Trends in incidence and survival of childhood cancers in Khon Kaen, Thailand (2000-2019): a population-based Khon Kaen Cancer Registry study.

BACKGROUND: In Thailand, the national health care system and nationwide standard treatment protocols have evolved over time, potentially influencing the trends in the incidence and survival rates of childhood cancers. However, further investigations are required to comprehensively study these trends in Khon Kaen, Thailand. METHODS: Childhood cancer patients aged 0-14 years (n = 541) who were diagnosed with one of the five most common cancers between 2000 and 2019 from the population-based Khon Kaen Cancer Registry were enrolled. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographic data, which are presented as numbers, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The trends in incidence between 2000 and 2019, including age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) and annual percent changes (APCs), were analysed using the Joinpoint regression model. Survival analysis was performed for 5-year relative survival rates (RSRs) according to the Pohar Perme estimator and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: The ASRs of the overall top 5 childhood cancer groups were 67.96 and 106.12 per million person-years in 2000 and 2019, respectively. Overall, the APC significantly increased by 2.37% each year for both sexes. The overall 5-year RSRs were 60.5% for both sexes, 58.2% for males, and 63.9% for females. The highest 5-year RSR was for germ cell tumours (84.3%), whereas the lowest 5-year RSR was for neuroblastoma (29.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and survival rates of childhood cancers in Khon Kaen, Thailand, varied according to sex. The incidence trends increased over time, meanwhile, the relative survival rates rose to satisfactory levels and were comparable to those of other nations with similar financial status. The implementation of national health policies and adherence to national treatment guidelines have improved cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Outcomes of Treatment, Survival Rates, and Factors related to Survival of Stage III Lung Cancer Patients Treated at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Stage III lung cancer (Stage III-LC) is characterized by local metastasis. The treatments for LC differ at each stage, while for stage IIIA and IIIB treatment various approaches have been tried with uncertain results. We determined the survival time of Stage III-LC patient and compared survival among multiple factors. METHODS: Data were collected from the Srinagarind Hospital-Based Cancer Registry (2014 - 2019). 324 patients from Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, were followed up until December 31, 2021. The survival rate was estimated using Kaplan-Meier and the Log-rank test. In addition, hazard ratios (HR) and the 95% CI were estimated using Cox regression. RESULTS: Of the 324 Stage III-LC patients, the total follow-up time was 447.3 person-years, and 288 cases died during the study, for a mortality rate of 64.4 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 57.40-72.27). The respective 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 44.1% (95% CI: 38.67-49.45), 16.2 (95% CI: 12.34-20.51), and 9.3 (95% CI: 6.14-13.31). The median survival time was 0.84 years (10.1 months) (95% CI: 0.73-1.00). After adjusting for sex and stage of disease, sequential chemoradiotherapy (SC) represented the most independent predictor of the risk of death (adjusted HR= 1.58; 95% CI: 1.41-2.18). Females had a mortality risk of 0.74-fold compared to males (adjusted HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.57-0.95). Stage of disease and stages IIIB and III (unknown and undefined) had a respective 1.33-fold (adjusted HR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.00-1.84) and 1.48-fold (adjusted HR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09-2.00) risk of death compared to stage IIIA. CONCLUSION: Sex, stage of disease, and SC were related to stage III-LC survival, so physicians should emphasize combination therapy. Further research should focus on combination therapy and survival among Stage III-LC patients.

Descriptive epidemiology of soft tissue sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors in Thailand.

This study aimed to analyze burden of STS and GIST in population and survival rate which represented the current situation of treatment in Thailand. The data was collected from five population-based cancer registries around the country for the period 2001 through 2015. The Segi world standard population was used to calculated age-standardized incidence rates (ASR). Standardized rate ratios (SRR) were used to compare populations. Joinpoint Trend Analysis was used to assess changes in incidence. STATA was used to examine patient survival rates. During the study period, 4080 cases of STS and 457 cases of GIST were reported. The ASR of STS and GIST was 2.14/100,000 person-years and 0.22/100,000 person-years, respectively. The most common histological types of STS were unspecified sarcoma (24.8%), leiomyosarcoma (19.0%) and liposarcoma (11.4%). The overall ASR of STS in Thailand was relatively low compared to Western countries. The five-year survival rate was 62.6% for STS and 63.4% for GIST, which was comparable to the rates reported in other countries. This is the first report of STS and GIST from PBCRs in Thailand. Based on current healthcare service, an overall survival rates of STS and GIST are comparable to those reported from others.

