Breast cancer time to treatment in Martinique: predictive factors and effect on survival.

BACKGROUND: Martinique is the second French Region with the lowest physician-to-population ratio, which may affect waiting times for access to care. OBJECTIVES: To assess (i) factors influencing waiting times from diagnosis to cancer-related treatments in breast cancer women in Martinique, and (ii) the impact of waiting times on patients' survival. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: Data on women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2017 and initially treated by surgery were extracted from the Martinique population-based registry. A cox model was performed to find predictive factors for waiting times. A log-rank test was used to compare time-to-treatment between groups. RESULTS: In total, 713 patients were included (mean age: 58 ± 13). Median time from diagnosis to surgery was 40 [25-60] days. Age at diagnosis was found to predict variations in waiting times. Patients > 75 had longer waiting time to surgery than those < 40 or [40-50] (P = 0.016 and P < 0.001, respectively). Women with a time-to-treatment ≥ 4 months had a significant lower survival (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Specific interventions are needed to improve waiting time from diagnosis to initial treatment, as they are longer than recommended and affect survival time.

Evaluation of acute skin toxicity of breast radiotherapy using thermography: Results of a prospective single-centre trial.

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy is a common adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Acute radiation-induced dermatitis is a frequent side effect. We hypothesized whether it is possible to capture the increase of local temperature as a surrogate of the inflammatory state induced by radiotherapy. We designed a prospective, observational, single-centre study to acquire data on temperature rise in the treated breast during the course of radiotherapy, establish a possible association with the occurrence of dermatitis and investigate the predictive value of temperature increase in future occurrences of radiation-induced dermatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients presenting for neoadjuvant or adjuvant radiotherapy during the course of breast cancer treatment at the university hospital of Martinique were considered for inclusion. Every week, patients were examined by two trained investigators for the occurrence of radiation-induced dermatitis, graded based on Radiotherapy Oncology Group, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.0 and Wright scales. A frontal thermal image of torso was taken in strictly controlled conditions, with a calibrated TE-Q1 camera (Thermal Expert, i3systems, Daejeon, Korea). We studied temperature differences between the irradiated breast or thoracic wall and the contralateral area. For each thermal picture, we measured the difference in maximum temperature as well as the difference in minimum temperature and the difference in the average temperature in the considered area. We studied the evolution of these parameters over time week after week, measuring the maximum recorded difference and its correlation to acute radiation dermatitis intensity. RESULTS: Sixty-four consecutive patients were included. For all patients, we noticed an increase of temperature during the course of radiotherapy. Difference in maximum, minimum and average temperature was higher between the two breasts of patients with a radiation-induced dermatitis grade 2 or above compared to patients with no or mild dermatitis. Higher temperatures were also significantly associated with an increased sensation of discomfort, as recorded by questionnaire (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: As expected from the inflammatory phenomena involved in radiation-induced dermatitis, a noticeable increase in temperature during the course of radiotherapy was seen in all patients. Furthermore, high-grade radiation-induced dermatitis was strongly associated with an additional increase in local temperature, which is probably linked to the intense inflammatory reaction. Lastly, with a 1.4°C threshold set beforehand, it is possible to anticipate the occurrence of radiation-induced dermatitis, with interesting positive and negative predictive values of 70% and 77%, respectively in our population. We note that these results need to be confirmed in a dedicated study.

