Publications by authors named "Riaz Alvi"

Background: There is little evidence on variation in radiotherapy use in different countries, although it is a key treatment modality for some patients with cancer. Here we aimed to examine such variation.

Methods: This population-based study used data from Norway, the four UK nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), nine Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan), and two Australian states (New South Wales and Victoria).

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Background: There are few data on international variation in chemotherapy use, despite it being a key treatment type for some patients with cancer. Here, we aimed to examine the presence and size of such variation.

Methods: This population-based study used data from Norway, the four UK nations (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), eight Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan), and two Australian states (New South Wales and Victoria).

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Background: Greater understanding of international cancer survival differences is needed. We aimed to identify predictors and consequences of cancer diagnosis through emergency presentation in different international jurisdictions in six high-income countries.

Methods: Using a federated analysis model, in this cross-sectional population-based study, we analysed cancer registration and linked hospital admissions data from 14 jurisdictions in six countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK), including patients with primary diagnosis of invasive oesophageal, stomach, colon, rectal, liver, pancreatic, lung, or ovarian cancer during study periods from Jan 1, 2012, to Dec 31, 2017.

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Canadian provinces routinely collect patient-level data for administrative purposes. These real-world data (RWD) can be used to generate real-world evidence (RWE) to inform clinical care and healthcare policy. The CanREValue Collaboration is developing a framework for the use of RWE in cancer drug funding decisions.

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Real-world evidence can be a valuable tool when clinical trial data are incomplete or uncertain. Bevacizumab was adopted as first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on significant survival improvements in initial clinical trials; however, survival benefit diminished in subsequent analyses. Consequently, there is uncertainty surrounding the cost-effectiveness of bevacizumab therapy achieved in practice.

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Background: Expenditure on systemic therapy for cancer has been increasing quickly owing to population growth, increased use, both in the number of users and in prescription volume, and rising drug prices. Our objective was to describe trends in expenditure in British Columbia and Saskatchewan's cancer care systems and to elucidate these drivers of growth.

Methods: In this trend analysis, we obtained pharmacy dispensing records from the BC Cancer and Saskatchewan Cancer Agency pharmacies for all anticancer therapies dispensed in 2006-2013.

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Background: CREB3L1 (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 3-like protein 1), a member of the unfolded protein response, has recently been identified as a metastasis suppressor in both breast and bladder cancer.

Methods: Quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) and immunoblotting were used to determine the impact of histone deacetylation and DNA methylation inhibitors on CREB3L1 expression in breast cancer cell lines. Breast cancer cell lines and tumor samples were analyzed similarly, and CREB3L1 gene methylation was determined using sodium bisulfite conversion and DNA sequencing.

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Article Synopsis
  • Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation after surgery for gastric and gastroesophageal cancers can improve patient outcomes, but there are often delays in starting these treatments.* -
  • A study of 174 patients in Saskatchewan found that only 35% received adjuvant therapy, with 28% starting treatment within 56 days post-surgery.* -
  • While advanced cancer stages and older age linked to worse disease-free survival, the timing of adjuvant therapy (within or beyond 56 days) did not significantly affect overall survival rates.*
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Background: Currently, there is very low-quality evidence available regarding benefit of surgical resection of the primary tumor (SRPT), in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC). In the absence of randomization, the reported benefit may reflect selection of younger and healthier patients with good performance status. A large population-based cohort study was undertaken to determine the survival benefit of SRPT in advanced CRC by eliminating various biases reported in the literature.

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Gastrointestinal tract acid-446 (GTA-446) is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid present in the serum. A reduction of GTA-446 levels in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients has been reported previously. Our study compared GTA-446 levels in subjects diagnosed with CRC at the time of colonoscopy to the general population.

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Background: Adjuvant therapy results in significant improvement in survival of patients with high-risk colorectal cancer. Little is known about the significance of timing and early discontinuation of adjuvant treatment in such patients. Our study aims to determine the prognostic impact of timing and completion of adjuvant therapy in patients with high-risk colorectal cancer.

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Purpose: Guideline-recommended treatment for stage II/III colorectal cancer includes postsurgical chemotherapy and/or radiation as standard of care. This study measures adherence to guidelines across 3 Canadian provinces and evaluates the relationship of patient characteristics with receiving standard care.

Patients And Methods: All surgically treated patients diagnosed in 2004 with stage III colon or stage II/III rectal cancer and residing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba were identified from provincial cancer registries.

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Purpose: Prostate cancer is the leading form of cancer diagnosed among North American men. Most patients present with localized disease, which can be effectively treated with a variety of different modalities. These are associated with widely different acute and late effects, which can be both physical and psychological in nature.

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Background: A set of consistent, standardized definitions of intervals and populations on which to report across provinces is needed to inform the Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministries of Health on progress of the Ten-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. The objectives of this project were to: 1) identify a set of criteria and variables needed to create comparable measures of important time-to-cancer-care intervals that could be applied across provinces and 2) use the measures to compare time-to-care across participating provinces for lung and colorectal cancer patients diagnosed in 2004.

Methods: A broad-based group of stakeholders from each of the three participating cancer agencies was assembled to identify criteria for time-to-care intervals to standardize, evaluate possible intervals and their corresponding start and end time points, and finalize the selection of intervals to pursue.

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Background: The objective of this study was to determine variables that correlate with the survival of patients with extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma (EPSCC).

Methods: Medical records of 101 eligible patients with EPSCC who were diagnosed in Saskatchewan from 1971 to 2002 were reviewed. Survival was calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method.

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Introduction: Women diagnosed with a primary breast cancer are at higher risk for a second primary. Few studies have focused on a comparison of women with single breast primary cancers and women with multiple primary breast cancers. The 1994-1998 NAACCR dataset aggregated from high quality registries representing more than one-third of the US population provides a unique opportunity to examine the incidence of multiple primary breast cancers in a large population.

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