Adult Height as a Risk Factor for Developing Colorectal Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that a taller stature has a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) than a shorter stature. However, most prior studies were conducted in the Western region, with few studies and inconsistent results for Asians. To our best knowledge, no previous research has investigated the population of ASEAN countries, which is generally shorter in stature than the Western population. We aimed to examine the association between adult height and CRC risk in a Thai population. METHODS: This population-based cohort study was conducted in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Overall, 118 patients with CRC were histologically confirmed among 14,418 participants, who were recruited during 1990-2001 and followed up until December 31, 2020. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain baseline data, including demographic and environmental variables. The exposure of interest was measured in height and defined on the basis of the last recorded measurement. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. RESULTS: Over a median of 21.7 years of follow-up (interquartile range: 19.9-25.6), 14,418 participants provided a total observation time of 303,899 person-years. The risk of CRC at the highest compared to the lowest height quintile was 1.29 (95% CI, 0.76-2.20; p=0.350). A trend similar to a U shape was observed (HR in Q1 vs. Q2=1.05; 95% CI, 0.62-1.75; Q1 vs. Q3=0.78; 95% CI, 0.43-1.39; Q1 vs. Q4=0.55; 95% CI, 0.29-1.05; and Q1 vs. Q5=1.29; 95% CI, 0.76-2.20). CONCLUSIONS: Although adult height was not statistically significant, its magnitude still indicated some clues to investigate as evidence, especially for people living in the context of ASEAN countries. Large-scale, comparable studies in such contexts should be considered for confirmation.

Treatment outcomes of high-dose chemotherapy plus stem cell rescue in high-risk neuroblastoma patients in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: In 2013, the Thai Pediatric Oncology Group (ThaiPOG) introduced a national protocol in which high-dose chemotherapy plus stem cell rescue is performed without immunotherapy. METHODS: This study aimed to elucidate the outcomes of high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) patients treated with the ThaiPOG protocol. This retrospective cohort review included 48 patients (30 males, 18 females) with a median age of 3 years (range, 8 months to 18 years) who were treated at 5 ThaiPOG treatment centers in Thailand in 2000-2018. RESULTS: Eight of the 48 patients showed MYCN amplification. Twenty-three patients (48%) received 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine prior to high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue. The majority of patients achieved a complete or very good response prior to consolidation treatment. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates were 45.1% and 40.4%, respectively. Patients aged >2 years had a nonsignificantly higher mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR], 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-7.68; P=0.07). The MYCN amplification group had lower OS and EFS rates than the MYCN nonamplification group, but the difference was not statistically significant (45% OS and 37.5% EFS vs. 33.3% OS and 16.6% EFS; P=0.67 and P=0.67, respectively). Cis-retinoic acid treatment for 12 months was a strong prognostic factor that could reduce mortality rates among HR-NB patients (HR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.09-0.785; P=0.01). CONCLUSION: High-dose chemotherapy plus stem cell rescue followed by cis-retinoic acid for 12 months was well tolerated and could improve the survival rates of patients with HR-NB.

