Cancer risk after radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Among women with breast cancer, we compared the relative and absolute rates of subsequent cancers in 1541 women treated with radiotherapy (RT) to 4570 women not so treated (NRT), using all registered in the Swiss Vaud Cancer Registry in the period between 1978 and 1998, and followed up to December 2002. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were based on age- and calendar year-specific incidence rates in the Vaud general population. There were 11 lung cancers in RT (SIR = 1.40; 95% CI: 0.70-2.51) and 17 in NRT women (SIR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.44-1.22), 72 contralateral breast cancers in RT (SIR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.45-2.33) and 150 in NRT women (SIR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.16-1.61), and 90 other neoplasms in RT (SIR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.10-1.68) and 224 in NRT women (SIR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.91-1.19). Overall, there were 173 second neoplasms in RT women (SIR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.32-1.78) and 391 among NRT women (SIR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02-1.25). The estimates were significantly heterogeneous. After 15 years, 20% of RT cases vs 16% of NRT cases had developed a second neoplasm. The appreciable excess risk of subsequent neoplasms after RT for breast cancer must be weighed against the approximately 5% reduction of breast cancer mortality at 15 years after RT.

Increased risk of esophageal cancer after breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant radiation therapy for breast cancer has been related to excess esophageal cancer risk, but population-based data are scanty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We considered esophageal cancer risk among 11 130 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1974 and 2002 in the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel, and followed-up to the end of 2002, for a total of 75 900 women-years at risk. RESULTS: Overall, 18 cases were observed compared with 8.9 expected, corresponding to a standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.2]. The SIR was 1.6 in the first 10 years after diagnosis and 3.3 for >/=10 years after diagnosis, 2.3 for cases diagnosed between 1974 and 1988 and 1.5 for those diagnosed after 1988, 2.3 (based on 15 cases) for squamous cell cancer and 1.3 (based on three cases) for adenocarcinomas, and 2.9 for the upper third, 2.3 for the middle third and 1.9 for the lower third of the esophagus. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm an excess esophageal cancer risk following treatment for breast cancer which could not be explained by confounding of tobacco or alcohol alone. The excess risk tended to decrease for cases diagnosed after 1988, leaving open the issue of the risk of modern radiotherapy for breast cancer on esophageal cancer.

Incidence of anal carcinoma in Vaud, Switzerland, 1979-2001.

Substantial rises in anal cancer incidence have been registered over the last few decades in the USA and a few Nordic countries. Incidence trends in the Swiss population of Vaud (about 602,000 inhabitants) over the period 1979-2001 were considered. Rates were around 0.3-0.5 per 100,000 men (age-standardized, world population) and 1.1-1.4 per 100,000 women, in the absence of any consistent trend over time. The epidemiology of anal cancer appears therefore different in this Swiss population as compared with North America and northern Europe.

Trends in testicular cancer incidence in Vaud, Switzerland.

Upward trends in testicular cancer incidence have been reported in Europe and North America, particularly for seminomas. We considered incidence data between 1974 and 1999 from the Swiss cancer registry of Vaud, i.e. one of the highest incidence areas on a worldwide scale, including a total of 731 cases. Testicular cancer incidence was around 8.5/100 000 between the mid-1970s and the late 1980s, and increased to around 10/100 000 in the 1990s. Corresponding figures at age 15-44 were around 16/100 000 between the mid-1970s and the late 1980s, and about 19/100 000 thereafter. No evidence of persisting upward trends was evident over the last few years. The rise in testicular cancer incidence in the 1990s was apparently restricted to seminomas, whose rates increased from about 4 to 5.7/100 000 at all ages, and from 7 to over 11/100 000 at age 15-44. No consistent pattern of trends was observed for malignant teratomas and for other and unspecified histotypes. Testicular cancer in Vaud has shown no tendency to further rising over the last decade, thus re-opening the issue of a probable asymptote of testicular cancer incidence in this population.

Cancer risk in women with previous breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Excess risks of several second neoplasms following breast cancer have been reported. However, these risks have still to be quantified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We considered 9,729 breast cancer patients registered by the Swiss Cancer Registries of Vaud and Neuchâtel (covering about 786,000 inhabitants) and followed up from 1974 to 1998. RESULTS: Overall, 443 second primary neoplasms (other than second primary breast cancers) were observed versus 389 expected [standardised incidence ratio (SIR): 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.25]. The SIRs were above unity for endometrium (SIR = 1.5), ovary (1.3), colorectum (1.1), gallbladder (1.4), cutaneous malignant melanoma (1.4), kidney (1.4), lymphomas (1.4) and leukaemias (1.2), as well as for selected tobacco-related neoplasms. The largest excess risk was found for soft tissue sarcomas (STS) with 10 cases observed versus 3.1 expected (SIR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.5-5.9). Of these, eight occurred in potentially irradiated areas. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis confirms the existence of a modest excess in several neoplasms occurring after breast cancer. The substantial excess of STS confirms the strong association between irradiation and STS.

Trends in skin cancer incidence in Vaud: an update, 1976-1998.

