Global survival trends for brain tumors, by histology: analysis of individual records for 556,237 adults diagnosed in 59 countries during 2000-2014 (CONCORD-3)

BACKGROUND

Survival is a key metric of the effectiveness of a health system in managing cancer. We set out to provide a comprehensive examination of worldwide variation and trends in survival from brain tumors in adults, by histology.

METHODS

We analyzed individual data for adults (15-99 years) diagnosed with a brain tumor (ICD-O-3 topography code C71) during 2000-2014, regardless of tumor behavior. Data underwent a 3-phase quality control as part of CONCORD-3. We estimated net survival for 11 histology groups, using the unbiased nonparametric Pohar Perme estimator.

RESULTS

The study included 556,237 adults. In 2010-2014, the global range in age-standardized 5-year net survival for the most common sub-types was broad: in the range 20%-38% for diffuse and anaplastic astrocytoma, from 4% to 17% for glioblastoma, and between 32% and 69% for oligodendroglioma. For patients with glioblastoma, the largest gains in survival occurred between 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. These improvements were more noticeable among adults diagnosed aged 40-70 years than among younger adults.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the largest account to date of global trends in population-based survival for brain tumors by histology in adults. We have highlighted remarkable gains in 5-year survival from glioblastoma since 2005, providing large-scale empirical evidence on the uptake of chemoradiation at population level. Worldwide, survival improvements have been extensive, but some countries still lag behind. Our findings may help clinicians involved in national and international tumor pathway boards to promote initiatives aimed at more extensive implementation of clinical guidelines.

Abstract PD8-02: Tumor subtype and survival differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white breast cancer patients in the California cancer registry

Background: Prior studies show that Hispanic breast cancer patients are more likely than non-Hispanic white (NHW) women to be diagnosed with triple negative tumors but data on other subtypes are limited. Published data on survival differences between Hispanics and NHW breast cancer patients are inconsistent and vary depending on the covariates included in the multivariate models. We assessed differences in the distribution of the major tumor subtypes of breast cancer, as well as subtype-specific survival, between Hispanic and NHW patients according to nativity, and age and stage at diagnosis.

Methods: We used data from the population-based California Cancer Registry to include female invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 with follow-up through December 31, 2013, resulting in 90,236 total cases (69,693 NHW and 20,543 Hispanics). Tumor subtypes were classified into four categories: hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative (HR+/HER-), HR+/HER2+, HR-/HER2+, and triple negative (HR-/HER2-). Logistic regression was used to estimate differences in distribution of subtype between Hispanic and NHW women. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate differences in survival for Hispanics and NHWs by subtype, adjusting for clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: Compared to NHW patients, Hispanic women were more likely to be diagnosed with tumors that were HR+/HER2+ (OR=1.22; 95% CI, 1.16-1.29), HR-/HER2+ (OR=1.37; 95% CI, 1.29-1.47), and triple negative (OR=1.27; 95% CI, 1.21-1.34) than HR+/HER2-. Foreign-born Hispanics had a higher odds of having HER2+ than HR+/HER2- tumors compared to NHW women (OR=1.29 for HR+/HER2+ and OR=1.50 for HR-/HER2+); these differences were less pronounced among U.S.-born Hispanics (OR=1.04 for HR+/HER2+ and OR=1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.26 for HR-/HER2+). In age-adjusted models, Hispanic women had higher breast cancer mortality than NHW women (HR=1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.30), which was consistent across all tumor subtypes. However, the mortality differences disappeared after adjustment for clinical, sociodemographic characteristics, and marital status.

Conclusions: Hispanic women were more likely than NHWs to be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer as well as tumors overexpressing HER2 than HR+/HER2- tumors. This pattern held true when stratified by nativity, although higher ORs for HER2+ tumors among foreign-born than U.S.-born Hispanic women were observed. Within each subtype, Hispanics had 20%-30% higher mortality than NHW, which appeared to be explained by a combination of sociodemographic and clinical factors.

Citation Format: Martinez ME, Cress R, Gomez S, Rodriguez D, Cook LS, Schwab R, Nodora JN, Porter P, Li C. Tumor subtype and survival differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white breast cancer patients in the California cancer registry [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD8-02.

Hormone therapy use before diagnosis and breast cancer survival in the California teachers study