An analysis of the incidence and survival rates of bone sarcoma patients in thailand: reports from population-based cancer registries 2001-2015.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiology data from population-based cancer registries (PBCR) can be very valuable in the development of health policy and for improving the quality of cancer control strategies. METHODS: This study analyzed the incidence of bone sarcomas in Thailand during 2001 - 2015 by analyzing data obtained from 5 PBCRs across country. Incidence rates per million person-years by sex, histological subtype, primary site and 5-year age group were calculated. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were adjusted using the WHO's World Standard Population and comparisons between populations were done using standardized rate ratios (SRR). Incidence trends were evaluated using Joinpoint Trend Analysis. Survival rates were analyzed using STATA. RESULTS: The ASR of bone sarcomas in Thailand was 5.1/106 person-years, with an estimated 328 newly diagnosed bone sarcomas per year for the country overall. Osteosarcoma (52.5%), chondrosarcoma (18%), Ewing's sarcoma (11.6%), giant cell tumor (4.8%) and chordoma (4.7%) were the most common malignant bone tumors, representing 91.5% of all bone sarcomas. Bone sarcoma has a predilection for males (1.29:1) and an age-specific bimodal rate pattern closely related to the major histological subtypes, osteosarcoma. One- and five-year survival rates of Thai patients with bone sarcoma were 74% and 52%, respectively. Survival rates of bone sarcomas, particularly osteosarcoma, were lower than the rates reported from the United States, Europe and Japan. CONCLUSION: The lower overall survival rate of bone sarcoma represented the gap of bone sarcoma control program in Thailand. That indicates the need for improvement in health promotion, treatment process and chemotherapy for bone sarcoma patients in the future.

Lung Cancer Survival with Current Therapies and New Targeted Treatments: A Comprehensive Update from the Srinagarind Hospital-Based Cancer Registry from (2013 to 2017).

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC) is a common malignancy and leading cause of cancer death worldwide and in Thailand. An update on LC survival factors after diagnosis at Srinagarind Hospital is needed. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, and the data were sourced from the Srinagarind Hospital-Based Cancer Registry. All LC cases were diagnosed between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017, and followed up until November 30, 2019. Cases of LC (ICD-O-3) numbered 2,149, but only those with coding C34.0-C34.9 were included. The survival rate was estimated using Kaplan-Meier, while the Log-rank test was used to estimate survival. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression models. RESULTS: The 2,149 patients had a total follow-up of 269.6 person-years. Overall, 1,867 patients died during the study, for a corresponding case-fatality mortality rate of 86.0 per 100 person-years. The respective 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate was 31.2 % (95% CI; 29.21 to 33.15%), 12.9 % (95%CI: 11.49 to 14.45), and 10.2% (95%CI: 8.74 to 11.70). After patient diagnosis, the median survival time was 0.46 years (5.51 months) (95% CI: 0.42 to 0.50). Targeted therapy was associated with longer survival than non-targeted therapy (p-value < 0.001). After adjusting for sex, TNM stage, and histologic type, multivariable analysis of the entire cohort identified chemotherapy as an independent predictor of improved survival (adjusted HR= 0.48; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.55; P < 0.001), and that sex, TNM stage, and histologic type were associated with survival. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that sex, stage of disease, histology, and chemotherapy are associated with survival of LC. Primary prevention and screening for early detection improve survival. Further investigations into factors affecting survival of LC in Northeast Thailand should focus on targeted therapy.
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Survival of Cancer Patients with Co-Morbid Tuberculosis in Thailand.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the survival time and its related factors among cancer patients with co-morbid tuberculosis (TB) in Thailand. METHODS: We conducted this retro-prospective cohort study on cancer patients without co-morbid TB using the data from population-based cancer registry of Khon Kaen, TB databases from the Khon Kaen Central Hospital, and the Region 7 Office of Disease Prevention and Control from 2001 to 2015 to determine the onset of TB after cancer. The cancer patients were then followed up until 2017 to assess their survival status. The Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazard regression were used to estimate cumulative survival curves, compare various survival distributions, and adjusted hazard ratios. RESULTS: Lung, head and neck, and liver cancers led to a  significantly different survival time between patients with and without co-morbid TB. After adjustment, it was found that patients suffering from lung, head and neck, or liver cancer and co-morbid TB had significantly lower risk of death than those without co-morbid TB. Based on the stratified analysis, lung cancer patients with distant metastasis and co-morbid TB had 3.01-fold and 2.99-fold significantly increased risk of death compared to those without co-morbid TB. CONCLUSION: We found that cancer patients with co-morbid TB were at lower risk of death compared with those without co-morbid TB. In addition to cancer stage, it seems that cancer comorbidity with TB could modify the risk of death for lung cancer patients.There is a need for further studies to support our findings including other related risk factors. 
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Decreasing trends in cholangiocarcinoma incidence and relative survival in Khon Kaen, Thailand: An updated, inclusive, population-based cancer registry analysis for 1989-2018.

