Referral patterns of GIST patients: data from a nationwide study.
Acta Oncol
; 63: 28-34, 2024 Feb 14.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38353407
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study compares the characteristics, referral and treatment patterns and overall survival (OS) of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients treated in reference and non-reference centers in the Netherlands. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
This retrospective cohort study on patients diagnosed between 2016 and 2019, utilises data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Database. Patients were categorized into two groups patients diagnosed in or referred to reference centers and patients diagnosed in non-reference centers without referral.RESULTS:
This study included 1,550 GIST patients with a median age of 67.0 in reference and 68.0 years in non-reference centers. Eighty-seven per cent of patients were diagnosed in non-reference centers, of which 36.5% (493/1,352) were referred to a reference center. Referral rates were higher for high-risk (62.2% [74/119]) and metastatic patients (67.2% [90/134]). Mutation analysis was performed in 96.9% and 87.6% of these cases in reference and in non-reference centers (p < 0.01), respectively. Systemic therapy was given in reference centers versus non-reference in 89.5% versus 82.0% (p < 0.01) of high-risk and in 94.1% versus 65.9% (p < 0.01) of metastatic patients, respectively. The proportion of positive resection margins and tumor rupture did not differ between reference and non-reference centers. Median OS was not reached.CONCLUSION:
A substantial amount of metastatic GIST patients in non-reference centers did not receive systemic treatment. This might be due to valid reasons. However, optimisation of the referral strategy of GIST patients in the Netherlands could benefit patients. Further research is needed to explore reasons for not starting systemic treatment in metastatic GIST patients.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
/
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
/
Antineoplastic Agents
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Acta Oncol
Journal subject:
NEOPLASIAS
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Países Bajos
Publication country:
SE
/
SUECIA
/
SUÉCIA
/
SWEDEN