Impact of Covid-19 on breast cancer stage at discovery, and time to treatment in Cote d'Or, France.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensuing overcrowding in the French health system, management of patients with COVID-19 was given priority over that of patients with other pathologies, including chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to study the impact of COVID-19 on the stage of discovery of cancers diagnosed in the context of an organized breast cancer screening programme, as well as the impact on time to treatment. All women diagnosed with cancer in the Côte d'Or via organized breast cancer screening (first or second reading) from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 were included in this study. Using data from pathological laboratories, clinical centers, and the breast and gynecological cancer registry of the Côte d'Or, France, we collected socio-demographic, clinical and treatment data on all patients. We compared data from the year 2019 (before-Covid) with the year 2020 (Covid). We did not observe a significant difference in the stage of breast cancer at discovery, or in time to treatment. However, the number of invasive cancers and the clinical size of in situ cancers both increased in 2020. Although these results are reassuring, continued monitoring is needed to determine the downstream effects of the pandemic.

Does mammogram attendance influence participation in cervical and colorectal cancer screening? A prospective study among 1856 French women.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine participation rates and factors associated with participation in colorectal (fecal occul blood test) and cervical cancer (Pap-smear) screening among a population of women participating in breast cancer screening. METHODS: From August to October 2015, a self-administered questionnaire was sent by post to 2 900 women aged 50-65, living in Côte-d'Or, France, and who were up to date with mammogram screening. Polytomic logistic regression was used to identify correlates of participation in both cervical and colorectal cancer screenings. Participation in all 3 screenings was chosen as the reference. RESULTS: Study participation rate was 66.3% (n = 1856). Besides being compliant with mammogram, respectively 78.3% and 56.6% of respondents were up to date for cervical and colorectal cancer screenings, while 46.2% were compliant with the 3 screenings. Consultation with a gynecologist in the past year was associated with higher chance of undergoing the 3 screenings or female cancer screenings (p<10-4), when consultation with a GP was associated with higher chance of undergoing the 3 screenings or organized cancer screenings (p<0.05). Unemployment, obesity, age>59 and yearly flu vaccine were associated with a lower involvement in cervical cancer screening. Women from high socio-economic classes were more likely to attend only female cancer screenings (p = 0.009). Finally, a low level of physical activity and tobacco use were associated with higher risk of no additional screening participation (p<10-3 and p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Among women participating in breast screening, colorectal and cervical cancer screening rates could be improved. Including communication about these 2 cancer screenings in the mammogram invitation could be worth to explore.

Influence of sample return time and ambient temperature on the performance of an immunochemical faecal occult blood test with a new buffer for colorectal cancer screening.

The haemoglobin concentration measured by faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) may be decreased in cases of delayed sample return or high temperature. It is an issue of great importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sample return time and of season on the performance of an FIT (FOB-Gold) with a new buffer. The study included 20 371 participants involved in the French organized colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programme. The probability of a positive screening test, detection rates and positive predictive values for CRC and advanced adenoma were analysed according to sample return time and season of screening. A sample of positive FIT was stored for 7 days in an incubator at 20°C or 30°C. The positivity rate was 4.1% for a sample return time of up to 3 days, 4.1% for 4-5 days and 4.6% for 6-7 days (P=0.25). In multivariate analysis, there was no association between positivity rates, detection rates and positive predictive values for CRC and advanced adenoma and the sample return time or the season of screening. At a constant temperature of 20°C, there was a decrease in the haemoglobin concentration of 5.1% after 7 days. The decrease reached 20.5% at a temperature of 30°C. It was only 4.5% during the first 4 days of storage in the incubator. With the new buffer, delay in sample return or season did not affect the clinical outcome. When temperatures reach 30°C, the faecal sample must be returned promptly.

[Breast cancer screening in thirteen French departments]. / Dépistage du cancer du sein dans treize départements français.

