The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adherence to Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer in Catalonia (Spain).

Purpose. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adherence to oral endocrine therapy in patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the public healthcare system in Catalonia (Spain). Methods. Retrospective cohort study in patients starting endocrine therapy from 2017 to 2021. Adherence was measured during the first year of treatment, and the impact of the pandemic was calculated according to the calendar year and whether the first year of treatment included the peak period of the pandemic in our setting (March-September 2020). Analyses were performed using a chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression, with results stratified by year, age group, and drug type. Results. Mean overall adherence during the first year of treatment was 89.6% from 2017 to 2021. In contrast, the patients who started treatment in 2019 and 2020 and whose treatment included the peak pandemic period presented an adherence of 87.0% and 86.5%, respectively. Young age and tamoxifen or combination therapy were predictors of low adherence. An increase in neoadjuvant therapy was also observed in 2020. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic had only a modest impact on adherence to endocrine therapy (≈3%), despite the enormous disruptions for patients, the healthcare system in general, and cancer care in particular that were occurring in that period.

Management, Survival, and Costs of Pancreatic Cancer: Population-Based Observational Study in Catalonia.

AIM: Few published studies comprehensively describe the characteristics of patients with pancreatic cancer and their treatment in clinical practice. This study aimed to describe the current clinical practice for treating pancreatic cancer in Catalonia, along with the associated survival and treatment costs. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study in patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer from 2014 to 2018, using data from the healthcare records of the Public Health System of Catalonia, was conducted. Treatment patterns and costs were described by age groups from 2014 to 2018, with survival reported until December 2021. RESULTS: The proportion of patients receiving surgery with curative intent was low, especially in older patients (23% of patients <60 years and 9% of patients ≥80 years). The percentage of patients treated with drugs for unresectable disease also decreased with age (45% of patients <60 years and 8% of patients ≥80 years). Although age was associated with significant differences in survival after curative surgery, no differences attributable to age were observed in patients who received pharmacological treatment for unresectable disease. In patients under 60 years of age, the mean cost of the first year of treatment was EUR 17,730 (standard deviation [SD] 5754) in those receiving surgery and EUR 5398 (SD 9581) in those on pharmacological treatment for unresectable disease. In patients over 80, the mean costs were EUR 15,339 (SD 2634) and EUR 1845 (SD 3413), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Half of the patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer did not receive specific treatment. Surgery with curative intent was associated with longer survival, but only 18% of (mostly younger) patients received this treatment. Chemotherapy was also used less frequently in patients of advanced age, though survival in treated patients was comparable across all age groups, so careful oncogeriatric assessment is advisable to ensure the most appropriate indication for eligibility in older patients. In general, earlier diagnosis and more effective pharmacological treatments are necessary to treat frail patients with high comorbidity, a common profile in older patients.

Self-assessment of a breast care nursing model within a Breast Unit: learning process and keys to improving breast care.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the adherence of a nursing care model in a multidisciplinary breast cancer unit in a tertiary hospital to the recommended competencies and quality indicators. BACKGROUND: Aligning the competencies of the breast care nurse with international recommendations for this role helps better fulfil patient needs, increases satisfaction and ensures continuity of care. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: Breast care nursing was assessed in all patients treated at the Functional Breast Unit from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. Patients were followed for 1 year. Sociodemographic, clinical and pathological data, treatments performed and nursing interventions were collected. The strobe checklist has been used to report this study. RESULTS: We analysed nursing interventions carried out in 382 patients attended over 1 year in a multidisciplinary breast cancer unit. All patients with early disease had contact with the nurse at different times during their primary treatment. Only 58% of patients with advanced disease had contact with the nurse during their first year of illness. Moreover, first contact with the nurse was delayed by more than a week from diagnosis, the interval recommended by international guidelines. CONCLUSION: The nursing care model meets the core competencies defined for the breast care nurse in patients with early breast cancer, but the first visit should be organised earlier, and follow-up should extend beyond completion of primary treatment. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study evaluated the breast care nurse model in one breast cancer unit according to international guidelines. Nursing care adhered to most guideline requirements in patients with early breast cancer, but not in those with advanced disease. New models of care need to be developed for women with advanced breast cancer in order to achieve true patient-centred care. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No contribution from the patient or the public because the data collected was entered into the clinical history by the health professionals of the Breast Unit as part of their usual clinical practice.

