Risk factors, histopathological landscape, biomarkers, treatment patterns and survival of early-onset colorectal cancer: A narrative review.

Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) incidence has increased in most Western countries over the last decade, with Australia at the forefront. Recent literature has thus focused on characterizing EOCRC from later-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC). Earlier exposure to modifiable risk factors resulting in gut dysbiosis has been linked with EOCRC development. EOCRCs have more aggressive histopathological features with somatic mutations resulting in pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironments. There is a tendency to treat EOCRCs with multimodal chemotherapeutic regimens and more extensive surgery than LOCRCs with conflicting postoperative outcomes and survival data. Current research is limited by a lack of Australasian studies, retrospective study designs, and heterogeneous definitions of EOCRC. Future research should address these and focus on investigating the role of immunotherapies, establishing minimally invasive diagnostic biomarkers and nomograms, and evaluating the survival and functional outcomes of EOCRC.

Patients' and carers' views on research priorities in prehabilitation for cancer surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The views of patients and carers are important for the development of research priorities. This study aimed to determine and compare the top research priorities of cancer patients and carers with those of multidisciplinary clinicians with expertise in prehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed patients recovering from cancer surgery at a major tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia, and/or their carers between March and July 2023. Consenting patients and carers were provided a list of research priorities according to clinicians with expertise in prehabilitation, as determined in a recent International Delphi study. Participants were asked to rate the importance of each research priority using a 5-item Likert scale (ranging from 1 = very high research priority to 5 = very low research priority). RESULTS: A total of 101 patients and 50 carers participated in this study. Four areas were identified as research priorities, achieving consensus of highest importance (> 70% rated as "high" or "very high" priority) by patients, carers, and clinical experts. These were "optimal composition of prehabilitation programs" (77% vs. 82% vs. 88%), "effect of prehabilitation on surgical outcomes" (85% vs. 90% vs. 95%), "effect of prehabilitation on functional outcomes" (83% vs. 86% vs. 79%), and "effect of prehabilitation on patient reported outcomes" (78% vs. 84% vs. 79%). Priorities that did not reach consensus of high importance by patients despite reaching consensus of highest importance by experts included "identifying populations most likely to benefit from prehabilitation" (70% vs. 76% vs. 90%) and "defining prehabilitation core outcome measures" (66% vs. 74% vs. 87%). "Prehabilitation during neoadjuvant therapies" reached consensus of high importance by patients but not by experts or carers (81% vs. 68% vs. 69%). CONCLUSION: This study delineated the primary prehabilitation research priorities as determined by patients and carers, against those previously identified by clinicians with expertise in prehabilitation. It is recommended that subsequent high-quality research and resource allocation be directed towards these highlighted areas of importance.

The health-related quality of life of early-onset colorectal cancer patients: an Australian cross-sectional study.

AIM: Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) patients are more likely to have advanced disease and undergo more aggressive treatment modalities. However, current literature investigating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of EOCRC patients is scarce. This study aimed to determine the HRQoL of an Australian cohort of EOCRC patients including a subset who underwent pelvic exenteration (PE) or cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHOD: A cross-sectional study of EOCRC patients treated at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Australia was performed. Patients were divided into groups based on the time interval from their index operation: ≤2 years and >2 years. HRQoL was evaluated using the SF-36v2 questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were included. For patients ≤2 years from surgery, the median physical component summary (PCS) and mental health component summary (MCS) scores were 53.3 (36.4-58.9) and 47.3 (37.5-55.7). In the >2 years group, the median PCS and MCS scores were 50.6 (43.3-57.7) and 50.2 (39.04-56.2), respectively. Stage I (vs. stage II) disease and emergency (vs. elective) surgery conferred poorer PCS scores in patients ≤2 years from surgery. No other variables impacted PCS or MCS scores in EOCRC patients in either group. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL of EOCRC patients was equivocal to the Australian population. Having an earlier stage of diagnosis and emergency index operation was associated with poorer levels of physical functioning in patients ≤2 years from surgery. However, because of the limitations of this study, these findings require validation in future large-scale prospective research.