BACKGROUND: In France, breast cancer screening programme, free of charge for women aged 50-74 years old, coexists with an opportunistic screening and leads to reduction in attendance in the programme. Here, we reported participation in organized and/or opportunistic screening in thirteen French departments. POPULATION AND METHODS: We analyzed screening data (organized and/or opportunistic) of 622,382 women aged 51-74 years old invited to perform an organized mammography screening session from 2010 to 2011 in the thirteen French departments. The type of mammography screening performed has been reported according to women age, their health insurance scheme, the rurality and the socioeconomic level of their area or residence. We also represented the tertiles of deprivation and participation in mammography screening for each department. RESULTS: A total of 390,831 (62.8%) women performed a mammography screening (organized and/or opportunistic) after the invitation. These women were mainly aged from 55-69 years old, insured by the general insurance scheme and lived in urban, semi-urban or affluent areas. CONCLUSION: The participation in mammography screening (organized and opportunistic) in France remains below the target rate of 70% expected by health authorities to reduce breast cancer mortality through screening.

Breast cancer screening programmes: challenging the coexistence with opportunistic mammography.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated predictive factors of women's participation in organized mammography screening (OrgMS) and/or opportunistic mammography screening (OppMS) when the two screening modes coexist. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 6,000 women aged 51-74 years old invited to attend an OrgMS session between 2010 and 2011 in France. Data collected concerned the women's healthcare behaviour and their socioeconomic characteristics. Women without a personal or family history of breast cancer that could explain their participation in OppMS were retained in the generalized logits analysis. RESULTS: The data of 1,202 women were analysed. Of these, 555 (46.2%) had attended OrgMS only, 105 (8.7%) OppMS only and 542 (45.1%) had performed both OrgMS and OppMS. Multivariable analyses showed that women who had regular gynaecological check-ups were more likely to perform OppMS only or both OrgMS and OppMS, OR 95% CI were 2.1 [1.1-3.9], 1.9 [1.4-2.6], respectively. Being employed also increased participation in OppMS only [OR: 2.1 (1.2-3.7)] or both OrgMS and OppMS [OR: 1.5 (1.1-2.05)]. CONCLUSION AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In countries where OrgMS and OppMS coexist, strategies involving gynaecologists, referring doctors or company doctors and the organization of healthcare services to promote adequate screening round may help to reduce the overuse of mammography.

Long-term effect of faecal occult blood screening on incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Several randomized trials have shown a reduction of colorectal cancer mortality by screening using guaiac-based faecal occult blood tests. However, little is known on the long-term effect of screening at the population level in everyday practice. METHODS: Small-sized geographic areas including a total of 91,199 individuals were allocated to either biennal screening using the Hemoccult-II test or no screening. The expected mortality and incidence in the cohort invited to screening was determined using mortality and incidence in the non-screened population. RESULTS: Colorectal cancer mortality was significantly lower in the population invited to screening than in the non-screened population after 11 screening rounds (standardized mortality ratio: 0.87; 0.80-0.94). The standardized mortality ratio remained significant whatever the duration of follow-up. This reduction in colorectal cancer mortality was more pronounced in those who participated in the first screening campaign, who were regular participants in screening rounds (standardized mortality ratio: 0.67; 0.59-0.76). In contrast, colorectal cancer incidence was not different between the screened and non-screened populations (standardized incidence ratio: 1.01; 0.96-1.06). CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm, in the long term, that screening with Hemoccult can reduce colorectal cancer mortality. The data also highlight the benefit of regular participation in screening and the absence of effect of screening on colorectal cancer incidence.

The cost-effectiveness of immunochemical tests for colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: The optimal immunochemical test to use for generalised mass screening is still under debate in France. AIM: To compare the cost and effectiveness in biennial screening for colorectal cancer of fifteen strategies consisting of the three-stool sample un-rehydrated guaiac faecal occult blood test and three immunochemical tests: Magstream, FOB-Gold and OC-Sensor, at different positivity cut-off levels and stool-sample collection. METHODS: A Markov model was used to compare these strategies in a general population of 100,000 individuals aged 50-74 over a 20-year period. RESULTS: Immunochemical tests were efficient strategies compared with guaiac faecal occult blood test. When all 15 strategies were compared with each other, only five of them remained efficient: the one- and two-stool sample Magstream, the one- and two-stool sample FOB-Gold with the 176 ng/mL cut-off, and the two-stool sample OC-Sensor with the 150 ng/mL cut-off. Sensitivity analyses showed that, at an identical price, the one-stool sample OC-Sensor was the most efficient strategy, and outperformed FOB-Gold. CONCLUSION: One-stool immunochemical testing can be considered a promising alternative to the guaiac faecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer mass screening in the general population. Competition between manufacturers should now be introduced to reduce purchase price differences.

