A retrospective observational study of the relationship between family history and survival from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although family history is well established to be a risk factor for developing colorectal cancer (CRC), much less is known about its impact on patient survival. This study aimed to link CRC patient data from the National Study of Colorectal Cancer Genetics (NSCCG) to the National Cancer Data Repository (NCDR) to examine the relationship between family history and the characteristics and outcomes of CRC. METHODS: All eligible NSCCG patients underwent a matching process to the NCDR using combinations of their personal identifiers. The characteristics and survival of CRC patients with and without a family history of CRC were compared. RESULTS: Of the 10 937 NSCCG patients eligible to be matched into the NCDR, 10 782 (98.6%) could be fully linked. There were no significant differences between those with and without a family history of CRC (defined as having at least one affected first-degree relative) in terms of age, sex, tumour stage at diagnosis, presence of multiple cancers, mode of presentation to hospital and surgical management, although patients with familial CRC were more likely to have right-sided tumours (P<0.01). The survival of patients with familial CRC was significantly better than those with sporadic CRC (HR 0.89, 95%CI: 0.81-0.98, P=0.02). CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that it is possible to robustly match patients recruited into the NSCCG into the NCDR and, by using this record linkage, enable genetic data to be related to CRC phenotype, clinical management and outcome. This study provides evidence that a family history of CRC is associated with better survival after a diagnosis of CRC.

Population-based study of laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery 2006-2008.

BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines recommend that, where clinically appropriate, laparoscopic tumour resections should be available for patients with colorectal cancer. This study aimed to examine the introduction of laparoscopic surgery in the English National Health Service. METHODS: Data were extracted from the National Cancer Data Repository on all patients who underwent major resection for a primary colorectal cancer diagnosed between 2006 and 2008. Laparoscopic procedures were identified from codes in the Hospital Episode Statistics and National Bowel Cancer Audit Project data in the resource. Trends in the use of laparoscopic surgery and its influence on outcomes were examined. RESULTS: Of 58 135 resections undertaken over the study period, 10 955 (18·8 per cent) were attempted laparoscopically. This increased from 10·0 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 8·1 to 12·0) per cent in 2006 to 28·4 (25·4 to 31·4) per cent in 2008. Laparoscopic surgery was used less in patients with advanced disease (modified Dukes' stage 'D' versus A: odds ratio (OR) 0·45, 95 per cent c.i. 0·40 to 0·50), rectal tumours (OR 0·71, 0·67 to 0·75), those with more co-morbidity (Charlson score 3 or more versus 0: OR 0·69, 0·58 to 0·82) or presenting as an emergency (OR 0·15, 0·13 to 0·17). A total of 1652 laparoscopic procedures (15·1 per cent) were converted to open surgery. Conversion was more likely in advanced disease (modified Dukes' stage 'D' versus A: OR 1·56, 1·20 to 2·03), rectal tumours (OR 1·29, 1·14 to 1·46) and emergencies (OR 2·06, 1·54 to 2·76). Length of hospital stay (OR 0·65, 0·64 to 0·66), 30-day postoperative mortality (OR 0·55, 0·48 to 0·64) and risk of death within 1 year (hazard ratio 0·60, 0·55 to 0·65) were reduced in the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery was used more frequently in low-risk patients.

A retrospective observational study examining the characteristics and outcomes of tumours diagnosed within and without of the English NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is common in England and, with long-term survival relatively poor, improving outcomes is a priority. A major initiative to reduce mortality from the disease has been the introduction of the National Health Service (NHS) Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP). Combining data from the BCSP with that in the National Cancer Data Repository (NCDR) allows all tumours diagnosed in England to be categorised according to their involvement with the BCSP. This study sought to quantify the characteristics of the tumours diagnosed within and outside the BCSP and investigate its impact on outcomes. METHODS: Linkage of the NCDR and BCSP data allowed all tumours diagnosed between July 2006 and December 2008 to be categorised into four groups; screen-detected tumours, screening-interval tumours, tumours diagnosed in non-participating invitees and tumours diagnosed in those never invited to participate. The characteristics, management and outcome of tumours in each category were compared. RESULTS: In all, 76 943 individuals were diagnosed with their first primary colorectal cancer during the study period. Of these 2213 (2.9%) were screen-detected, 623 (0.8%) were screening-interval cancers, 1760 (2.3%) were diagnosed in individuals in non-participating invitees and 72 437 (94.1%) were diagnosed in individuals not invited to participate in the programme due to its ongoing roll-out over the time period studied. Screen-detected tumours were identified at earlier Dukes' stages, were more likely to be managed with curative intent and had significantly better outcomes than tumours in other categories. CONCLUSION: Screen-detected cancers had a significantly better prognosis than other tumours and this would suggest that the BCSP should reduce mortality from colorectal cancer in England.