Trends in colorectal cancer in the Caribbean: A population-based study in Martinique, 1982-2011.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer, and temporal trends between 1982 and 2011 in Martinique (French West-Indies). METHODS: This was a descriptive, longitudinal, observational study based on data from the Martinique cancer registry. The study included all incident cases of colorectal cancer between 1982 and 2011. We recorded sociodemographic data and clinical variables (histology, site according to the WHO classification). Cancer cases were recorded in strict conformity with the international standards. Annual rate of change was calculated, direct standardisation was used for incidence and mortality age standardised rates (ASR). The comparative incidence figure and comparative mortality figure (95% confidence intervals) were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 2530 patients were included in our study; 1243 died. In the period 2007-2011, a considerable increase in incidence was observed, making colorectal cancer the second leading cause of cancer deaths in both sexes (8.9% and 10.5%). In men, ASR for incidence increased from 9.6/100,000 person-years in the period 1982-1986 to 27.2/100,000 person-years in the period 2007-2011, with a notable acceleration of the increase. In women, ASR increased from 8.4 to 19.8/100,000 person-years over the same periods. For the latest period 2007-2011, mortality rates were 9.9 and 7.6/100,000 person-years for men and for women respectively. Regardless of the sex, there was a strong increase in the incidence of right colon cancer, which became the most common colorectal site in women in Martinique. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer that started in the 2000s. Trends observed reflect a salient epidemiological transition of the Caribbean.

Curative brachytherapy for prostate cancer in African-Caribbean patients: A retrospective analysis of 370 consecutive cases.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer is the most frequent malignancy in African-Caribbean men, a population sharing common genetic traits with African-American (AA) but presenting also genomic and epidemiologic specificities. Despite socioeconomic disparities with French mainland, all patients were treated within the French state-financed equal-access health care system. In this study, we report biochemical outcomes of patients treated by brachytherapy in our department from 2005 to 2014 in an African-Caribbean population. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Three hundred seventy consecutive patients receiving 125I brachytherapy as a curative treatment for early-stage (localized) disease between 2005 and 2014 were recorded. Selected patients presented with low-risk disease: initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) <10 ng/mL, clinical stage ≤ T2c, and Gleason score <7. Patients with intermediate risk of recurrence were also included on a case-to-case basis with prostate-specific antigen <15 or Gleason score 7 (3 + 4). Biochemical failure free-survival was defined according to the American Society for Radiation Oncology nadir+2 definition. RESULTS: The 3-year and 5-year biochemical failure free-survival for the entire cohort were 98.3% and 91.6%, respectively. For patients with low- and intermediate-risk disease, the 5-year BBFS rates were 92.1% and 90.8%, respectively. In univariate and multivariate analyses, only Gleason score (<7 vs. 7; p =  0.030 vs. p < 0.05) was a significant predictor of biochemical failure. The overall rate of late and acute Grade 2 or higher genitourinary toxicity was 12.6% and 10.3%. CONCLUSIONS: In this large single-center series, brachytherapy achieved excellent rates of medium-term biochemical control in both low and selected intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer in African-Caribbean patients. Brachytherapy seems to be an excellent choice of treatment, with excellent outcomes and limited morbidity for African-Caribbean populations.

Prostate-specific antigen bounce after curative brachytherapy for early-stage prostate cancer: A study of 274 African-Caribbean patients.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer incidence in the African-Caribbean population ranks among the highest worldwide. We aim to evaluate the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics after brachytherapy, which so far remains unknown in this population. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 2005 to 2013, 371 patients received (125)I brachytherapy of 145 Gy for early-stage prostate cancer. Eligibility criteria were cTNM ≤T2c, Gleason score ≤7, and initial PSA ≤15 ng/mL. Pretreatment androgen deprivation therapy was allowed. PSA bounce was defined as an increase of ≥0.4 ng/mL, lasting ≥6 months, followed by a decrease without any anticancer therapy. We examined PSA kinetics during followup. RESULTS: For the 274 patients with at least 24 months followup, median age was 62 years old (range, 45-76). Initial PSA was <10 ng/mL in 244 and 10-15 ng/mL in 30 patients; 40 received androgen deprivation therapy. With a median followup of 50 months (range, 24-125), PSA declined continuously in 168 (61%) patients, bounced in 87 (31%), and initially declined and then rose in 22 (8%) patients. Among these latter patients, 18 presented clinical recurrence. Mean bounce intensity was 2.0 ng/mL (median, 1.2; range, 0.4-12.4). Bounces occurred in average 12 months after brachytherapy. Patients with bounce were significantly younger: mean age 59 vs. 63 years old in patients without bounce, p <0.001. Bounce was also significantly associated with the immediate post-brachytherapy PSA, mean 4.0 among bounce cases vs. 2.9 among non-bounce cases, p < 0.001. Bounce was not associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: PSA bounce in our African-Caribbean population seemed earlier and was more intense than described in other populations. Early increase of PSA should not be ascribed to treatment failure.

