Visser, O.

Diverging trends in incidence and mortality, and improved survival of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, in the Netherlands, 1989-2007 (Article)

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Background: We studied progress in the fight against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the Netherlands by describing the changes in incidence, treatment, relative survival, and mortality during 1989-2007. Patients and methods: We included all adult patients with NHL [i.e. all mature B-, T-, and natural killer (NK) cell neoplasms, with the exception of plasma cell neoplasms], newly diagnosed in the period 1989-2007 and recorded in the Netherlands Cancer Registry (n = 55 069). Regular mortality data were derived from Statistics Netherlands. Follow-up was completed up to 1 January 2009. Annual percentages of change in incidence, mortality, and relative survival were calculated. Results: The incidence of indolent B-cell and T- and NK-cell neoplasms rose significantly (estimated annual percentage change = 1.2% and 1.3%, respectively); incidence of aggressive B-cell neoplasms remained stable. Mortality due to NHL remained stable between 1989 and 2003, and has decreased since 2003. Five-year relative survival rates rose from 67% to 75%, and from 43% to 52%, respectively, for indolent and aggressive mature B-cell neoplasms, but 5-year survival remained stable at 48% for T- and NK-cell neoplasms. Conclusions: In the Netherlands, incidence of indolent mature B-cell and mature T- and NK-cell neoplasms has increased since 1989 but remained stable for aggressive neoplasms. Survival increased for all mature B-cell neoplasms, preceding a declining mortality and increased prevalence of NHL (17 597 on 1 January 2008).

Variation between hospitals in surgical margins after first breast-conserving surgery in the Netherlands (Article)

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Surgical margin status after first breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is used as a quality indicator of breast cancer care in the Netherlands. The aim is to describe the variation in surgical margin status between hospitals. 7,345 patients with DCIS or invasive cancer (T1-2,N0-1,M0) diagnosed between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009, who underwent BCS as first surgery, were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patients were treated in 96 hospitals. Maximum target values were 30% 'focally positive' or 'more than focally positive' for DCIS and 10% 'more than focally positive' for invasive carcinoma. Results per hospital are presented in funnel plots. For invasive carcinoma, multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for case mix. Overall 28.5% (95% CI: 25.5-31.4%) of DCIS and 9.1% (95% CI: 8.4-9.8%) of invasive carcinoma had positive margins. Variation between hospitals was substantial. 6 and 10 hospitals, respectively, for DCIS and invasive cancer showed percentages above the upper limit of agreement. Case mix correction led to significant different conclusions for 5 hospitals. After case mix correction, 10 hospitals showed significant higher rates, while 7 hospitals showed significant lower rates. High rates were not related to breast cancer patient volume or type of hospital (teaching vs. non-teaching). Higher rates were related to hospitals where the policy is to aim for BCS instead of mastectomy. The overall percentage of positive margins in the Netherlands is within the predefined targets. The variation between hospitals is substantial but can be largely explained by coincidence. Case mix correction leads to relevant shifts.

The validity of the mortality to incidence ratio as a proxy for site-specific cancer survival (Article)

2011-10-01T00:00:00Z

Background: The complement of the cancer mortality to incidence ratio [1-(M/I)] has been suggested as a valid proxy for 5-year relative survival. Whether this suggestion holds true for all types of cancer has not yet been adequately evaluated. Methods: We used publicly available databases of cancer incidence, cancer mortality and relative survival to correlate relative survival estimates and 1-(M/I) estimates from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the USA and the Netherlands. We visually examined for which tumour sites 5-year relative survival cannot simply be predicted by the 1-(M/I) and evaluated similarities between countries. Results: Country-specific linear regression analyses show that there is no systematic bias in predicting 5-year relative survival by 1-(M/I) in five countries. There is a small but significant systematic underestimation of survival from prognostically poor tumour sites in two countries. Furthermore, the 1-(M/I) overestimates survival from oral cavity and liver cancer with >10 in at least two of the seven countries. By contrast, the proxy underestimates survival from soft tissue, bone, breast, prostate and oesophageal cancer, multiple myeloma and leukaemia with >10 in at least two of the seven countries. Conclusion: The 1-(M/I) is a good approximation of the 5-year relative survival for most but not all tumour sites.

Breast and stomach cancer incidence and survival in migrants in the Netherlands, 1996-2006 (Article)

