Abstract
BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment strategy for older rectal cancer patients remains unclear. The current study aimed to compare treatment and survival of rectal cancer patients aged 80+. METHODS: Patients of >= 80 years diagnosed with rectal cancer between 2001 and 2010 were included. Population-based cohorts from Belgium (BE), Denmark (DK), the Netherlands (NL), Norway (NO) and Sweden (SE) were compared side by side for neighbouring countries on treatment strategy and 5-year relative survival (RS), adjusted for sex and age. Analyses were performed separately for stage I-III patients and stage IV patients. RESULTS: Overall, 19 634 rectal cancer patients were included. For stage I-III patients, 5-year RS varied from 61.7% in BE to 72.3% in SE. Proportion of preoperative radiotherapy ranged between 7.9% in NO and 28.9% in SE. For stage IV patients, 5-year RS differed from 2.8% in NL to 5.6% in BE. Rate of patients undergoing surgery varied from 22.2% in DK to 40.8% in NO. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial variation was observed in the 5-year relative survival between European countries for rectal cancer patients aged 80+, next to a wide variation in treatment, especially in the use of preoperative radiotherapy in stage I-III patients and in the rate of patients undergoing surgery in stage IV patients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 517-522 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | British Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 119 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 14 Aug 2018 |
Keywords
- IV COLORECTAL-CANCER
- ELDERLY-PATIENTS
- PREOPERATIVE RADIOTHERAPY
- DELAYED SURGERY
- OLDER PATIENTS
- PRIMARY TUMOR
- FOLLOW-UP
- COUNTRIES
- RESECTION
- CHEMORADIOTHERAPY