinoma after endoscopic treatment vs surgery

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Endoscopic therapy can improve long-term outcomes of patients with superficial esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), producing fewer complications than esophagectomy. However, there have been few population-based studies to compare long-term outcomes of patients who received these treatments. We used a large national cancer database to evaluate the outcomes of patients with superficial EAC who underwent endoscopic therapy or surgery.

METHODS

We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database to identify 1618 patients with Tis or T1 N0M0 EAC from 1998-2009. Patients were grouped on the basis of whether they received endoscopic therapy (n = 306) or surgery (n = 1312). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with endoscopic therapy. We collected survival data through the end of 2009; overall survival and esophageal cancer-specific survival were compared after controlling for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

The use of endoscopic therapy increased progressively from 3% in 1998 to 29% in 2009. Factors associated with use of endoscopic therapy included age older than 65 years, diagnosis in 2006-2009 vs 1998-2001, and the absence of submucosal invasion. Overall survival after 5 years was higher in the surgery group than in the endoscopic therapy group (70% vs 58%, respectively). After adjusting for patient and tumor factors, patients treated by endoscopy had similar overall survival times (hazard ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-1.58) and esophageal cancer-specific survival times (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-1.11).

CONCLUSION

In a population-based analysis, the use of endoscopic therapy for superficial EAC tended to increase from 1998-2009. Long-term survival of patients with EAC did not appear to differ between those who received endoscopic therapy and those treated with surgery.

Risk of lymphoma in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with thiopurines: a nationwide retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

There is controversy over whether the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) with thiopurines increases their risk of lymphoma. We evaluated the risk of lymphoma (ongoing, residual, and per year of therapy) among thiopurine-treated patients with UC.

METHODS

We obtained nationwide data from the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system from 2001 to 2011. We performed a retrospective cohort study, analyzing data on 36,891 patients from their date of diagnosis of UC in the VA health care system to a diagnosis of lymphoma or October 1, 2011 (subjects followed up for a median of 6.7 years). Thiopurine exposure was assessed using the VA pharmacy database. Patients who developed lymphoma were identified based on ICD-9 codes and confirmed by manual chart review.

RESULTS

In total, 4734 patients with UC (13%) were treated with thiopurines for a median of 1 year. Lymphoma developed in 119 patients who had not been treated with thiopurines, 18 who were treated with thiopurines, and 5 who had discontinued treatment with thiopurines. The incidence rates of lymphoma were 0.60 per 1000 person-years among patients who had not been treated with thiopurines, 2.31 among patients who were treated with thiopurines, and 0.28 among patients who had discontinued treatment with thiopurines. The incidence rates of lymphoma during the first year, second year, third year, fourth year, and >4 years of thiopurine therapy were 0.9, 1.6, 1.6, 5, and 8.9 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The age-, sex-, and race-adjusted hazard ratios of developing lymphoma were 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.5-6.8; P < .0001) while being treated with thiopurines and 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-1.3; P = .17) after discontinuing treatment with thiopurines compared with patients who had not been treated with thiopurines.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a retrospective, nationwide cohort study, patients with UC have a 4-fold increase in risk of lymphoma while being treated with thiopurines compared with patients who have not been treated with thiopurines. The risk increases gradually for successive years of therapy. Discontinuing thiopurine therapy reduces the risk of lymphoma.

Health benefits and cost-effectiveness of a hybrid screening strategy for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines recommend screening schedules for each single type of test except for concurrent sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood test (FOBT). We investigated the cost-effectiveness of a hybrid screening strategy that was based on a fecal immunological test (FIT) and colonoscopy.

METHODS

We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis by using the Archimedes Model to evaluate the effects of different CRC screening strategies on health outcomes and costs related to CRC in a population that represents members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California. The Archimedes Model is a large-scale simulation of human physiology, diseases, interventions, and health care systems. The CRC submodel in the Archimedes Model was derived from public databases, published epidemiologic studies, and clinical trials.

RESULTS

A hybrid screening strategy led to substantial reductions in CRC incidence and mortality, gains in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and reductions in costs, comparable with those of the best single-test strategies. Screening by annual FIT of patients 50-65 years old and then a single colonoscopy when they were 66 years old (FIT/COLOx1) reduced CRC incidence by 72% and gained 110 QALYs for every 1000 people during a period of 30 years, compared with no screening. Compared with annual FIT, FIT/COLOx1 gained 1400 QALYs/100,000 persons at an incremental cost of $9700/QALY gained and required 55% fewer FITs. Compared with FIT/COLOx1, colonoscopy at 10-year intervals gained 500 QALYs/100,000 at an incremental cost of $35,100/QALY gained but required 37% more colonoscopies. Over the ranges of parameters examined, the cost-effectiveness of hybrid screening strategies was slightly more sensitive to the adherence rate with colonoscopy than the adherence rate with yearly FIT. Uncertainties associated with estimates of FIT performance within a program setting and sensitivities for flat and right-sided lesions are expected to have significant impacts on the cost-effectiveness results.

CONCLUSIONS

In our simulation model, a strategy of annual or biennial FIT, beginning when patients are 50 years old, with a single colonoscopy when they are 66 years old, delivers clinical and economic outcomes similar to those of CRC screening by single-modality strategies, with a favorable impact on resources demand.