Changes in Treatment Patterns and Costs for Lung Cancer Have Not Resulted in Relevant Improvements in Survival: A Population-Based Observational Study in Catalonia.

OBJECTIVE: Few published studies have described multidisciplinary therapeutic strategies for lung cancer. This study aims to describe the different approaches used for treating lung cancer in Catalonia in 2014 and 2018 and to assess the associated cost and impact on patient survival. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study using data of patients with lung cancer from health care registries in Catalonia was carried out. We analyzed change in treatment patterns, costs and survival according to the year of treatment initiation (2014 vs. 2018). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival, with the follow-up until 2021. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2018, the proportion of patients undergoing surgery increased and treatments for unresectable tumors decreased, mainly in younger patients. Immunotherapy increased by up to 9% by 2018. No differences in patient survival were observed within treatment patterns. The mean cost per patient in the first year of treatment increased from EUR 14,123 (standard deviation [SD] 4327) to EUR 14,550 (SD 3880) in surgical patients, from EUR 4655 (SD 3540) to EUR 5873 (SD 6455) in patients receiving curative radiotherapy and from EUR 4723 (SD 7003) to EUR 6458 (SD 10,116) in those treated for unresectable disease. CONCLUSIONS: From 2014 to 2018, surgical approaches increased in younger patients. The mean cost of treating patients increased, especially in pharmaceutical expenditure, mainly related to the use of several biomarker-targeted treatments. While no differences in overall patient survival were observed, it seems reasonable to expect improvements in this outcome in upcoming years as more patients receive innovative treatments.

No Excess Mortality up to 10 Years in Early Stages of Breast Cancer in Women Adherent to Oral Endocrine Therapy: A Probabilistic Graphical Modeling Approach.

Breast cancer (BC) is globally the most frequent cancer in women. Adherence to endocrine therapy (ET) in hormone-receptor-positive BC patients is active and voluntary for the first five years after diagnosis. This study examines the impact of adherence to ET on 10-year excess mortality (EM) in patients diagnosed with Stages I to III BC (N = 2297). Since sample size is an issue for estimating age- and stage-specific survival indicators, we developed a method, ComSynSurData, for generating a large synthetic dataset (SynD) through probabilistic graphical modeling of the original cohort. We derived population-based survival indicators using a Bayesian relative survival model fitted to the SynD. Our modeling showed that hormone-receptor-positive BC patients diagnosed beyond 49 years of age at Stage I or beyond 59 years at Stage II do not have 10-year EM if they follow the prescribed ET regimen. This result calls for developing interventions to promote adherence to ET in patients with hormone receptor-positive BC and in turn improving cancer survival. The presented methodology here demonstrates the potential use of probabilistic graphical modeling for generating reliable synthetic datasets for validating population-based survival indicators when sample size is an issue.

Ten-Year Probabilities of Death Due to Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease among Breast Cancer Patients Diagnosed in North-Eastern Spain.

Mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), second tumours, and other causes is of clinical interest in the long-term follow-up of breast cancer (BC) patients. Using a cohort of BC patients (N = 6758) from the cancer registries of Girona and Tarragona (north-eastern Spain), we studied the 10-year probabilities of death due to BC, other cancers, and CVD according to stage at diagnosis and hormone receptor (HR) status. Among the non-BC causes of death (N = 720), CVD (N = 218) surpassed other cancers (N = 196). The BC cohort presented a significantly higher risk of death due to endometrial and ovarian cancers than the general population. In Stage I, HR- patients showed a 1.72-fold higher probability of all-cause death and a 6.11-fold higher probability of breast cancer death than HR+ patients. In Stages II-III, the probability of CVD death (range 3.11% to 3.86%) surpassed that of other cancers (range 0.54% to 3.11%). In Stage IV patients, the probability of death from any cancer drove the mortality risk. Promoting screening and preventive measures in BC patients are warranted, since long-term control should encompass early detection of second neoplasms, ruling out the possibility of late recurrence. In patients diagnosed in Stages II-III at an older age, surveillance for preventing late cardiotoxicity is crucial.