[Target volume in radiotherapy of gastric adenocarcinoma]. / Les volumes-cibles de la radiothérapie des adénocarcinomes gastriques.

UNLABELLED: The spread of gastric adenocarcinoma may follow three main patterns: hematogenic, lymphatic and intraperitoneal. A GTV should be considered in preoperative or exclusive radiation therapy. After non-radical surgery, a "residual GTV" will be defined with the help of the surgeon. The CTV encompasses three intricated volumes. a) A "tumor bed" volume. After radical surgery, local recurrences appear as frequent as distant metastases. The risk depends upon the depth of parietal invasion and the nodal status. Parietal infiltration may extend beyond macroscopic limits of the tumor, especially in "linitis plastica". Therefore this volume will include: the tumor and the remaining stomach or their "bed of resection", a part of the transverse colon, the duodenum, the pancreas and the truncus of the portal vein. In postoperative RT, this CTV also includes the jejuno-gastric or jejuno-esophageal anastomosis. b) A peritoneal volume. For practical purposes, two degrees of spread must be considered: (1) contiguous microscopic extension from deeply invasive T3 and T4 tumors, that remain amenable to local sterilization with doses of 45-50 Gy, delivered in a CTV including the peritoneal cavity at the level of the gastric bed, and under the parietal incision; (2) true "peritoneal carcinomatosis", with widespread seeds, where chemotherapy (systemic or intraperitoneal) is more appropriate. c) A lymphatic volume including the lymph node groups 1 to 16 of the Japanese classification. This volume must encompass the hepatic pedicle and the splenic hilum. In proximal tumors, it is possible to restrict the lower part of the CTV to the lymphatic volume, and therefore to avoid irradiation of large intestinal and renal volumes. In distal and proximal tumors, involvement of resection margins is of poor prognosis--a radiation boost must be delivered at this level. The CTV in tumors of the cardia should encompass the lower part of the thoracic esophagus and the corresponding posterior mediastinum. In tumors invading the distal esophagus, a more complete coverage of mediastinal lymph nodes should be considered, especially in patients in good general condition. In tumors of the gastric fundus, most of the left hemidiaphragm should be included, as well as the spleen and its hilum (or their resection bed). In proximal tumors without involvement of the lesser curvature, a full coverage of the hepatic pedicle is not necessary. In contrast, for distal tumors, the hepatic pedicle and the hepatoduodenal ligament should be included whereas the splenic area could be spared. CONCLUSION: Planning the treatment of gastric cancer remains difficult; target volumes must be customized by experienced radiation oncologists according to tumoral and clinical situation.

[Evaluation of a cervical cancer screening campaign: reflections on the experience in Martinique]. / Dispositifs d'évaluation d'une campagne de dépistage du cancer du col de l'utérus: réflexions à partir de l'expérience martiniquaise. Comité de Pilotage de la Campagne de dépistage.

A pilot cervix cancer screening is organized in Martinique since 1991, as part of the programmes of the Fonds National de Prévention d'Education et d'Information Sanitaire of CNAMTS. Evaluation of the programme is conducted by the cancer registry, which includes the measurement of the impact, quality of the Pap smear test, quality of action and efficiency of the programme. Evaluation is a key part that allows to manage the screening programme. According to the results of the organized screening in Martinique, modalities of the evaluation will be discussed with respect to the pilot programme organization, involvement of participants, indicators to collect and the organism in charge of the evaluation.

Epidemiology of cutaneous melanoma in the French West Indies (Martinique).

