Accurately estimating breast cancer survival in Spain: cross-matching local cancer registries with the National Death Index / Estimación precisa de la supervivencia de cáncer de mama en España: emparejamiento de los registros locales de cáncer con el Índice Nacional de Defunciones

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of using data from the National Death Index (NDI) of Spain to estimate breast cancer survival rates among residents of Girona and Zaragoza diagnosed in 1995-1999. METHODS: This was an observational, longitudinal epidemiologic study, using two population- based cancer registries. Data collected were of female residents of Girona or Zaragoza who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995-1999. Observed and relative 5-year survival rates were estimated, first using the information available from the Girona and Zaragoza cancer registries, and then with the inclusion of NDI data. The 5-year relative survival rate and corresponding 95 percent Confidence Intervals were estimated using the Hakulinen method. The Kaplan-Maier method and Log Rank test were used to compare survival curves. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in survival curves was observed in Girona for the data obtained before and after cross-matching with the NDI. However, there was a significant difference in Zaragoza. A comparison of the relative survival rates of each of the two registries before NDI cross-matching showed differences of 3.9 percent (5-year) and 16.1 percent (10-year) between the two, whereas after the cross-match, the difference was only 0.5 percent (5-year) and 1.2 percent (10-year). CONCLUSIONS: In Spain it is imperative that there be systematic use of NDI data to supplement cancer registries, so that comparisons of relative survival rates between registries can be improved.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el efecto de utilizar los datos del Índice Nacional de Defunciones (IND) de España para estimar las tasas de supervivencia de cáncer de mama en las mujeres residentes en Girona y Zaragoza que recibieron el diagnóstico de cáncer de mama en 1995-1999. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio epidemiológico observacional y longitudinal basado en el empleo de los registros de cáncer de mujeres residentes en Girona y Zaragoza que habían recibido el diagnóstico de cáncer de mama en 1995-1999. Se estimaron las tasas de supervivencias observada y relativa a 5 años, primero según la información disponible en los registros de cáncer de Girona y Zaragoza y luego con la inclusión de los datos del IND. Se calcularon las tasas de supervivencia relativa a 5 años y sus correspondientes intervalos de confianza de 95 por ciento por el método de Hakulinen. Las curvas de supervivencia se compararon por el método de Kaplan-Maier y la prueba de rangos logarítmicos. RESULTADOS: No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las curvas de supervivencia de Girona antes y después de emparejar lo datos locales con los del IND; sin embargo, hubo diferencias significativas entre las curvas de Zaragoza. Al comparar las tasas de supervivencia relativa de cada uno de los registros antes de emparejarlos con los datos del IND se encontraron diferencias de 3,9 por ciento (a 5 años) y 16,1 por ciento (a 10 años), mientras que después del emparejamiento, la diferencia entre ellas fue solamente de 0,5 por ciento (a 5 años) y 1,2 por ciento (a 10 años). CONCLUSIONES: En España es imperativo el empleo sistemático de los datos del IND para complementar los registros de cáncer de manera de mejorar las comparaciones de las tasas de supervivencia relativa cuando se utilizan diferentes registros.

Cox Regression Analysis of Factors Influencing Postoperative Survival Rate of Gastric Cancer Patients / 中国普外基础与临床杂志

Objective To study the influence of clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical treatment of gastric cancer on patients' survival rate.Methods From Apr.1994 to Aug.2005, the data of 759 gastric cancer patients concerning surgical treatment, pathological diagnosis and outcome were collected. Retrospective analysis of the results was made, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier curve method, univariate analysis was done through Log-rank and multiple factors comparison through Cox regression analysis, and follow-up duration was 4-131 months.Results Single factor analysis indicated that age,tumor location,diameter of tumor, Borrmann type, type of histology, TNM stage, depth of infiltration, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, blood of transfusion during operation, extent of the radical cure of the tumor and excision techniques were significantly influential factors for the prognosis of patients. Cox regression analysis showed that tumor location, diameter of tumor,depth of infiltration, lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis, TNM stage, peritoneal dissemination, blood transfusion during operation, extend of the radical cure of the tumor and excision techniques were independent factors influencing the postoperative survival rate.Conclusion Independent factors influencing the postoperative survival rate include tumor location, diameter of tumor, lymph node metastasis, infiltration depth of the tumor, pathological classification, liver metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, and TNM stage, extent of the radical cure of the tumor, lymphanodectomy techniques and blood transfusion during operation are also important factors.

Incidence and survival of cancer in Kangwha County (1983-1987)

To measure incidence and survival rates of cancer in Kangwha County, 663 cancer patients registered in the Kangwha County Cancer Registry Program for the past 5 years (1983-1987) were analyzed. The average annual cancer incidence rate per 100,000 population was 183.0 in males and 99.5 in females. The common cancers were stomach (37.3%), lung (14.8%), and liver cancer (11.1%) in males and stomach (25.6%), cervix uteri (20.9%), and liver cancer (9.7%) in females. The median survival times of all cancer patients after diagnosis and onset of the first symptom were 8.4 +/- 0.8 months and 15.0 +/- 1.1 months respectively. Female cancer patients survived significantly longer than male cancer patients. The median survival times of the stomach, lung, and liver cancer in males were 7.7 +/- 0.9, 4.9 +/- 0.9, and 2.3 +/- 0.4 months respectively. In females, the median survival times of the stomach and liver cancer patients were 9.2 +/- 1.5 and 2.5 +/- 0.5 months. The 5 year survival rate of cervical cancer was 67.1%. Those cancer patients who received anticancer therapy survived significantly longer than cancer patients without treatment.

Incidence and survival of cancer in Kangwha County (1983-1987)

To measure incidence and survival rates of cancer in Kangwha County, 663 cancer patients registered in the Kangwha County Cancer Registry Program for the past 5 years (1983-1987) were analyzed. The average annual cancer incidence rate per 100,000 population was 183.0 in males and 99.5 in females. The common cancers were stomach (37.3%), lung (14.8%), and liver cancer (11.1%) in males and stomach (25.6%), cervix uteri (20.9%), and liver cancer (9.7%) in females. The median survival times of all cancer patients after diagnosis and onset of the first symptom were 8.4 +/- 0.8 months and 15.0 +/- 1.1 months respectively. Female cancer patients survived significantly longer than male cancer patients. The median survival times of the stomach, lung, and liver cancer in males were 7.7 +/- 0.9, 4.9 +/- 0.9, and 2.3 +/- 0.4 months respectively. In females, the median survival times of the stomach and liver cancer patients were 9.2 +/- 1.5 and 2.5 +/- 0.5 months. The 5 year survival rate of cervical cancer was 67.1%. Those cancer patients who received anticancer therapy survived significantly longer than cancer patients without treatment.