Trends in lung cancer incidence by age, sex and histology from 2012 to 2025 in Catalonia (Spain).

Lung cancer remains one the most common cancers in Europe and ranks first in terms of cancer mortality in both sexes. Incidence rates vary by region and depend above all on the prevalence of tobacco consumption. In this study we describe recent trends in lung cancer incidence by sex, age and histological type in Catalonia and project changes according to histology by 2025. Bayesian age-period-cohort models were used to predict trends in lung cancer incidence according to histological type from 2012 to 2025, using data from the population-based Catalan cancer registries. Data suggest a decrease in the absolute number of new cases in men under the age of 70 years and an increase in women aged 60 years or older. Adenocarcinoma was the most common type in both sexes, while squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma were decreasing significantly among men. In both sexes, the incident cases increased by 16% for patients over 70 years. Increases in adenocarcinoma and rising incidence in elderly patients suggest the need to prioritize strategies based on multidisciplinary teams, which should include geriatric specialists.

Public Perceptions of the Role of Lifestyle Factors in Cancer Development: Results from the Spanish Onco-Barometer 2020.

The European Code against Cancer recommends not to smoke, to avoid alcohol consumption, to eat a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight to prevent cancer. To what extent is the public aware of the influence of these lifestyle factors on cancer development? The goal of the current study was to describe the perceived influence of four lifestyle factors (tobacco, alcohol, diet, and weight) on cancer development in the general population and identify factors related to low perceptions of influence. We analyzed data from the 2020 Onco-barometer (n = 4769), a representative population-based survey conducted in Spain. With the exception of smoking, lifestyle factors were among those with the least perceived influence, more so among the demographic groups at higher risk from cancer including men and older individuals (65+ years). Individuals from lower socio-economic groups were more likely to report not knowing what influence lifestyle factors have on cancer. Lower perceived influence was also consistently related to perceiving very low risk from cancer. Overall, although there is variation in perceptions regarding the different lifestyle factors, low perceived influence clusters among those at higher risk for cancer. These results signal the need for public health campaigns and messages informing the public about the preventive potential of lifestyle factors beyond avoiding tobacco consumption.

Value-based radiotherapy: A new chapter of the ESTRO-HERO project.

Radiotherapy interventions are rapidly evolving and improving, holding promise for better patient outcomes, yet at the possible detriment of higher societal costs. The ESTRO-HERO value-based radiotherapy project aims to develop a framework defining and assessing the value of radiotherapy innovations, to support clinical implementation and equitable access, within a sustainable healthcare system.

Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines and Colorectal Cancer Survival: A Retrospective High-Resolution Population-Based Study in Spain.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Population-based, high-resolution studies are essential for the continuous evaluation and updating of diagnosis and treatment standards. This study aimed to assess adherence to clinical practice guidelines and investigate its relationship with survival. We conducted a retrospective high-resolution population-based study of 1050 incident CRC cases from the cancer registries of Granada and Girona, with a 5-year follow-up. We recorded clinical, diagnostic, and treatment-related information and assessed adherence to nine quality indicators of the relevant CRC guidelines. Overall adherence (on at least 75% of the indicators) significantly reduced the excess risk of death (RER) = 0.35 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28-0.45]. Analysis of the separate indicators showed that patients for whom complementary imaging tests were requested had better survival, RER = 0.58 [95% CI 0.46-0.73], as did patients with stage III colon cancer who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, RER = 0.33, [95% CI 0.16-0.70]. Adherence to clinical practice guidelines can reduce the excess risk of dying from CRC by 65% [95% CI 55-72%]. Ordering complementary imagining tests that improve staging and treatment choice for all CRC patients and adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer patients could be especially important. In contrast, controlled delays in starting some treatments appear not to decrease survival.