Defining Benchmarks for Pelvic Exenteration Surgery: A Multicentre Analysis of Patients with Locally Advanced and Recurrent Rectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To establish globally applicable benchmark outcomes for pelvic exenteration (PE) in patients with locally advanced primary (LARC) and recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC), using outcomes achieved at highly specialised centres. BACKGROUND DATA: PE is established as the standard of care for selected patients with LARC and LRRC. There are currently no available benchmarks against which surgical performance in PE can be compared for audit and quality improvement. METHODS: This international multicentre retrospective cohort study included patients undergoing PE for LARC or LRRC at 16 highly experienced centres between 2018 and 2023. Ten outcome benchmarks were established in a lower-risk subgroup. Benchmarks were defined by the 75th percentile of the results achieved at the individual centres. RESULTS: 763 patients underwent PE, of which 464 patients (61%) had LARC and 299 (39%) had LRRC. 544 patients (71%) who met predefined lower risk criteria formed the benchmark cohort. For LARC patients, the calculated benchmark threshold for major complication rate was ≤44%; comprehensive complication index (CCI): ≤30.2; 30-day mortality rate: 0%; 90-day mortality rate: ≤4.3%; R0 resection rate: ≥79%. For LRRC patients, the calculated benchmark threshold for major complication rate was ≤53%; CCI: ≤34.1; 30-day mortality rate: 0%; 90-day mortality rate: ≤6%; R0 resection rate: ≥77%. CONCLUSIONS: The reported benchmarks for PE in patients with LARC and LRRC represent the best available care for this patient group globally and can be used for rigorous assessment of surgical quality and to facilitate quality improvement initiatives at international exenteration centres.

Surgical and survival outcomes of early-onset colorectal cancer patients: a single-centre descriptive Australian study.

BACKGROUND: Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) incidence is increasing in Australia. However, no Australian studies have reported on EOCRC patients' surgical management and survival patterns. METHODS: A retrospective study of 111 EOCRC patients treated at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH), Sydney, Australia between January 2013 and December 2021 was performed. RPAH is a quaternary referral centre for pelvic exenteration (PE) and cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). RESULTS: Most patients had left-sided tumours (76.58%) and stage IV disease at the time of presentation (37.85%). 27.93% of patients underwent either CRS/HIPEC and PE and 72.07% of patients underwent other colorectal resections of which the most common was low anterior resection (19.82%). A stoma was fashioned in 50.54% of patients. Complications occurred in 54.95% of patients of which most were Clavien-Dindo grade II (47.54%). Absolute 1-, 3- and 5-year time intervals were 93.69%, 87.39% and 85.48%. Disease-free and overall survival were poorer in stage IV patients who had PE, followed by CRS/HIPEC then other colorectal resections (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Stoma formation, PE and CRS/HIPEC and minor postoperative complications were common in our EOCRC cohort. Despite this, the 5-year absolute survival rate was acceptable. Thus, an aggressive surgical approach in EOCRC patients at a quaternary referral centre may be feasible at the cost of greater postoperative morbidity. This information is imperative in the surgical consent and preoperative counselling of EOCRC patients and highlights the need for further research to assess the postoperative functional outcomes and quality of life of EOCRC patients.

Complexity of surgery and treatment burden in patients with peritoneal malignancy is not determined by addition of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: This study describes surgical and quality of life outcomes in patients with peritoneal malignancy treated by cytoreductive surgery (CRS) alone compared with a subgroup treated with CRS and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHODS: Peritoneal malignancy patients undergoing surgery between 2017 and 2023 were included. The cohort was divided into patients treated by CRS and HIPEC and those treated by CRS without HIPEC (including CRS only or maximal tumour debulking (MTB)). Main outcomes included surgical outcomes, survival, and quality of life. Groups were compared using non-parametric tests and log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. RESULTS: 403 had CRS and HIPEC, 25 CRS only and 15 MTB. CRS and HIPEC patients had a lower peritoneal carcinomatosis index (12.0 vs. 17.0 vs. 35.0; P < 0.001) and longer surgical operative time (9.3 vs. 8.3 vs. 5.2 h; P < 0.001), when compared to CRS only and MTB, respectively. No other significant difference between groups was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal management of selected patients with resectable peritoneal malignancy incorporates a combined strategy of CRS and HIPEC. When HIPEC is not utilized, due to significant residual disease or comorbidity precluding safe delivery, CRS alone is associated with good outcomes. Hospital stay and complications are acceptable but not significantly different to the CRS and HIPEC group. CRS alone is a complex intervention requiring comparable resources with good outcomes. In view of our findings 'intention to treat' with CRS and HIPEC should be the basis for resource allocation and funding.