Abstract #65

Background: Breast cancer survival appears to be improved by pre-diagnostic use of hormone therapy (HT), but it is unclear from existing studies whether this is attributable to a direct beneficial effect of HT or because HT use encourages the development of certain tumor types with better prognosis. It is therefore important to examine whether the association between HT use and survival still remains after adequate adjustment for tumor characteristics.
 Methods: The California Teachers Study is an ongoing prospective study of female public school teachers and administrators. These analyses included 2,783 postmenopausal women whose use of HT was known and who were diagnosed with an incident primary invasive breast cancer after joining the cohort in 1995-96 and followed until death or the end of 2005. Incident cancers and tumor characteristics were ascertained through annual linkage with the statewide California Cancer Registry. Deaths were ascertained through annual linkage with the California state mortality files, the Social Security Administration Death Master File and the National Death Index. HT and other covariates were self-reported on the baseline questionnaire. We estimated the relative risk (RR) of breast cancer death stratifying by age in years, and using age in days from breast cancer diagnosis as the time scale (censoring deaths from other causes).
 Results: During the follow-up period, 159 (5.7%) women died of breast cancer. In unadjusted analysis, former and current HT use, specifically current estrogen-progestin (EP) use (RR=0.37; 0.24-0.57) but also current unopposed estrogen (E) use (RR=0.64; 0.43-0.95), was significantly associated with reduced breast cancer mortality, compared with no HT use. In multivariable analysis, taking into account race, body mass index, smoking history, lifetime physical activity, and co-morbidities, the risk estimates were somewhat attenuated (EP RR=0.40; 0.26-0.63 and E RR=0.67; 0.44-1.00). After additional adjustment for tumor characteristics (stage at diagnosis, estrogen receptor status, number of positive lymph nodes, grade and tumor size) and treatment received (surgery type and radiation) the risk estimates were considerably attenuated (EP RR=0.53; 0.33-0.84 and E RR=0.82; 0.53-1.27).
 Conclusion: Use of EP before diagnosis was associated with a reduced risk of death due to breast cancer. Use of E was also associated with reduced breast cancer mortality, although the association was not statistically significant after adjustment for indicators of general health, characteristics of the tumor and treatment.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 65.

Ovarian cancer treatment patterns and outcomes in the United States: A National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) study

15031

Background: Ovarian cancer (ovca) is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. In 2001, the NPCR program (administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) initiated a multi-year study to determine the first course of treatment for ovca patients in order to assess whether the ovca standard of care (as defined by the NIH Physician Data Query) was met. Methods: Population-based cancer registries in Maryland, New York, and Northern California were funded to collect patient, tumor, provider, and treatment data on patients diagnosed in these areas between 1997 and 2000. Information was collected through a retrospective medical record abstraction; all ovca records in Northern California and Maryland were included in the study, a simple random sample of ovca medical records in New York was included. Data on over 3000 patients from Northern California and New York were obtained (about 1500 patients each); data on about 1000 patients from Maryland was obtained. Patient vital status was followed through 2002. Results: Most patients were non-Hispanic white and between the ages of 50 and 79. About 30% of the tumors were papillary serous cystadenocarcinomas and almost 40% were poorly differentiated; about 66% of tumors were distant stage at diagnosis. The percentage of distant stage diagnoses increased with increasing age through age 79. Over half of patients were treated by gynecologic oncologists; obstetrician/gynecologists treated a little over 10% of patients. Overall, over 80% of patients underwent cancer directed surgery; about 50% were treated with carboplatin and about 55% were treated with paclitaxel. Patients ages 70 and older received cancer-directed surgery less often than younger patients. Overall, about 50% of patients were alive at the end of the follow-up period, with the percentage alive within age categories decreasing with increasing age. Conclusions: Age remains a negative factor in ovca presentation, treatment, and survival. Continued assessment of ovca patterns of care will enhance ovca knowledge and may aid clinicians in determining appropriate treatments for their ovca patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Thyroid cancer in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To compare stage at diagnosis, treatment and survival among pregnant women with thyroid cancer to non-pregnant women with thyroid cancer, and to assess the impact of treatment on maternal and perinatal outcomes.

METHODS

A database containing maternal and newborn discharge records linked to the California Cancer Registry was queried to obtain information on all thyroid cancers from 1991-1999. Women with thyroid cancer occurring during pregnancy were compared to age-matched non-pregnant women with thyroid cancer.

RESULTS

595 cases of thyroid cancers were identified (129 antepartum and 466 postpartum). About 64% of thyroid cancers were diagnosed at stage 2 among pregnant women versus 58% among non-pregnant controls. The odds of thyroid cancer were 1.5 times higher among Asian/Pacific Islanders than among Non-Hispanic White women. Pregnancy had no significant effect on mortality after diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Thyroidectomy during pregnancy was not associated with adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Thyroid cancer discovered during or after pregnancy does not appear to have a significant impact on the prognosis of the disease.

Use of a crop and job specific exposure matrix for estimating cumulative exposure to triazine herbicides among females in a case-control study in the Central Valley of California

AIMS

To determine if a job exposure matrix (JEM) could be developed using the California Department of Pesticide Regulation Pesticide Usage Database in conjunction with crop, time, and county specific self reported work history and to determine if this was a feasible method to obtain exposure estimates to triazine herbicides.

METHODS

Agricultural work histories were gathered from women enrolled in a population based case-control study of ovarian cancer cases and random controls. The work histories were used in conjunction with the database to construct job exposure matrices which took into account weightings for job type, work location, and crop.

RESULTS

Cumulative exposure estimates were determined for 98 study subjects. Mean exposure estimates were similar for cases and controls. The exposure estimates were robust and insensitive to varying job weight assumptions. The estimates from the original weights were highly correlated with those constructed using the conservative and maximum weights. Estimates from all three schemes produced similar multivariate age adjusted odds ratios comparing cases and controls. There was a high degree of agreement in categorised quartiles of exposure between the original and conservative, and original and maximum weights.

CONCLUSIONS

The exposure estimate from the JEM provides a ranking of exposure within the study population that can be utilised as an "exposure score" with which to compare groups. Although it is not an absolute exposure measurement, it does offer a substantial advance over dichotomous categories based on self report of herbicide use, particularly when subjects are unlikely to recall specific names and dates of use of herbicides.