Programa E-Health ICOnnecta't: un ecosistema para fomentar el bienestar en cáncer a través de la propuesta europea ONCOMMUNP / E-Health ICOnnecta't program: An ecosystem to promote wellbing in cancer towards ONCOMMUN European proposal

INTRODUCCIÓN: A pesar de que los tratamientos psico-oncológicos han demostrado su efectividad en disminuir el malestar emocional y mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con cáncer, aún existen numerosas barreras que limitan su acceso. La transformación a online de esta atención se plantea como una solución para aumentar la cobertura del servicio y mejorar su coste-utilidad. OBJETIVO: Crear un ecosistema digital de salud para reducir el impacto del cáncer, aumentando el bienestar y la calidad de vida del ciudadano con cáncer. MÉTODO: Programa dirigido a pacientes diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama en fase de supervivencia aguda. Es un programa de atención escalonada dividido en 4 niveles de intervención jerarquizados por complejidad: Nivel 1, cribado y monitorización psicosocial; Nivel 2, Campus: psicoeducación y educación sanitaria; Nivel 3, soporte psicosocial comunitario; y Nivel 4, tratamiento psicoterapéutico grupal. RESULTADOS: En 2019, 259 mujeres fueron incluidas en el programa (39,91% de los nuevos casos de cáncer de mama en los centros participantes). Solo el 3,47% (n = 9) requirió atención clínica especializada (Nivel 4). CONCLUSIÓN: El programa Iconnecta't adopta un modelo integrado de atención psicosocial en cáncer que se adecúa a las necesidades específicas de los supervivientes. Da solución a algunas de las barreras de la atención sanitaria tradicional, democratizando el acceso a los servicios mediante el uso de tecnologías de uso común en la mayoría de ciudadanos. En un futuro próximo se prevé la implementación progresiva a otras neoplasias, junto con un ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado que evaluará su eficacia

INTRODUCTION: Although psycho-oncological treatments have already demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing emotional distress and improving quality of life in people with cancer, there are still numerous barriers limiting their access. The digital transformation of care is proposed as a solution to increase service coverage and improve its cost-utility. AIM: Create a digital health ecosystem to reduce the impact of cancer, increasing users' well-being and quality of life. METHOD: The program is addressed to patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the acute survival phase. It is a stepped-care intervention divided into 4 levels ordered by complexity: Level 1, psychosocial screening and monitoring; Level 2, Campus: psychoeducation and health education; Level 3, psychosocial community support; and Level 4, psychotherapeutic group treatment. RESULTS: In 2019, 259 women were included in the program (39.91% of new breast cancer cases in participating centers), and only 3.47% (n = 9) required specialized clinical care (Level 4). CONCLUSIONS: The Iconnecta't program adopts an integrated model of psychosocial care in cancer that adapts to survivors' specific needs. It overcomes some of the barriers of traditional healthcare, democratizing service access through the use of common technologies among the vast majority of citizens. In the near future, progressive implementation to other cancer diagnoses is planned, together with a randomized controlled trial to evaluate its effectiveness

How public health services pay for radiotherapy in Europe: an ESTRO-HERO analysis of reimbursement.

Reimbursement is a key factor in defining which resources are made available to ensure quality, efficiency, availability, and access to specific health-care interventions. This Policy Review assesses publicly funded radiotherapy reimbursement systems in Europe. We did a survey of the national societies of radiation oncology in Europe, focusing on the general features and global structure of the reimbursement system, the coverage scope, and level for typical indications. The annual expenditure covering radiotherapy in each country was also collected. Most countries have a predominantly budgetary-based system. Variability was the major finding, both in the components of the treatment considered for reimbursement, and in the fees paid for specific treatment techniques, fractionations, and indications. Annual expenses for radiotherapy, including capital investment, available in 12 countries, represented between 4·3% and 12·3% (average 7·8%) of the cancer care budget. Although an essential pillar in multidisciplinary oncology, radiotherapy is an inexpensive modality with a modest contribution to total cancer care costs. Scientific societies and policy makers across Europe need to discuss new strategies for reimbursement, combining flexibility with incentives to improve productivity and quality, allowing radiation oncology services to follow evolving evidence.