The mean number of adenomas per procedure should become the gold standard to measure the neoplasia yield of colonoscopy: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Measuring adenoma detection is a priority in the quality improvement process for colonoscopy. Our aim was (1) to determine the most appropriate quality indicators to assess the neoplasia yield of colonoscopy and (2) to establish benchmark rates for the French colorectal cancer screening programme. METHODS: Retrospective study of all colonoscopies performed in average-risk asymptomatic people aged 50-74 years after a positive guaiac faecal occult blood test in eight administrative areas of the French population-based programme. RESULTS: We analysed 42,817 colonoscopies performed by 316 gastroenterologists. Endoscopists who had an adenoma detection rate around the benchmark of 35% had a mean number of adenomas per colonoscopy varying between 0.36 and 0.98. 13.9% of endoscopists had a mean number of adenomas above the benchmark of 0.6 and an adenoma detection rate below the benchmark of 35%, or inversely. Correlation was excellent between mean numbers of adenomas and polyps per colonoscopy (Pearson coefficient r=0.90, p<0.0001), better than correlation between mean number of adenomas and adenoma detection rate (r=0.84, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The mean number of adenomas per procedure should become the gold standard to measure the neoplasia yield of colonoscopy. Benchmark could be established at 0.6 in the French programme.

European transnational ecological deprivation index and participation in population-based breast cancer screening programmes in France.

BACKGROUND: We investigated factors explaining low breast cancer screening programme (BCSP) attendance taking into account a European transnational ecological Deprivation Index. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 13,565 women aged 51-74years old invited to attend an organised mammography screening session between 2010 and 2011 in thirteen French departments were randomly selected. Information on the women's participation in BCSP, their individual characteristics and the characteristics of their area of residence were recorded and analysed in a multilevel model. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2012, 7121 (52.5%) women of the studied population had their mammography examination after they received the invitation. Women living in the most deprived neighbourhood were less likely than those living in the most affluent neighbourhood to participate in BCSP (OR 95%CI=0.84[0.78-0.92]) as were those living in rural areas compared with those living in urban areas (OR 95%CI=0.87[0.80-0.95]). Being self-employed (p<0.0001) or living more than 15min away from an accredited screening centre (p=0.02) was also a barrier to participation in BCSP. CONCLUSION: Despite the classless delivery of BCSP, inequalities in uptake remain. To take advantage of prevention and to avoid exacerbating disparities in cancer mortality, BCSP should be adapted to women's personal and contextual characteristics.

Attending breast cancer screening alone does not explain the detection of tumours at an early stage.

The goal of a screening programme is to allow tumour detection at an early stage when treatments are more effective and less invasive. We examined whether attending breast cancer (BC) screening alone can explain the discovery of tumours at an early stage. Women aged 50-74 years, with a first BC diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2008, were eligible. Patients' personal and family characteristics before their BC diagnosis were collected through a questionnaire. Their tumour characteristics were provided by the Côte d'Or BC registry and staging was performed according to the criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) to provide early-stage (AJCC 0/1) and advanced-stage (AJCC 2/3/4) BC. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the predictive factors for the discovery of BC at an early stage. Data from 533 patients with a BC diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2008 were used. Among them, 353 patients (66.2%) had early-stage BC whereas 175 patients (32.8%) had advanced-stage BC. Patients attending mammography screening were more likely to have had early-stage BC (P=0.0003). Multivariate analyses showed that being aged 63-74 years (P=0.008) and having had a previous regular medical follow-up (P=0.02) were independent predictors for the discovery of an early-stage BC. Mammography screening certainly allowed the discovery of BC at an early stage when performed according to the recommended 2-year interval. The regular use of health services could also contribute towards the early detection of tumours and thus towards a reduction in BC mortality.

Screening for colorectal cancer with immunochemical faecal occult blood tests.