Evaluating geographical disparities on clinical outcomes following cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Rural Australians typically encounter disparities in healthcare access leading to adverse health outcomes, delayed diagnosis and reduced quality of life (QoL) parameters. These disparities may be exacerbated in advanced malignancies, where treatment is only available at highly specialised centres with appropriate multidisciplinary expertise. Thus, this study aims to determine the association between patient residence on oncological, surgical and QoL outcomes following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from January 2017 to March 2022. On the basis of their postcode of residence, patients were stratified into metropolitan and regional groups. Data encompassing demographics, oncological, surgical and QoL outcomes were compared. Statistical analysis included chi-square test, t-tests and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: Among the 317 patients, 228 (72%) were categorised as metropolitan and 89 (28%) as regional. Metropolitan patients presented higher rates of recurrence (61.8% versus 40.0%, p = 0.014) and shorter overall mean survival [3.8 years (95% CI: 3.44-4.09) versus 4.2 years (95% CI: 3.76-4.63), p = 0.019] compared with regional patients. No other statistically significant differences were observed in oncological, surgical and QoL outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Most oncological, surgical and QoL parameters did not differ by geographical location of patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC for peritoneal malignancies at a high-volume quaternary referral centre. Observed differences in recurrence and survival may be attributed to the selective nature of surgical referrals and variable follow-up patterns. Future research should focus on characterising referral pathways and its influence on post-operative outcomes.

Outcome Heterogeneity in Prehabilitation Trials-Are We Comparing Apples and Oranges?

INTRODUCTION: Over the last decade, the number of prehabilitation randomised controlled trials (RCTs) has increased significantly. Therefore, this review aimed to describe the outcomes reported in prehabilitation RCTs in patients undergoing cancer surgery. METHODS: A search was conducted in Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature from inception to July 2021. We included RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of preoperative exercise, nutrition, and psychological interventions on postoperative complications and length of hospital stay in adult oncology patients who underwent thoracic and gastrointestinal cancer surgery. The verbatim outcomes reported in each article were extracted, and each outcome was assessed to determine whether it was defined and measured using a validated tool. Verbatim outcomes were grouped into standardized outcomes and categorized into domains. The quality of outcome reporting in each identified article was assessed using the Harman tool (score range 0-6, where 0 indicated the poorest quality). RESULTS: A total of 74 RCTs were included, from which 601 verbatim outcomes were extracted. Only 110 (18.3%) of the verbatim outcomes were defined and 270 (44.9%) were labeled as either "primary" or "secondary" outcomes. Verbatim outcomes were categorized into 119 standardized outcomes and assigned into one of five domains (patient-reported outcomes, surgical outcomes, physical/functional outcomes, disease activity, and intervention delivery). Surgical outcomes were the most common outcomes reported (n = 71 trials, 95.9%). The overall quality of the reported outcomes was poor across trials (median score: 2.0 [IQR = 0.00-3.75]). CONCLUSIONS: Prehabilitation RCTs display considerable heterogeneity in outcome reporting, and low outcome reporting quality. The development of standardized core outcome sets may help improve article quality and enhance the clinical utility of prehabilitation following cancer surgery.

Complete mesocolic excision for colon cancer: current status and controversies.