Participación de la población inmigrante en el cribado de cáncer de mama de Tarragona, España / Participation of the immigrant population in breast cancer screening in Tarragona, Spain

Objetivo: Evaluar las diferencias de participación en un programa de cribado de cáncer de mama entre mujeres autóctonas y alóctonas. Método: Estudio retrospectivo basado en el programa de cribado de cáncer de mama de la provincia de Tarragona (2008-2015). La muestra es la población diana del programa con país de origen conocido. Resultados: Cohorte de 40.824 mujeres. Las mujeres alóctonas participan menos que las autóctonas (41,8% vs. 72,3%), aunque muestran una tasa de detección de cáncer similar a estas, pero con diferencias según el índice de desarrollo humano de su país de origen. Los dos grupos presentan similares estadios tumorales en el momento del diagnóstico (p=0,59). Conclusiones: Sería necesario desarrollar estrategias específicamente dirigidas a la población inmigrante para mejorar su participación en el cribado del cáncer de mama

Objective: To evaluate the differences between autochthonous and allochthonous women's participation in a breast cancer screening programme. Method: Retrospective study based on data from the Breast Cancer Screening Programme of the province of Tarragona (2008-2015). The sample is the target population of the programme with known country of origin. Results: Cohort of 40,824 women. Allochthonous women participate less than autochthonous women (41.8% vs. 72.3%) although they have a similar global detection rate to the latter but with differences according to the human development index of their country of origin. Both groups present similar tumour stages on detection (p=.59). Conclusions: Strategies specifically aimed at the immigrant population are required to improve their participation in breast cancer screening

Quality of Care Indicators for Head and Neck Cancers: The Experience of the European Project RARECAREnet.

Background: Monitoring and improving quality of cancer care has become pivotal today. This is especially relevant for head and neck cancers since the disease is complex, it needs multi therapy, patients tend to be older, they tend to have comorbidities and limited social support. However, information on quality of care for head and neck cancers is scarce. In the context of the project "Information Network on Rare Cancers" we aimed to identify indicators of quality of care specific for the head and neck cancers management and to measure the quality of care for head and neck cancers in different EU Member States. Methods: We defined indicators of quality of care for head and neck cancers based on a multidisciplinary and expert-based consensus process at a European level. To test the proposed indicators, we performed an observational population-based retrospective study in four countries (Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Slovenia) in the years 2009-2011. Results: The main quality indicators identified are: availability of formalized multidisciplinary team, participation in clinical and translational research; timeliness of care, high quality of surgery and radiotherapy, and of pathological reporting. For head and neck cancers, the quality of care did not reach the optimal standards in most of the countries analyzed. A high proportion of patients was diagnosed at an advanced disease stage, showed delays in starting treatment (especially for radiotherapy), and there was only a very limited use of multi therapy. Conclusions: According to the achieved consensus, indicators of quality of care for head and neck cancers have to cover the patient journey (i.e., diagnosis and treatment). Our results, showed suboptimal quality of care across countries and call for solutions for ensuring good quality of care for head and neck cancer patients in all EU countries. One possible option might be to refer head and neck cancer patients to specialized centers or to networks including specialized centers.

National costs and resource requirements of external beam radiotherapy: A time-driven activity-based costing model from the ESTRO-HERO project.