Population-based studies have shown that guaiac faecal occult blood testing followed by colonoscopy in case of positivity can reduce colorectal cancer mortality. However these tests have been criticised for their fairly low sensitivity. For this reason attention has been given to alternative tests. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence for screening for colorectal cancer using qualitative immunochemical faecal occult blood tests. For the complete range of tested cut-off values, immunochemical faecal occult blood tests lead to higher diagnostic yield, improved sensitivity and greater participation. The optimal number of samples and the optimal cut-off value has to suit local resources and the acceptability of missed cancers. All economic evaluations, despite some differences between studies, add further arguments to support the opinion that the immunochemical faecal occult blood test is currently the most cost-effective screening test for average-risk populations. These economic evaluations provide strong arguments in favour of the 1-sample strategy. With decreasing the cut-off value similar performances can be achieved with one-compared to two day sampling. Too few data are currently available to accurately compare existing qualitative tests.

Positivity rates and performances of immunochemical faecal occult blood tests at different cut-off levels within a colorectal cancer screening programme.

BACKGROUND: Immunochemical faecal occult blood tests have greater sensitivity for colorectal cancer screening than guaiac-based tests; however the number of positive tests required is still under discussion. METHODS: A direct comparison of Hemoccult II with two immunochemical quantitative tests (OC-Sensor and FOB-Gold) using a 2-sample strategy was performed in over 30,000 patients undergoing colorectal cancer screening in France. RESULTS: Positivity ratio between immunochemical tests and Hemoccult II varied between 2.2 (OC-Sensor) and 2.4 (FOB-Gold) for the lowest cut-off value and 1.5-1.4 for the highest cut-off value. The positive predictive value for colorectal cancer was similar for immunochemical tests and Hemoccult II, and significantly higher for immunochemical tests for advanced adenomas. The detection rate of both colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas was higher with immunochemical tests than with Hemoccult II. With the 2-sample strategy and the lowest cut-off value the detection rate of colorectal cancer almost doubled and for advanced adenomas quadrupled. CONCLUSION: For colorectal cancer screening with immunochemical faecal occult blood tests, an acceptable strategy would be 2-day sampling with at least one positive test at a cut-off between 150 and 200 ng/mL (OC-Sensor) and 176 and 234 ng/mL (FOB-Gold). Data on the ease of test interpretation and cost-effectiveness now necessary to make definitive choices.

Population-based study of breast cancer screening in Côte d'Or (France): clinical implications and factors affecting screening round adequacy.

Factors affecting the adequacy of breast cancer screening rounds and the clinical implications of screening have been investigated in women aged 50-74 years. Questionnaires were sent to all eligible patients and to the family doctor of those patients who had died or were lost to follow-up at the time of the study. Unlike the tumour characteristics the patients' personal and family characteristics were also collected before the diagnosis. The clinical features of screening-detected tumours and those discovered on clinical signs or on metastasis were compared. On the basis of the time between two mammographies, we created the following four groups according to the recommended screening round: adequate, long, short and patients with no earlier mammography. Univariate and multivariate generalized logit models were obtained to determine factors affecting the adequacy of breast cancer screening rounds. Five hundred and thirty-three patients were included. Two hundred and seventy-seven (52%) had inadequate breast cancer screening rounds (long, short or no earlier mammography). The American Joint Committee on Cancer stage was less advanced (0/1) in screening-detected tumours and among tumours of patients with an adequate screening round (P=0.014). Multivariate analyses showed that patients with an earlier organized screening mammography (P<0.0001) and those with gynaecological follow-up (P=0.03) were more likely to have an adequate rather than an inadequate breast cancer screening round. Screening leads to the detection of early-stage tumours when it is performed according to the recommendations. Organizing mammography rounds as recommended is essential to optimize the benefits of breast cancer screening.

Socio-geographical determinants of colonoscopy uptake after faecal occult blood test.

