Preoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.

Background: The existing randomized evidence has failed to conclusively demonstrate the benefit or otherwise of preoperative radiotherapy in treating patients with potentially resectable esophageal carcinoma.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to assess whether there is benefit from adding radiotherapy prior to surgery and whether or not any pre-defined patient subgroups benefit more or less from preoperative radiotherapy

Search Strategy: MEDLINE and CancerLit searches were supplemented by information from trial registers and by hand searching relevant meeting proceedings and by discussion with relevant trialists, organisations and industry. The search strategy was run again in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library on 30th April 2001, two years after original publication.

Cost of diagnostic and therapeutic management of colorectal cancer according to stage at diagnosis in the Calvados Département, France.

Screening for colorectal cancer is a high priority of public health in France, as in other Western countries. In spite of its effectiveness, shown by randomized studies, no national program of colorectal screening using fecal occult blood test has yet implemented, due mainly to the low sensitivity of the screening test and to the weak participation of the target population. Economic studies can make a useful contribution to helping the decision makers of public health.

Estimation of the familial relative risk of cancer by site from a French population based family study on colorectal cancer (CCREF study).

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of death from cancer in France. A family history of CRC increases an individual's risk of developing CRC. Family history has been suggested to have a greater impact on proximal than distal tumours.

Familial relative risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based study.

This study aimed to assess the familial relative risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) and its variation according to age and gender. A population-based family study was carried out in France, from 1993 to 1998, including 761 families. Familial CRC risks were estimated from a cohort analysis of the relatives.