BACKGROUND: The Health Economics in Radiation Oncology (ESTRO-HERO) project aims to provide a knowledge base for health economics in European radiotherapy. A cost-accounting model, providing data on national resource requirements and costs of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), was developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Time-driven activity-based costing (TD-ABC) was applied from the healthcare provider perspective at national level. TD-ABC allocates resource costs to treatment courses through the activities performed, based on time estimates. RESULTS: The model is structured in three layers. The central layer, EBRT-Core, accounts for EBRT care-pathway activities and follows TD-ABC allocation principles. Activities supporting radiation oncology (RO) (RO-Support) and multidisciplinary oncology (Beyond-EBRT) follow standard allocation principles. To demonstrate the model's capabilities, a dataset was constructed for the hypothetical country Europalia, based on published evidence on resources and treatments, whereas time estimates were expert opinions. Applying the TD-ABC model to this example, treatment delivery activities represent 68.4% of the costs; treatment preparation 31.6%. The cost per course shows large variation for different indications, techniques, and fractionation schedules, ranging between €838 and €7193. Resource utilization was estimated to be within the available capacity. Scenario analyses on changes in fractionation and treatment complexity are presented. The ESTRO-HERO TD-ABC tool can model EBRT costs and resource requirements. While the Europalia example illustrates its potential, the results cannot be generalized nor used as a proxy for national evidence. Only real-world data, tailored to the specificities of individual countries, will support National Radiation Oncology Societies with investment planning and access to innovative radiotherapy.

Budget Impact Analysis of Molecular Lymph Node Staging Versus Conventional Histopathology Staging in Colorectal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis is a critical prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and is also an indicator for adjuvant chemotherapy. The gold standard (GS) technique for LN diagnosis and staging is based on the analysis of haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides, but its sensitivity is low. As a result, patients may not be properly diagnosed and some may have local recurrence or distant metastases after curative-intent surgery. Many of these diagnostic and treatment problems could be avoided if the one-step nucleic acid amplification assay (OSNA) was used rather than the GS technique. OSNA is a fast, automated, standardised, highly sensitive, quantitative technique for detecting LN metastases. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the budget impact of introducing OSNA LN analysis in early-stage CRC patients in the Spanish National Health System (NHS). METHODS: A budget impact analysis comparing two scenarios (GS vs. OSNA) was developed within the Spanish NHS framework over a 3-year time frame (2017-2019). The patient population consisted of newly diagnosed CRC patients undergoing surgical treatment, and the following costs were included: initial surgery, pathological diagnosis, staging, follow-up expenses, systemic treatment and surgery after recurrence. One- and two-way sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: Using OSNA instead of the GS would have saved €1,509,182, €6,854,501 and €10,814,082 during the first, second and third years of the analysis, respectively, because patients incur additional costs in later years, leading to savings of more than €19 million for the NHS over the 3-year time horizon. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing OSNA in CRC LN analysis may represent not only an economic benefit for the NHS but also a clinical benefit for CRC patients since a more accurate staging could be performed, thus avoiding unnecessary treatments.

The economic burden of disease of epithelial ovarian cancer in Spain: the OvarCost study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the economic burden of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in incident patients and the burden by disease stage in Spain. METHODS: We developed a Markov model from a social perspective simulating the natural history of EOC and its four stages, with a 10-year time horizon, 3-week cycles, 3% discount rate, and 2016 euros. Healthcare resource utilization and costs were estimated by disease stage. Direct healthcare costs (DHC) included early screening, genetic counselling, medical visits, diagnostic tests, surgery, chemotherapy, hospitalizations, emergency services, and palliative care. Direct non-healthcare costs (DNHC) included formal and informal care. Indirect costs (IC) included labour productivity losses due to temporary and permanent leaves, and premature death. Epidemiology data and resource use were taken from the literature and validated for Spain by the OvarCost group using a Delphi method. RESULTS: The total burden of EOC over 10 years was 3102 mill euros: 15.1% in stage I, 3.9% in stage II, 41.0% in stage III, and 40.2% in stage IV. Annual average cost/patient was €24,111 and it was €8,641; €14,184; €33,858, and €42,547 in stages I-IV, respectively. Of total costs, 71.2% were due to DHC, 24.7% to DNHC, and 4.1% to IC. CONCLUSIONS: EOC imposes a significant economic burden on the national healthcare system and society in Spain. Investment in better early diagnosis techniques might increase survival and patients' quality of life. This would likely reduce costs derived from late stages, consequently leading to a substantial reduction of the economic burden associated with EOC.