According to Hohenberger's original description, complete mesocolic excision for colon cancer involves precise dissection of the avascular embryonic plane between the parietal retroperitoneum and visceral peritoneum of the mesocolon. This ensures mesocolic integrity, access to high ligation of the supplying vessels at their origin and an associated extended lymphadenectomy. Results from centres which have adopted this approach routinely have demonstrated that oncological outcomes can be improved by the rigorous implementation of established principles of cancer surgery. Meticulous anatomical dissection along embryonic planes is a well-established principle of precision cancer surgery used routinely by the specialist colorectal surgeon. Therefore, the real question concerns the need for true central vascular ligation and associated extended (D3) lymphadenectomy or otherwise, particularly along the superior mesenteric vessels when performing a right colectomy. Whether this approach results in improved overall or disease-free survival remains unclear and its role remains controversial particularly given the potential for significant morbidity associated with a more extensive central vascular dissection. Current literature is limited by considerable bias, as well as inconsistent and variable terminology, and the results of established randomized trials are awaited. As a result of the current state of equipoise, various national guidelines have disparate recommendations as to when complete mesocolic excision should be performed if at all. This article aims to review the rationale for and technical aspects of complete mesocolic excision, summarize available short and long term outcome data and address current controversies.

Trajectories of Quality of Life After Pelvic Exenteration: A Latent Class Growth Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Information on the course of quality of life after surgery for advanced cancers within the pelvis is important to guide patient decision-making; however, the current evidence is limited. OBJECTIVE: To identify quality-of-life trajectory classes and their predictors after pelvic exenteration. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTINGS: Highly specialized quaternary pelvic exenteration referral center. PATIENTS: Patients undergoing pelvic exenteration due to advanced/recurrent cancers within the pelvis between July 2008 and July 2022. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality-of-life data included the 36-item Short-Form Survey (physical and mental component scores) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal instruments, which were collected at 11 distinct points from baseline to 5 years postoperatively. Predictors included patient characteristics and surgical outcomes. Latent class analysis was used to identify the likelihood of a better quality-of-life class, and logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of the identified classes. RESULTS: The study included 565 participants. Two distinct quality-of-life trajectory classes were identified for the Physical Component Score (class 1: high stable and class 2: high decreasing). Three distinct classes were identified for the Mental Component Score (class 1: high increasing, class 2: moderate stable, and class 3: moderate decreasing) and for Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal total score (class 1: high increasing, class 2: high decreasing, and class 3: low decreasing). Across the 3 quality-of-life domains, overall survival probabilities were also higher in class 1 ( p < 0.0001). Age, repeat exenteration, neoadjuvant therapy, surgical margin, length of operation, and hospital stay were significant predictors of quality-of-life classes. LIMITATIONS: This study was conducted at a single highly specialized quaternary pelvic exenteration referral center, and findings may not apply to other centers. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that quality of life after pelvic exenteration diverges into distinct trajectories, with most patients reporting an optimal course. See Video Abstract . TRAYECTORIAS EN LA CALIDAD DE VIDA DESPUS DE EXENTERACIN PLVICA ANLISIS DE CRECIMIENTO DE CLASES LATENTES: ANTECEDENTES:La información sobre la evolución en la calidad de vida después de cirugía en cánceres avanzados situados en la pelvis es importante para guiar la toma de decisiones sobre el paciente; sin embargo, la evidencia actual es muy limitada.OBJETIVO:Identificar las clases de trayectorias en la calidad de vida y sus factores pronóstico después de la exenteración pélvica.DISEÑO:Estudio de cohortes prospectivo.AJUSTES:Centro de referencia altamente especializado en la exenteración pélvica cuaternaria.PACIENTES:Todos aquellos sometidos a exenteración pélvica por cáncer avanzados/recurrentes situados en la pelvis entre Julio de 2008 y Julio de 2022.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Los datos sobre la calidad de vida incluyeron el Cuestionario de Salud SF-36 (puntuaciones de componentes físicos y mentales) y la evaluación funcional entre la terapia del cáncer/-herramientas colorrectales, recopilados en 11 puntos distintos desde el diagnóstico hasta los 5 años después de la operación.Los predictores incluyeron las características de los pacientes y los resultados quirúrgicos. Se utilizó el análisis de clases latentes para identificar la probabilidad de una mejor calidad de vida y se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística para identificar predictores de las clases identificadas.RESULTADOS:El estudio incluyó a 565 participantes. Se identificaron dos clases distintas de trayectorias de calidad de vida para la puntuación del componente físico (clase 1: alta estable y clase 2: alta decreciente), se identificaron tres clases distintas para la puntuación del componente mental (clase 1: alta creciente; clase 2: moderadamente estable; y clase 3: moderada disminución) y para la evaluación funcional de la terapia contra el cáncer-puntuación total colorrectal (clase 1: aumento alto; clase 2: disminución alta; y clase 3: disminución baja). En los tres dominios de calidad de vida, las probabilidades de supervivencia general también fueron mayores en las clases 1 (p <0,0001). La edad, las exenteraciones pélvicas repetidas, la terapia neoadyuvante, el margen quirúrgico, la duración de la operación y la estadía hospitalaria fueron predictores significativos en las clases de calidad de vida.LIMITACIONES:El presente estudio fué realizado en un único centro de referencia altamente especializado en exenteración pélvica cuaternaria y es posible que los hallazgos no se apliquen a otros centros.CONCLUSIONES:Demostramos con nuestro estudio que la calidad de vida después de la exenteración pélvica diverge en trayectorias distintas, y que la mayoría de los pacientes nos reportaron de una évolución óptima. (Traducción-Dr. Xavier Delgadillo ).