BACKGROUND: Survival from colorectal cancer is poorer in patients of lower socioeconomic level, or living far from the cancer reference centre. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of material deprivation and geographical remoteness on the uptake of colonoscopy after a positive screening faecal occult blood test. METHODS: Data from two large French average-risk population-based trials comparing two faecal occult blood tests were used. Compliance with colonoscopy after a positive faecal occult blood test was analysed using a logistic model and a Cox model considering time between faecal occult blood test and colonoscopy. Covariates studied were sex, age, distance to nearest gastroenterologist, distance to regional capital, and Townsend's deprivation score. RESULTS: Amongst 4320 eligible subjects, 4131 were included. The rate of colonoscopy was 83.8%, within a median time of 66.0 days after faecal occult blood test. Distance to regional capital (p-trend=0.02) and study centre (p<0.0001) were independently associated with colonoscopy uptake. Time from positive faecal occult blood test to colonoscopy, was associated only with distance to the regional capital (p<0.0001, multivariate model stratified on study centre). CONCLUSION: Geographical remoteness but not material deprivation was responsible for lower uptake of colonoscopy. Healthcare decision-makers should focus on geographical remoteness to promote equal access to diagnostic procedures in faecal occult blood test colorectal cancer screening programmes.

Cost-effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer in France using a guaiac test versus an immunochemical test.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the cost and the effectiveness of two biennial fecal occult blood screening tests for colorectal cancer: a guaiac nonrehydrated test (G-FOBT) and an immunochemical test (I-FOBT) with the absence of screening. METHODS: A Markov model was developed to compare these strategies in a general population of subjects aged 50 to 74 over a 20-year period. RESULTS: Compared with the absence of screening, G-FOBT and I-FOBT were associated with a decrease in colorectal cancer mortality of 17.4 percent and 25.2 percent, respectively. With regard to cost-effectiveness, expressed as cost per life-year gained, I-FOBT was the most effective and most costly alternative. Compared with no screening, G-FOBT and I-FOBT presented similar discounted incremental cost-effectiveness ratios: 2,739 euros and 2,819 euros respectively per life-year gained. When compared with G-FOBT, I-FOBT presented an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 2,988 euros per life-year gained. Sensitivity analyses showed the strong influence of the I-FOBT lead time, of the participation rate to screening for I-FOBT, and of the purchase price of the I-FOBT on the discounted incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the absence of screening and with G-FOBT, the biennial two-stool immunochemical test can be considered a promising method for mass screening for colorectal cancer.

Immunochemical faecal occult blood tests are superior to guaiac-based tests for the detection of colorectal neoplasms.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of a guaiac-based faecal occult blood test (G-FOBT) with that of an immunochemical faecal occult blood test (I-FOBT). A total of 17,215 average risk individuals aged 50 to 74 enrolled in a population-based organised screening programme and performed a 3-day G-FOBT and a 2-day I-FOBT simultaneously. Among participants, 3.1% were found positive for the G-FOBT and 6.9% for the I-FOBT (p<10(-4)). Among the 1205 participants who tested positive and underwent a colonoscopy, the number of detected cancers and advanced adenomas was respectively 2.6 times higher and 3.5 times higher with the I-FOBT than with the G-FOBT. The positive predictive value of I-FOBT was similar to that of the G-FOBT for cancers (5.9% versus 5.2%) and was higher for advanced adenomas (27.2% versus 17.5%). The I-FOBT was superior to the G-FOBT for the detection of both cancers and advanced adenomas. However, the screen positive rate that staff and financial resources can accommodate has yet to be determined.

Incidence and management of primary malignant small bowel cancers: a well-defined French population study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Few data are available from population-based statistics on small bowel cancers. The aim of this study was to report on their incidence and management. METHODS: Data were obtained from the population-based Digestive Cancer Registry of Burgundy over a 26-yr period. Incidence rates were calculated by gender, age group, histological type, and 5-yr period. Treatment and stage at diagnosis were investigated. Prognosis was determined using crude and relative survival rates. A multivariate relative survival analysis was performed. RESULTS: Age-standardized incidence rates were 1.2/100,000 inhabitants for men and 0.8/100,000 inhabitants for women. The mean 5-yr variation in incidence were, respectively, +46.7% (P < 0.01) and + 53.2% (P < 0.05). There were four main histological types: adenocarcinoma (40.4%), malignant endocrine tumors (30.5%), lymphoma (20.1%), and sarcoma (9.0%). Resection for cure was performed in 56.6% of the cases. Cancer was not extending beyond the organ in 33.2% of the cases, was associated with lymph node metastasis in 32.1%, and with distant metastasis or unresectability in 34.7%. The 5-yr relative survival rate was 37.4%. It varied between 56.8% for endocrine tumors and 17.8% for sarcoma. In the multivariate analysis, age, histology, and stage at diagnosis significantly influenced the prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Small bowel cancers represent a heterogeneous group of rare tumors. Prognosis at a population level is worse than in hospital series. In the short term, new therapeutic possibilities represent the best way to improve prognosis.