[Participation of the immigrant population in breast cancer screening in Tarragona, Spain]. / Participación de la población inmigrante en el cribado de cáncer de mama de Tarragona, España.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences between autochthonous and allochthonous women's participation in a breast cancer screening programme. METHOD: Retrospective study based on data from the Breast Cancer Screening Programme of the province of Tarragona (2008-2015). The sample is the target population of the programme with known country of origin. RESULTS: Cohort of 40,824 women. Allochthonous women participate less than autochthonous women (41.8% vs. 72.3%) although they have a similar global detection rate to the latter but with differences according to the human development index of their country of origin. Both groups present similar tumour stages on detection (p=.59). CONCLUSIONS: Strategies specifically aimed at the immigrant population are required to improve their participation in breast cancer screening.

Geriatric assessment may help decision-making in elderly patients with inoperable, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT) increases survival in patients with inoperable, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there is no consensus on the treatment of elderly patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and its ability to predict toxicity in this setting. METHODS: We enrolled 85 consecutive elderly (⩾75 years) participants, who underwent CGA and the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13). Those classified as fit and medium-fit by CGA were deemed candidates for cCRT (platinum-based chemotherapy concurrent with thoracic radiation therapy), while unfit patients received best supportive care. RESULTS: Fit (37%) and medium-fit (48%) patients had significantly longer median overall survival (mOS) (23.9 and 16.9 months, respectively) than unfit patients (15%) (9.3 months, log-rank P=0.01). In multivariate analysis, CGA groups and VES-13 were independent prognostic factors. Fit and medium-fit patients receiving cCRT (n=54) had mOS of 21.1 months (95% confidence interval: 16.2, 26.0). In those patients, higher VES-13 (⩾3) was associated with shorter mOS (16.33 vs 24.3 months, P=0.027) and higher risk of G3-4 toxicity (65 vs 32%, P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive geriatric assessment and VES-13 showed independent prognostic value. Comprehensive geriatric assessment may help to identify elderly patients fit enough to be treated with cCRT.

Factors Predicting Adherence to a Tailored-Dose Adjuvant Treatment on the Basis of Geriatric Assessment in Elderly People With Colorectal Cancer: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Selecting elderly people with colorectal cancer (CRC) for adjuvant chemotherapy is challenging. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) can help by classifying them according to their frailty profile. The supposed benefit of chemotherapy is on the basis of the rate of treatment adherence. In this study we evaluated tolerance and adherence to tailored-dose adjuvant therapy on the basis of CGA in a cohort of older patients with high-risk stage II and stage III CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study in 193 consecutive patients aged 75 years or older. On the basis of CGA results, we classified patients as fit, medium fit, or unfit, administering standard therapy, adjusted treatment, and best supportive care, respectively. We recorded planned chemotherapy, toxicity, and completion of the treatment. A logistic multivariate analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Seventeen (15%) of the 141 candidates for chemotherapy (n = 86 fit and n = 55 medium fit) refused treatment; associated factors included polypharmacy (odds ratio [OR], 5.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55-18.40) and rectal location (OR, 5.61; 94% CI, 1.45-21.49). Of the 105 (74%) patients receiving chemotherapy, 20 (27%) fit and 4 (13%) medium fit patients experienced Grade 3 to 4 toxicity (P = .11) without association to explanatory variables. Approximately 55% of patients treated with chemotherapy received at least 80% of the planned dose (55% fit and 58% medium fit patients; P = .7). Factors associated with completion of chemotherapy were the absence of toxicity (OR, 7.67; 95% CI, 2.41-24.43) and social support (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 0.08-1.04). CONCLUSION: CGA is useful for selecting elderly patients for adjuvant chemotherapy, adapting the dose to their frailty profile, and identifying adherence-related factors amenable to modification through CGA-based interventions.