2011-05-01T00:00:00Z

Migrant populations experience a health transition that influences their cancer risk, determined by environmental changes and acculturation processes. In this retrospective cohort study, we investigated differences in breast and stomach cancer risk and survival in migrants to the Netherlands. Invasive breast and stomach cancer cases diagnosed between 1996 and 2006 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were computed as the ratio of observed and expected cancers. Differences in the survival were expressed as hazard ratio (HR) using Cox regression and relative survival rates (RSR). All migrant women exhibited a significantly lower risk for breast cancer compared with Dutch natives. However, 5-year RSR was lower in all migrants (range 68-73%) compared with Dutch natives (85%). Death rates were increased in Moroccan [HR=1.2 (1.0-1.5)] and reduced in Indonesian [HR=0.8 (0.8-0.9)] patients with breast cancer. The incidence of noncardia stomach cancer was significantly elevated in all migrants, being highest in Turkish males [SIR=1.9 (1.6-2.3)]. Cardia stomach cancer was less frequent in all migrants, being lowest in Surinamese males [SIR=0.3 (0.2-0.6)]. Death rates for stomach cancer were lower in patients from Morocco [HR=0.6 (0.4-0.9)], whereas 1-year RSR for stomach cancer was better in all migrant groups. Both lower breast cancer rates and higher stomach cancer rates point to a strong link between environmental exposures, behavioural patterns and cancer risk during the life course. Favourable risks in migrants should be sustained as long as possible whereas survival disparities require careful monitoring and counteraction with preventive means as well as improved access to healthcare.

Variation in lymph node evaluation in rectal cancer: A Dutch nationwide population-based study (Article)

2011-01-01T00:00:00Z

Background: For adequate staging and subsequent accurate estimation of prognosis, a sufficient number of lymph nodes (LNs) has to be evaluated. This study aimed to identify factors associated with adequate nodal evaluation and to determine its relationship with survival. Methods: Data from all patients with stage I to III rectal carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment and who were diagnosed in the period 2000 to 2006 were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Multilevel logistic analysis was performed to examine the influence of relevant factors on the number of evaluated LNs. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the association with overall survival. Results: The number of evaluated LNs was determined for 10,788 (91%) of 11,818 tumors. Median number of evaluated LNs was 7, ranging from 4 to 11 between pathology laboratories. The proportion of patients with positive LNs increased with increasing number of evaluated LNs. Men, younger patients, tumors with deeper invasion and nodal involvement, patients without preoperative radiotherapy who underwent a low anterior resection, and patients whose LNs were evaluated in an academic pathology laboratory were more likely to have ≥12 LNs evaluated. After adding these factors to the model, unexplained variation between pathology laboratories and between hospitals remained. The overall survival increased with increasing number of evaluated LNs. Conclusions: A large variation in LN evaluation among patients with rectal cancer was revealed. Improvement in LN evaluation by both hospitals and pathology laboratories could improve staging, leading to more reliable estimation of prognosis.

Large variation between hospitals and pathology laboratories in lymph node evaluation in colon cancer and its impact on survival, a nationwide population based study in The Netherlands (Article)

2011-01-01T00:00:00Z

Background: Adequate lymph node (LN) evaluation is important for planning treatment in patients with colon cancer. Aims of this study were to identify factors associated with adequate nodal examination and to determine its relationship with stage distribution and survival. Patients and methods: Data from patients with colon carcinoma stages I-III who underwent surgical treatment and diagnosed in the period 2000-2006 were retrieved from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Multilevel logistic analysis was carried out to examine the influence of relevant factors on the number of evaluated LNs. The relationship with survival was analysed using Cox regression analysis. Results: The number of examined LN was determined for 30 682 of 33 206 tumours. Median number of evaluated LN was 8, ranging from 4 to 15 between pathology laboratories. Females, younger patients, right-sided pN+ tumours with higher pT stage and patients diagnosed in an academic centre were less likely to have nine or less LN evaluated. Unexplained variation between hospitals and pathology laboratories remained, leading to differences in stage distribution. With increasing number of evaluated LN, the risk of death decreased. Conclusion: There was large diversity in nodal examination among patients with colon cancer, leading to differences in stage distribution and being associated with survival.

Variation in Lymph Node Evaluation in Rectal Cancer: A Dutch Nationwide Population-Based Study (Article)

2010-01-01T00:00:00Z

Management of recurrent rectal cancer: A population based study in greater Amsterdam (Article)

2008-10-21T00:00:00Z

Aim: To analyze, retrospectively in a population-based study, the management and survival of patients with recurrent rectal cancer initially treated with a macroscopically radical resection obtained with total mesorectal excision (TME). Methods: All rectal carcinomas diagnosed during 1998 to 2000 and initially treated with a macroscopically radical resection (632 patients) were selected from the Amsterdam Cancer Registry. For patients with recurrent disease, information on treatment of the recurrence was collected from the medical records. Results: Local recurrence with or without clinically apparent distant dissemination occurred in 62 patients (10%). Thirty-two patients had an isolated local recurrence. Ten of these 32 patients (31%) underwent radical re-resection and experienced the highest survival (three quarters survived for at least 3 years). Eight patients (25%) underwent non-radical surgery (median survival 24 mo), seven patients (22%) were treated with radio- and/or chemotherapy without surgery (median survival 15 mo) and seven patients (22%) only received best supportive care (median survival 5 mo). Distant dissemination occurred in 124 patients (20%) of whom 30 patients also had a local recurrence. The majority (54%) of these patients were treated with radio- and/or chemotherapy without surgery (median survival 15 mo). Twenty-seven percent of these patients only received best supportive care (median survival 6 mo), while 16% underwent surgery for their recurrence. Survival was best in the latter group (median survival 32 mo). Conclusion: Although treatment options and survival are limited in case of recurrent rectal cancer after radical local resection obtained with TME, patients can benefit from additional treatment, especially if a radical resection is feasible.