Trends of skin cancer incidence by histotype in the Swiss Canton of Vaud (608,000 inhabitants) between 1976 and 1992 were updated on the basis of 6720 further skin cancers registered over the period 1993-1998. Trends in the last period were downwards for squamous cell carcinoma in both sexes, still on the rise for basal cell carcinoma, and levelled off for malignant melanoma in females.

Trends in skin cancer incidence in Neuchâtel, 1976-98.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on trends in skin cancer incidence. This paper examines trends of the three major histotypes of skin cancer in an environment favorable for skin cancer registration. METHODS: Trends of skin cancer incidence by histotype in the Swiss Canton of Neuchâtel (165,000 inhabitants) were analyzed on the basis of 4,455 incident cases of basal cell, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma registered over the period 1976-1998. RESULTS: Trends over the last decade considered tended to be downwards for squamous cell carcinoma in both sexes, were still on the rise for basal cell carcinoma, and leveled off for malignant melanoma in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Different trends were confirmed in this population between skin cancer histotypes related to cumulative intense sun exposure (squamous cell carcinoma) and those mainly related to more complex patterns of exposure to sunlight (basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma).

Trends in survival for patients diagnosed with cancer in Vaud, Switzerland, between 1974 and 1993.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of trends in cancer survival in defined well surveilled populations can provide useful indications on advancements in cancer management and treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Survival rates from the Vaud Cancer Registry were computed for 31,158 cases registered in 1984-1993, and compared with those registered in 1974-1978 and 1979-1983. RESULTS: A systematic, albeit generally moderate, tendency towards increasing five-year relative survival was observed for both sexes and most major cancer sites, including oral cavity and pharynx (0.38-0.43). stomach (0.21-0.26), colon (0.49-0.55), rectum (0.45-0.51), lung (0.08-0.12), skin melanoma (0.67-0.89), female breast (0.67-0.80), endometrium (0.72-0.84), ovary (0.28-0.37). prostate (0.44-0.66), testis (0.73-0.96), bladder (0.31-0.50), kidney and renal pelvis (0.41-0.59), thyroid (0.73-0.81), non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (0.37-0.63), Hodgkin's disease (0.61-0.81), and leukaemias (0.27-0.39). Survival for all cancers and both sexes combined, rose from 0.51 0.64 (0.57 for males, 0.71- for females). No appreciable change in survival was observed for cancers of oesophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, larynx, cervix uteri, brain, multiple myeloma, as well as unidentified or unknown origin neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: Survival estimates for most cancer sites are comparable to the US SEER dataset, and their pattern of trends are discussed in terms of improved diagnosis and treatment for various neoplasms.

Epidemiology of carcinoid neoplasms in Vaud, Switzerland, 1974-97.

In Vaud, Switzerland, the incidence of carcinoids based on 218 malignant and 215 benign cases rose from 19.6/10(6)in 1974-85 to 28. 2/10(6)in 1986-97, more so among males and malignant neoplasms. Lung was the commonest site for malignant and large intestine for benign carcinoids. Sixty-eight (16%) carcinoids had another neoplasm.

Second primary tumors after prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Several large datasets have shown a reduced risk of all neoplasms after a diagnosis of prostate carcinoma but an increased incidence rate of urologic carcinoma has been suggested. METHODS: Data collected by the Cancer Registries of the Swiss Cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel (approximately 760,000 inhabitants) were used to estimate the incidence rate of a second primary tumor after a diagnosis of prostate carcinoma. A total of 4503 cases registered between 1974 and 1994 were followed until the end of 1996 (17,065 person-years). RESULTS: A total of 380 second primary neoplasms were observed versus 534.1 expected primary neoplasms (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] = 0.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-0.8). SIRs were significantly below unity for lung carcinoma (SIR = 0.7) and other major tobacco-related neoplasms, including those of the mouth or pharynx (SIR = 0.5), esophagus (SIR = 0.4), pancreas (SIR = 0.5), and larynx (SIR = 0.8). There was no excess rate of subsequent urologic carcinoma (SIR = 1.0) or colorectal carcinoma (SIR = 0.9). The reduced SIRs for lung carcinoma were stronger in elderly men (age >/= 75 years) and in patients with a shorter period since diagnosis (< 5 years). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of all neoplasms was reduced significantly in men diagnosed with prostate carcinoma. Selection of the population, under-registration of second primary tumors, and reduced surveillance in elderly men with prostate carcinoma may, at least in part, explain this reduction in risk. No excess risk was observed for the complex of urologic neoplasms nor for tobacco-related neoplasms. This finding would not support an association between cigarette smoking and prostate carcinoma.

Borderline ovarian tumours in Vaud, Switzerland: incidence, survival and second neoplasms.

Between 1976 and 1996, 176 borderline ovarian tumours were registered in the Cancer Registry of the Swiss canton of Vaud, corresponding to an age-adjusted incidence (world standard) of 2.7 in 100,000. Incidence rose from 1.7 per 100,000 during 1976-81 to 2.7 per 100,000 during 1987-91, and then levelled off; 58% of cases were serous and 41% mucinous. Relative survival was 94% at 10 years; 18 second neoplasms were observed, compared with 10.3 expected, and there was a significant excess of invasive ovarian cancers (four observed, including three synchronous, compared with 0.4 expected).