Are the recommendations of the French consensus conference on the management of colon cancer followed up?

The aim of this study was to determine how the guidelines published after this conference have spread. Pretherapeutic evaluation and treatment were assessed for all colon cancers diagnosed in a well-defined French population in 2000. Patients were classified either as managed according to the recommendations, or as undermanaged or overmanaged. Outside the emergency context, pretherapeutic work-up was classified as in conformity with the consensus in 48.0% of the cases, as undervalued in 21.9% and as overvalued in 30.1%. The resection rate at 90% was not far from the optimum. Pathological data allowed us to classify nearly all cases according to the tumour node metastasis classification; however, the number of examined nodes was below the recommendations in 30.8% of cases. Chemotherapy was performed according to the recommendations in 71.4% of cases, 23.1% were undertreated and 5.5% were overtreated. The multivariate analysis indicates that patients aged 75 years or more were less likely to receive chemotherapy than was recommended (P<0.001). This study suggested that the main reasons for not following guideline recommendations were inertia due to previous practices, difficulty to perform a recommended behaviour and lack of familiarity.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of fecal occult blood screening for colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical trials have demonstrated that fecal occult blood screening for colorectal cancer can significantly reduce mortality. However, to be deemed a priority from a public health policy perspective, any new program must prove itself to be cost-effective. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer using a fecal occult blood screening test, the Hemoccult-II, in a cohort of 100,000 asymptomatic individuals 50-74 years of age. METHODS: A decision analysis model using a Markov approach simulates the trajectory of the cohort allocated either to screening or no screening over a 20-year period through several health states. Clinical and economic data used in the model came from the Burgundy trial, French population-based studies, and Registry data. RESULTS: Modeling biennial screening versus the absence of screening over a 20-year period resulted in a 17.7 percent mortality reduction and a discounted incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 3357 Euro per life-year gained among individuals 50-74 years of age. Sensitivity analyses performed on epidemiological and economic data showed the strong impact on the results of colonoscopy cost, of compliance to screening, and of specificity of the screening test. CONCLUSIONS: Cost-effectiveness estimates and sensitivity analyses suggest that biennial screening for colorectal cancer with fecal occult blood test could be recommended from the age of 50 until 74. Our findings support the attempts to introduce large-scale population screening programs.

Incidence of gastrointestinal cancers in France.

AIM: Monitoring cancer incidence and time trends is essential for cancer research and health care planning. The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers in twelve administrative area in France to estimate the national cancer incidence during 2000 compared with the preceding 20 years. METHODS: Incidence data was provided by cancer registries and mortality data by the French national medical research institute (INSERM). The two data sets were modeled separately over the period 1988-1997 using age-cohort models. The incidence/mortality ratio obtained from these models was applied to the mortality rates of an age-cohort model of the entire population. RESULTS: The estimated number of new cases of gastrointestinal cancer was 61,465 in 2000. Colorectal cancer was the leading localization with 36,257 cases. The incidence of gastrointestinal cancers was slightly higher in northern than in southern area. Incidence of esophageal cancer was three times that of liver cancer. Variations in incidence were less marked for other localizations. The incidence of gastric and esophageal cancer in the male population decreased between 1980 and 2000, on average by slightly more than 2% per year. Incidence of other cancers increased. The number of new cases of colorectal cancer increased by 50%. The rise in the incidence of liver cancer was particularly striking, with an increase from 2000 incident cases in 1980 to nearly 6000 in 2000. CONCLUSION: For most localizations, incidence of gastrointestinal cancers displays few geographical differences in France, but there has been a striking change in incidence trends over the past 20 years.