Decreased incidence and shift in stage distribution for colorectal cancers in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background And Study Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted the healthcare system and society in 2020. This study assessed its possible impact on occurrence and stage of colorectal cancer diagnoses in Belgium.

Methods: Population-based data from the Belgian Cancer Registry were used to extrapolate 2017-2019 trends in incidence and stage distribution to expected counts for 2020 that were subsequently compared to the observed values.

Neuroendocrine tumors in the stomach: An epidemiological analysis of Belgian Cancer Registry data 2010-2019.

The prevalence of gastric NEN is estimated worldwide at 8.9% of all gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (GEP-NEN) and only 0.3%-1% of all gastric neoplasms, but is rising in the last decades.

Facing further challenges in cancer data quality and harmonisation.

This article highlights the recent and ongoing activities of European population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) in data quality and harmonisation in the framework of the collaboration between the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) and the Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (JRC), the science and knowledge centre of the European Commission. The article concludes the Frontiers in Oncology's Research Topic "Joining Efforts to Improve Data Quality and Harmonization Among European Population-Based Cancer Registries", which has been an opportunity for several European researchers to share their experience on cancer data quality and harmonisation. Such experience will be helpful for PBCRs in view of future challenges and opportunities in cancer epidemiology, with a few examples discussed in the present article.

Delayed treatment in breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population health information research infrastructure (PHIRI) case study.

Background: The indirect impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on healthcare services was studied by assessing changes in the trend of the time to first treatment for women 18 or older who were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer between 2017 and 2021.

Methods: An observational retrospective longitudinal study based on aggregated data from four European Union (EU) countries/regions investigating the time it took to receive breast cancer treatment. We compiled outputs from a federated analysis to detect structural breakpoints, confirming the empirical breakpoints by differences between the trends observed and forecasted after March 2020.

Cancer incidence, stage shift and survival during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study in Belgium.

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a profound decline in cancer diagnoses in 2020 in Belgium. Disruption in diagnostic and screening services and patient reluctance to visit health facilities led to fewer new cases and concerns that cancers may be diagnosed at more advanced stages and hence have poorer prognosis. Using data from mandatory cancer registration covering all of Belgium, we predicted cancer incidence, stage distribution and 1-year relative survival for 2020 using a Poisson count model over the preceding years, extrapolated to 2020 for 11 common cancer types.

Hospital Volume for Rectal Cancer Resection Plays a Pivotal Role in Improving Outcomes: A Population-based Analysis.

Objective: Assessing the association between hospital surgical volume (SV) and outcomes after rectal cancer surgery (RCS), using national population-based data.

Summary Background Data: For RCS, the association of higher SV with improved short- and/or long-term outcomes remains controversial.

Methods: National cancer registry data and administrative data were used to select patients diagnosed with stage I-III rectal cancer in 2009-2018 and who underwent RCS.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Incidence and Observed Survival of Malignant Brain Tumors in Belgium.

(1) Background: This study evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence, treatment, and survival of adults diagnosed with malignant brain tumors in Belgium in 2020. (2) Methods: We examined patients aged 20 and older with malignant brain tumors (2004-2020) from the Belgian Cancer Registry database, assessing incidence, WHO performance status, vital status, and treatment data. We compared 2020 incidence rates with projected rates and age-standardized rates to 2015-2019.

Global Stage Distribution of Breast Cancer at Diagnosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Stage at diagnosis is a key prognostic factor for cancer survival.

Objective: To assess the global distribution of breast cancer stage by country, age group, calendar period, and socioeconomic status using population-based data.

Data Sources: A systematic search of MEDLINE and Web of Science databases and registry websites and gray literature was conducted for articles or reports published between January 1, 2000, and June 20, 2022.

Stage shift and relative survival for head and neck cancer during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study of temporal trends.

Objective: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, non-essential health services were suspended in Belgium, and the public was ordered to socially isolate. Underdiagnosis of cancer during this period was reported worldwide. Certain risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC) overlap with those for COVID-19 incidence and mortality, making underdiagnosis and subsequent stage shift of this potentially rapidly progressing cancer a major concern.

Epidemiological Trends of Haematological Malignancies in Belgium 2004-2018: Older Patients Show the Greatest Improvement in Survival.

(1) Background: Haematological malignancies (HMs) represent a heterogeneous group of mostly rare cancers that differ in pathophysiology, incidence, and outcome. (2) Methods: Our study aims to understand the epidemiological situation and trends of 24 main types of HMs in Belgium over a 15-year period, with a focus on the impact of age. Age-standardised incidence, average annual percentage change (AAPC), 5- and 10-year relative survival (RS) and RS trends were estimated for all HMs (N = 94,415) diagnosed between 2004 and 2018.