The epidemiology of melanoma in populations of African-European descent has rarely been reported. The authors studied melanoma in the French West Indies (Martinique), where black Caribbeans and whites represented 96% and 4% of the population, respectively. Among the 85 cases of melanoma collected from 1976 to 1995, blacks represented 75% and whites, 25%. The average incidence rates were 1.48 and 0.9 per 100,000 per year in females and males, respectively. The sole of the foot represented 72% of the primary sites in blacks. Breslow's tumor thickness was > 1.5 mm in 68% of the cases. The 5-year survival was 44%.

The treatment of 783 keloid scars by iridium 192 interstitial irradiation after surgical excision.

PURPOSE: the aim of this study is to confirm the effectiveness of irradiation associated with surgery in the treatment of keloids, to precise the factors favoring the recurrence of these keloids, and to evaluate the risk of recurrence, according to their initial distinctive features. METHODS AND MATERIALS: between 1977 and 1988, 544 patients, with a total of 855 keloids, were treated by interstitial radiotherapy immediately following total excision. RESULTS: recurrence rate is 21%, as against 50 to 80% for surgery alone, according to most authors. This recurrence rate is about the same as for external radiotherapy, but we prefer our method for practical reasons (cost, equipment, radiobiology, technique). Ninety percent of recurrences occurred in the year following therapy, which proves that a follow-up time of at least 12 months is needed for a study of keloids. In our experience, the keloids that are the most likely to recur are the largest and those giving rise to most symptoms. Bruising and loosened stitches, but in particular infection during therapy, largely favor a recurrence. In our series, the symptoms disappeared or were much improved in 80% of cases, and the cosmetic result was judged good by 75% of the patients. CONCLUSION: the results of this study proves the effectiveness of the method linking surgical excision and Iridium 192 interstitial irradiation and shows the importance of the sterile conditions of the treatment.

Radiotherapy of gastric cancer with a three field combination: feasibility, tolerance, and survival.

From 1980 to 1984, forty-five patients suffering gastric cancer were irradiated with curative intent. Twenty-three were considered at high risk of recurrence after complete surgical resection (invasion of the serosa, lymph nodes and/or surgical margins); eleven were treated after partial resection, and for eleven others, the local extension precluded surgery. Radiotherapy combined two lateral fields (usually with wedge filters) and an anterior field. The planned dose was 40 to 50 Gy, according to the amount of residual disease and doses delivered to the major part of the liver and the right and left kidneys did not exceed 30, 5, and 18 Gy, respectively. For patients aged less than 71 and whose general condition was acceptable, one cycle of chemotherapy (FAM for 20 patients and 5-FU for 10) preceded irradiation, followed if possible by 6 other cycles. Adverse effects, essentially anorexia, vomiting, and weight loss, led to definitively stopping irradiation in 8 cases, and were present in 21 other patients. Mean weight loss was 2.5 kg. Apart from one patient who developed a subphrenic abcess and died after reoperation, there was neither chronic complication, nor radiation hepatitis or nephritis. For 34 patients, the observation time was superior to 3 years: 23 died of their cancer, 1 of a subphrenic abcess, and 2 of an intercurrent disease. Eight were disease-free at 3 years (three of these were irradiated for macroscopic disease). For the overall series, the 4-year survival rate is 23%. There is a significant survival advantage for females versus males (p less than 0.01), a non-significant tendency in favor of microscopic residual disease versus macroscopic, and no advantage for the combination with FAM compared with no chemotherapy (non-randomized). This technique appears feasible with an acceptable tolerance and can control local tumor in a few cases. The planned dose of 40 Gy was probably too small and we are now testing 45 Gy delivered over the large initial volume, and boosts of 10-15 Gy to residual disease.

[Incidence of cancer in Martinique 1981-1982]. / Incidence des cancers en Martinique en 1981-1982.

A systematic registration of morbidity from cancers was started in 1981 and 1982 in the french department of Martinique. In the course of two years 1081 new cases of cancers were recorded for a population of 320 000. The survey gives information on topography, differences for sex and ages. The morbidity survey allows comparison with the incidence rate of cancers in other departments of France or other countries.