Worldwide trends in population-based survival for children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia, by subtype, during 2000-14 (CONCORD-3): analysis of individual data from 258 cancer registries in 61 countries.

BACKGROUND: Leukaemias comprise a heterogenous group of haematological malignancies. In CONCORD-3, we analysed data for children (aged 0-14 years) and adults (aged 15-99 years) diagnosed with a haematological malignancy during 2000-14 in 61 countries. Here, we aimed to examine worldwide trends in survival from leukaemia, by age and morphology, in young patients (aged 0-24 years). METHODS: We analysed data from 258 population-based cancer registries in 61 countries participating in CONCORD-3 that submitted data on patients diagnosed with leukaemia. We grouped patients by age as children (0-14 years), adolescents (15-19 years), and young adults (20-24 years). We categorised leukaemia subtypes according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC-3), updated with International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, third edition (ICD-O-3) codes. We estimated 5-year net survival by age and morphology, with 95% CIs, using the non-parametric Pohar-Perme estimator. To control for background mortality, we used life tables by country or region, single year of age, single calendar year and sex, and, where possible, by race or ethnicity. All-age survival estimates were standardised to the marginal distribution of young people with leukaemia included in the analysis. FINDINGS: 164 563 young people were included in this analysis: 121 328 (73·7%) children, 22 963 (14·0%) adolescents, and 20 272 (12·3%) young adults. In 2010-14, the most common subtypes were lymphoid leukaemia (28 205 [68·2%] patients) and acute myeloid leukaemia (7863 [19·0%] patients). Age-standardised 5-year net survival in children, adolescents, and young adults for all leukaemias combined during 2010-14 varied widely, ranging from 46% in Mexico to more than 85% in Canada, Cyprus, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Australia. Individuals with lymphoid leukaemia had better age-standardised survival (from 43% in Ecuador to ≥80% in parts of Europe, North America, Oceania, and Asia) than those with acute myeloid leukaemia (from 32% in Peru to ≥70% in most high-income countries in Europe, North America, and Oceania). Throughout 2000-14, survival from all leukaemias combined remained consistently higher for children than adolescents and young adults, and minimal improvement was seen for adolescents and young adults in most countries. INTERPRETATION: This study offers the first worldwide picture of population-based survival from leukaemia in children, adolescents, and young adults. Adolescents and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia continue to have lower survival than children. Trends in survival from leukaemia for adolescents and young adults are important indicators of the quality of cancer management in this age group. FUNDING: Children with Cancer UK, the Institut National du Cancer, La Ligue Contre le Cancer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Swiss Re, Swiss Cancer Research foundation, Swiss Cancer League, Rossy Family Foundation, US National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society.

Improvement in the Spatial Distribution of Pain, Somatic Symptoms, and Depression After a Weight Loss Intervention.

Weight loss is known to improve pain localized to weight-bearing joints but it is not known how weight loss affects the spatial distribution of pain and associated somatic symptoms like fatigue. We sought to determine if weight loss using a low-calorie diet improves pain, affect, and somatic symptoms commonly associated with chronic pain conditions in an observational study. We also documented changes in inflammatory markers in serum before and after weight loss. Participants were 123 obese individuals undergoing a 12- to 16-week calorie restriction weight loss intervention. The spatial distribution of pain, symptom severity (eg, fatigue, sleep difficulties), depression, and total fibromyalgia scale scores were measured before and after weight loss. Pain (P = . 022), symptom severity (P = .004), depression (P < .001), and fibromyalgia scores (P = .004) improved after weight loss; men showed greater improvement than women on somatic symptoms and fibromyalgia scores (both P < .01). Those who lost at least 10% of body weight showed greater improvement than those who lost <10%. Levels of the regulatory cytokine interleukin-10 increased after the intervention (P = .002). Weight loss may improve diffuse pain and comorbid symptoms commonly seen in chronic pain participants. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents the effect of a weight loss intervention on characteristics of chronic pain, including the spatial distribution of pain and comorbid somatic symptoms. Weight loss appeared to produce larger improvements in somatic symptoms for men.

Very-low-energy diet for type 2 diabetes: an underutilized therapy?

BACKGROUND: Current approaches to the management of type 2 diabetes focus on the early initiation of novel pharmacologic therapies and bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to revisit the use of intensive, outpatient, behavioral weight management programs for the management of type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Prospective observational study of 66 patients with type 2 diabetes and BMI ≥ 32 kg/m² who enrolled in a program designed to produce 15% weight reduction over 12 weeks using total meal replacement and low- to moderate-intensity physical activity. RESULTS: Patients were 53 ± 7 years of age (mean ± SD) and 53% were men. After 12 weeks, BMI fell from 40.1 ± 6.6 to 35.1 ± 6.5 kg/m². HbA1c fell from 7.4% ± 1.3% to 6.5% ± 1.2% (57.4 ± 12.3 to 47.7 ± 12.9 mmol/mol) in patients with established diabetes: 76% of patients with established diabetes and 100% of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes achieved HbA1c <7.0% (53.0 mmol/mol). Improvement in HbA1c over 12 weeks was associated with higher baseline HbA1c and greater reduction in BMI. CONCLUSIONS: An intensive, outpatient, behavioral weight management program significantly improved HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes over 12 weeks. The use of such programs should be encouraged among obese patients with type 2 diabetes.