A review of patient recruitment in randomised controlled trials of preoperative exercise.

BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard design to determine the effectiveness of an intervention, as the only method of decreasing section bias and minimising random error. However, participant recruitment to randomised controlled trials is a major challenge, with many trials failing to recruit the targeted sample size accordingly to the planned protocol. Thus, the aim of this review is to detail the recruitment challenges of preoperative exercise clinical trials. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed on MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, AMED and PsycINFO from inception to July 2021. Randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of preoperative exercise on postoperative complication and/or length of hospital stay in adult cancer patients were included. Main outcomes included recruitment rate, retention rate, number of days needed to screen and recruit one patient and trial recruitment duration. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise outcomes of interest. RESULTS: A total of 27 trials were identified, including 3656 patients screened (N = 21) and 1414 randomised (median recruitment rate (interquartile range) = 53.6% (25.2%-67.6%), N = 21). The sample size of the included trials ranged from 19 to 270 (median = 48.0; interquartile range = 40.0-85.0) and the duration of trial recruitment ranged from 3 to 50 months (median = 19.0 months; interquartile range = 10.5-34.0). Overall, a median of 3.6 days was needed to screen one patient, whereas 13.7 days were needed to randomise one participant. Over the trials duration, the median dropout rate was 7.9%. Variations in recruitment outcomes were observed across trials of different cancer types but were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The recruitment of participants to preoperative exercise randomised controlled trials is challenging, but patient retention appears to be less of a problem. Future trials investigating the effectiveness of a preoperative exercise programme following cancer surgery should consider the time taken to recruit patients. Strategies associated with improved recruitment should be investigated in future studies.

Measuring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer presentation: a retrospective comparative study.

BACKGROUNDS: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provided challenges to surgical care in Australia. This study aimed to measure the potential impact of COVID-19 on colorectal cancer presentation through surgical volume and cancer staging at a major tertiary referral hospital in the city of Sydney Australia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed using routinely collected data from consecutive colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery during the COVID-19 period (1 March 2020 to 1 October 2021) and compared with the pre-COVID-19 period (1 March 2018 to 1 October 2019). The main outcomes included patient demographics, surgical volume (including overall, elective and emergency) and cancer staging. Differences in outcomes between the two studied periods were compared using Pearson's chi-squared test, Fisher test or t-test. RESULTS: A total of 381 patients composed the COVID-19 group (Mean age = 62.4 years) and 364 patients composed the pre-COVID-19 group (Mean age = 65.6 years; P<0.001). No significant differences were observed for overall, elective or emergency surgical volumes. Patients in the COVID-19 group had a reduction in Stage I and an increase in Stage II and III disease, with Stage IV and recurrent disease being similar with a variation of <1% when compared to the pre-COVID-19 group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Disruptions in patient screening, diagnosis and management from elective surgery restrictions and patient hesitancy may not have resulted in observed changes to surgical volume, however, it may have contributed to an increase in Stages II and III colorectal cancer during COVID-19.