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a leading cause of cancer death in northeastern Thailand. We reported on the incidence of CCA using only one method. In the current study, we used three different statistical methods to forecast future trends and estimate relative survival. METHODS: We reviewed the CCA cases diagnosed between 1989 and 2018 recorded in the population-based Khon Kaen Cancer Registry (KKCR). Annual percent change (APC) was calculated to quantify the incidence rate trends using Joinpoint regression. Age-period-cohort models (APC model) were used to examine the temporal trends of CCA by age, calendar year, and birth cohort. We projected the incidence of CCA up to 2028 using three independent approaches: the Joinpoint, Age-period-cohort, and Nordpred models. Survival assessments were based on relative survival (RS). RESULTS: The respective APC in males and females decreased significantly (-3.1%; 95%CI: -4.0 to -2.1 and -2.4%; 95%CI: -3.6 to -1.2). The APC model-AC-P for male CCA-decreased according to a birth-cohort. The CCA incidence for males born in 1998 was 0.09 times higher than for those born in 1966 (Incidence rate ratios, IRR = 0.09; 95%CI: 0.07 to 0.12). The relative incidence for female CCA similarly decreased according to a birth-cohort (IRR = 0.11; 95%CI: 0.07 to 0.17). The respective projection for the age-standardized rate for males and females for 2028 will be 7.6 per 100,000 (102 patients) and 3.6 per 100,000 (140 patients). The five-year RS for CCA was 10.9% (95%CI: 10.3 to 11.6). CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of CCA has decreased. The projection for 2028 is that the incidence will continue to decline. Nevertheless, the survival of patients with CCA remains poor.

Incidence of and Risk Factors for Tuberculosis among Cancer Patients in Endemic Area: A Regional Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cancer is a known risk factor for developing active tuberculosis (TB) disease. The incidence of and risk factors for TB are not known among cancer patients in Thailand. This study aimed to investigate risk factors for TB among cancer patients in an area with endemic TB infections. METHODS: We used the Khon Kaen population-based cancer registry and two TB databases to conduct a retrospective cohort study of cancer patients. From 2001 to 2015, we identified 40,948 eligible cancer patients. Following until 2017, we identified cases of TB diagnosed after cancer diagnosis and analyzed primary cancer site, staging, treatment, and demographic factors. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (adj. IRR) were computed to identify risk factors among a sub-set of cancer types (n = 9,733) using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Among all cancer patients, 472 cases of TB were diagnosed following cancer diagnosis (cumulative incidence = 1.15%, incidence rate = 421.86 cases per 100,000 patients per year). Among the sub-set of cancer types, 206 cases of TB were found (cumulative incidence = 2.11%, incidence rate = 848.26 cases per 100,000 patients per year). Risk factors for TB among cancer patients were sex (p < 0.001) (male adj. IRR  = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.36-2.59), age (p < 0.001) (age >70 adj. IRR  = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.56-3.55, compared to age ≤50) and cancer site (p < 0.001). Compared to thyroid cancer, TB infection was more associated with lung cancer without histopathological confirmation (adj. IRR  = 6.22, 95% CI: 2.57-15.04). Cancer stage and treatment did not show statistically significant trends. CONCLUSION: Old age, male sex, and certain cancer types were independent risk factors for TB in cancer patients. Targeted latent TB screening may be appropriate among high risk groups.