Geographical relationships between sociodemographic factors and incidence of cervical cancer in the Netherlands 1989ĝ€"2003 (Article)

2008-10-01T00:00:00Z

In many industrialized countries, with some degree of screening, cervical cancer nowadays is most frequent among women of lower socioeconomic status (SES), partly owing to their lower participation in screening. This study aims to provide support for specification of mass screening policy for cervical cancer by describing relationships between sociodemographic factors and the incidence of cervical cancer in the Netherlands based on geographical differences and by analysing the relationship between SES of neighbourhood and individual tumour characteristics. Municipality-specific, age-adjusted incidence rates for cervical cancer were calculated from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, and data on sociodemographic factors were obtained from Statistics Netherlands. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate determinants of variations in incidence at the ecological level. An additional analysis linked individual tumour characteristics to SES estimates at the postal code level by calculating relative risks (RR). The incidence was higher in municipalities with a high prevalence of immigrants [odds ratios 7.9, 1.4ĝ€"47 95% confidence intervals (CI)] and with more individuals on welfare (odds ratios 8.6, 1.7ĝ€"43 95% CI). Patients residing in neighbourhoods with lower SES had higher Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages (RR 1.4, 1.2ĝ€"1.6 95% CI) and fewer adenocarcinomas (RR 0.7, 0.6ĝ€"0.9 95% CI), and were younger at diagnosis (P<0.001). Cervical cancer is more common among women of lower SES and immigrant women. This, together with the finding that lower SES is associated with more advanced cancer and consequently worse survival, emphasizes the importance of future cervical cancer prevention programmes targeted at women of lower SES who do not participate in opportunistic screening. Copyright

The impact of adjuvant therapy on contralateral breast cancer risk and the prognostic significance of contralateral breast cancer: A population based study in the Netherlands (Article)

2008-07-01T00:00:00Z

Background: The impact of age and adjuvant therapy on contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk and prognostic significance of CBC were evaluated. Patients and Methods: In 45,229 surgically treated stage I-IIIA patients diagnosed in the Netherlands between 1989 and 2002 CBC risk was quantified using standardised incidence ratios (SIRs), cumulative incidence and Cox regression analysis, adjusted for competing risks. Results: Median follow-up was 5.8 years, in which 624 CBC occurred <6 months after the index cancer (synchronous) and 1,477 thereafter (metachronous). Older age and lobular histology were associated with increased synchronous CBC risk. Standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of CBC was 2.5 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.4-2.7). The SIR of metachronous CBC decreased with index cancer age, from 11.4 (95% CI 8.6-14.8) when <35 to 1.5 (95% CI 1.4-1.7) for ≥60 years. The absolute excess risk of metachronous CBC was 26.8/10,000 person-years. The cumulative incidence increased with 0.4% per year, reaching 5.9% after 15 years. Adjuvant hormonal (Hazard rate ratio (HR) 0.58; 95% CI 0.48-0.69) and chemotherapy (HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.60-0.90) were associated with a markedly decreased CBC risk. A metachronous CBC worsened survival (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.33-1.56). Conclusion: Young breast cancer patients experience high synchronous and metachronous CBC risk. Adjuvant hormonal or chemotherapy considerably reduced the risk of CBC. CBC occurrence adversely affects prognosis, emphasizing the necessity of long-term surveillance directed at early CBC-detection.

Superior survival of females among 10 538 Dutch melanoma patients is independent of Breslow thickness, histologic type and tumor site (Article)

2007-12-17T00:00:00Z

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, female melanoma patients have superior survival compared with males, which is usually ascribed to earlier detection among women and/or a more favorable site distribution. We studied gender difference in melanoma survival in a large population-based setting after adjusting for tumor-related variables and offer clues for further research. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 10 538 patients diagnosed with melanoma from 1993 to 2004 in The Netherlands were included. Multivariate analyses were carried out to estimate adjusted relative excess risk (RER) of dying for men compared with women, adjusted for the patient and tumor characteristics. RESULTS: Univariate relative survival analyses showed a RER of dying of 2.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.38-3.06] for men compared with women. After adjusting for time period of diagnosis, region, age, Breslow thickness, histologic subtype, body site, nodal and metastatic status, a significant excess mortality risk was still present for males (RER 1.87, 95% CI 1.65-2.10). Among patients with advanced disease and in those <45 or >/=60, the adjusted risk estimates were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The superior survival of women compared with men persisted after adjusting for multiple confounding variables indicating that factors other than stage at diagnosis and body site reduce mortality risk in female melanoma patients.

Does the decrease in hormone replacement therapy also affect breast cancer risk in the Netherlands? [3] (Article)

2007-11-01T00:00:00Z