Consumer Perspectives on the Adoption of a Prehabilitation Multimodal Online Program for Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery.

This study aimed to explore patients' perspectives on the adoption of a prehabilitation multimodal online program. Patients recovering from gastrointestinal cancer surgery at a tertiary hospital between October 2021 and November 2022 were invited to participate. An e-Health program including intensity exercises, nutrition and psychological counselling was used. Patients were instructed to navigate the e-Health program over 24 h using an iPad and then complete the study survey. Patients' characteristics, use of technology, views and minimal expected outcomes from a preoperative online program were collected. Of the 30 patients included, most were female, most reported confidence in the use of technology, most considered the online program safe and most agreed it would be beneficial for their health. "Poor preoperative health" and "lack of motivation and encouragement" were identified as the main barriers to the uptake of a preoperative online program, while program 'simplicity' and perceived 'benefits' were the main facilitators. Significant improvement in postoperative outcomes is perceived to influence patients' willingness to participate in a preoperative multimodal e-Health program. Gastrointestinal cancer patients perceived the adoption of a preoperative multimodal e-Health application as safe to be performed at home and of potential benefit to their health. A range of patient's characteristics, barriers and facilitators to the uptake of an online program were identified. These should be considered in future preoperative multimodal online programs to enhance patient experience, adherence and efficacy. The safety and efficacy of the online prehabilitation program will need to be determined in a larger randomized controlled trial.

A global analysis of nutrition support practices in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative nutritional care has been identified as an important factor in the management of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Nevertheless, there is no published consensus on best practice for nutritional management specific to this patient group. The purpose of this study was to identify the current nutrition care practices among international centres performing CRS and HIPEC for patients with peritoneal malignancy. METHODS: An online survey was developed and sent to experienced CRS and HIPEC centres. The survey questions covered clinician and institution demographics, formal nutrition care pathways, pre-operative nutrition care, post-operative nutrition support and post-discharge nutritional follow-up. RESULTS: Eighty-two centres were contacted, and 42 responses were received. Respondents were from 20 different countries and were mostly dietitians (71%). Nutrition assessments were frequently completed (52% pre-operatively and 86% post-operatively) and most centres used a validated nutrition screening or assessment tool (79%). Perioperative nutrition support with respect to the use of enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition and enhanced recovery after surgery varied widely between centres. The use of routine parenteral and enteral nutrition was significantly higher in Europe compared with other locations (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition care is pivotal and has been positively integrated into the complex management of patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC globally, however variation in practice is evident. The findings highlight a unique opportunity to collaboratively investigate the role nutrition plays in determining outcomes and to identify the most appropriate nutrition support methods to achieve improved clinical outcomes for these high-risk patients.

Impact of geographical health disparities on outcomes following pelvic exenteration at a centralised quaternary referral centre.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic exenteration (PE) is an ultra-radical procedure performed for primary or recurrent malignancies confined to the pelvis. Health outcomes for rural Australian populations are generally inferior compared to those from metropolitan centres, however, the effect of geographical location on outcomes following PE is poorly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate how geographical location affects oncological, quality of life (QoL) and survival outcomes following PE. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing PE between 1994 and 2022 at a single centre were included. Patient post codes were linked with the Australian Statistical Geography Standard Remoteness Structure to stratify patients into five groups based on the geographical location of their residence. Primary outcome measures included patient survival, QoL and oncological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 953 patients were included, of which 626 (65.7%) were from major cities, 227 (23.8%) inner regional, 84 (8.8%) outer regional, 9 (0.9%) remote, and 7 (0.7%) very remote areas. Rural patients were more likely to undergo PE for primary rectal cancer (p = 002) and less likely for recurrent, non-rectal carcinoma (p = 0.027). Rural patients less frequently had health insurance (p < 0.001) but were more likely to have undergone neoadjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.022). No difference in length-of-admission, in-hospital complication rates, QoL at 36 months or survival was observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite geographical disparities, rural populations undergoing PE achieved equally favourable outcomes as populations from metropolitan areas. Enhancing access to specialised care may facilitate better outcomes of patients residing in regional and remote areas.