Quality indicators: completeness, validity and timeliness of cancer registry data contributing to the European Cancer Information System.

Unlabelled: Population-based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) are tasked with collecting high-quality data, important for monitoring cancer burden and its trends, planning and evaluating cancer control activities, clinical and epidemiological research and development of health policies. The main indicators to measure data quality are validity, completeness, comparability and timeliness. The aim of this article is to evaluate the quality of PBCRs data collected in the first ENCR-JRC data call, dated 2015.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence and Thickness of Cutaneous Melanoma in Belgium.

(1) Background: COVID-19 had a major impact on cancer diagnostics and treatment. Delays in diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma were particularly feared, given the impact on survival and morbidity that comes with advanced stages. Moreover, its incidence in Belgium has been rapidly increasing in recent decades.

The epidemiology of multiple primary cancers in Belgium (2004-2017): Incidence, proportion, risk, stage and impact on relative survival estimates.

Background: As both life expectancy and cancer survival improve, the incidence of multiple primary cancer has augmented and is expected to further increase. This study describes for the first time the epidemiology of multiple invasive tumours in Belgium.

Methods: This nationwide study, based on all cancers diagnosed between 2004 and 2017 in Belgium, describes the proportion of multiple primary cancer, its evolution over time, the impact of inclusion or exclusion of multiple primary cancer on relative survival estimates, the risk of developing a second primary cancer, and the difference in stage between first and second primary cancer for the same patient.

Cancer treatment data available in European cancer registries: Where are we and where are we going?

Population-based cancer registries are responsible for collecting incidence and survival data on all reportable neoplasms within a defined geographical area. During the last decades, the role of cancer registries has evolved beyond monitoring epidemiological indicators, as they are expanding their activities to studies on cancer aetiology, prevention, and quality of care. This expansion relies also on the collection of additional clinical data, such as stage at diagnosis and cancer treatment.

Survival trends of patients with non-metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma in the US and European countries: the impact of decreasing resection rates.

Background: We previously observed decreasing resection rates of non-metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma (GaC) in the US and some European countries. If and to what extent these trends affect the trends in overall survival (OS) of patients with non-metastatic GaC at the population level remain unclear. This large international population-based cohort study aimed to assess the impact of the previously observed decreasing resection rates on multivariable-adjusted trends in the long-term OS of patients with non-metastatic GaC.

Quality indicators in neuro-oncology: Review of the literature and development of a new quality indicator set for glioma care through a two-round Delphi survey.

Background: Quality Indicators (QIs) are important tools to assess the quality and variability of oncological care. However, their application in neuro-oncology is limited so far. The objective of this study was to develop a set of QIs for glioma, covering process and outcome indicators.

Intervention-related Deaths in the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer.

Background: Identification of intervention-related deaths is important for an accurate assessment of the ratio of benefit to harm in screening trials.

Objective: To investigate intervention-related deaths by study arm in the European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer Screening (ERSPC).

Design Setting And Participants: ERSPC is a multicenter trial initiated in the 1990s to investigate whether screening on the basis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) can decrease prostate cancer mortality.

Machine Learning-Based Extraction of Breast Cancer Receptor Status From Bilingual Free-Text Pathology Reports.

As part of its core business of gathering population-based information on new cancer diagnoses, the Belgian Cancer Registry receives free-text pathology reports, describing results of (pre-)malignant specimens. These reports are provided by 82 laboratories and written in 2 national languages, Dutch or French. For breast cancer, the reports characterize the status of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2.

Quality of pathology reporting and adherence to guidelines in rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms: a Belgian national study.

The incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) in the rectum is rising since the introduction of colonoscopy screening programs. Guidelines, such as the European NeuroEndocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) algorithm, are mainly based on expert opinion. The goal of this nationwide study is to gain a better insight into the evolution in pathology reporting and adherence to the ENETS guidelines in Belgium.

Lessons learned about appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasms from data analysis of the Belgian Cancer Registry 2010-2015.

Background And Study Aims: Appendiceal neuroendocrine neo-plasms (aNENs) are a diverse group of malignant neoplasms of varying biological behavior for which information about manage-ment and outcome is sparse, with the majority of available studies being retrospective, including only a limited number of patients, and therefore not necessarily reflecting the reality in the community. In the present study clinical, epidemiological and pathological data of appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasms in Belgium is provided and compared with current literature.

Methods: A population-based study was conducted by linking data of the Belgian Cancer Registry with medical procedures in the Belgian Health Insurance database for patients diagnosed with aNEN between 2010 and 2015.