Factors Associated with Time Intervals for Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer: A Hospital Based Study in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the five-leading cancers in Thailand. Delayed diagnosis is crucial for undermining the prognosis of the patients. This study aims to evaluate the factors associated with the time interval for diagnosis (TID). METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study of 191 CRC patients with histological confirmation who were undergoing treatment in the tertiary hospital in Khon Kaen Province was conducted. The data were obtained by interview and retrieving from medical records. The time interval in each diagnostic process is reported in geometric mean. The geometric mean ratio (GMR) used to interpret the results from multiple linear regressions that analyze the relationship between factors and log-transformed TID. RESULTS: Most patients were males (61.78%) with  mean age of 61.28±10.2 years old. The geometric mean of TID was 263.48 days. Two factors were significantly associated with longer TID: first visit at a tertiary hospital (GMR=7.77 relative to secondary hospital; 95%CI=1.95 to 30.57) and distance to tertiary healthcare. Two factors were significantly associated with shorter TID: officer/ state enterprise (GMR=0.53 relative to agriculture; 95%CI=0.28 to 0.98) and cost of traveling to secondary healthcare. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed the occupation, first health care visit, distance and cost were factors associated with TID. Improving the facilities at the secondary healthcare units for diagnosing CRC would be likely to help to reduce the  wasted time in the  healthcare system.

Health Insurance and Colorectal Cancer Survival in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Background: Evidence from healthcare studies demonstrates that patients' health insurance affects service accessibility and the outcome of treatment. However, assessment on how colorectal cancer survival relates to health insurance is limited. Objective: The study examined the association between health insurance and colorectal cancer survival in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted with 1,931 colorectal cancer patients from Khon Kaen cancer registry between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012, and was followed-up until December 31, 2015. Relative survival was used to estimate the survival rate. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate the relationship between health insurance and colorectal cancer survival, represented with the hazard ratio. Result: Most of the participants were males, and the median age was 62 years. The median survival time was 2.25 years (95% CI: 2.00-2.51). The five-year observed survival rate and relative survival rate were 36.87 (95% CI: 34.66-39.08) and, 42.28 (95% CI: 39.75-44.81), respectively. The factors that showed significant associations with poorer survival after adjustment for gender and age were non-surgical treatments (HRadj=1.88;95%CI=1.45-2.45), advanced stage (III+IV) (HRadj=2.50; 95%CI=2.00-3.12), histological grading in poorly differentiated (HRadj=1.84; 95%CI=1.32-2.56), and Universal Coverage Scheme (HRadj=1.37;95%CI=1.09-1.72). Conclusion: The survival of colorectal cancer patients in the Universal Coverage Scheme was likely to be poorer than in the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme. This indicates an urgent need for a national program for colorectal cancer screening in the general population and access to health insurance.

Cholangiocarcinoma Trends, Incidence, and Relative Survival in Khon Kaen, Thailand From 1989 Through 2013: A Population-Based Cancer Registry Study.

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a common malignancy in northeastern Thailand. Over the last 4 decades, several policies have been implemented for its prevention, but there has been no update on the trends and relative survival (RS). Our aim was (a) to perform a statistical assessment of the incidence trends of CCA and project future trends, and (b) to estimate relative survival. METHODS: All cases of CCA diagnosed from 1989 through 2013 were abstracted from the Khon Kaen Cancer Registry (KKCR). A jointpoint regression model was used to estimate the annual percentage change (APC) and to project future trends. We also calculated RS. RESULTS: There were 11,711 cases of CCA. The incidence rate increased with an APC of 1.79% (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.2 to 3.8) from 1989 through 2002, and decreased with an APC of -6.09% (95% CI, -8.2 to -3.9) from 2002 through 2013. The projected incidence of CCA should stable over the next 10 years, albeit higher than the world rate. The respective 5-year RS for both sexes for age groups of 30-40, 41-45, 51-60, and 61-98 years was 22.3% (95% CI, 16.8-29.5), 14.3% (95% CI, 12.0-17.0), 8.6% (95% CI, 7.8-10.0), and 7.2% (95% CI, 6.4-8.0). CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of CCA has decreased since 2002, representing a real decline in the risk of CCA. The incidence of CCA is projected to stabilize by 2025. The survival of patients with CCA remains poor.