International trends in oesophageal cancer survival by histological subtype between 1995 and 2014.

Introduction: Survival from oesophageal cancer remains poor, even across high-income countries. Ongoing changes in the epidemiology of the disease highlight the need for survival assessments by its two main histological subtypes, adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: The ICBP SURVMARK-2 project, a platform for international comparisons of cancer survival, collected cases of oesophageal cancer diagnosed 1995 to 2014, followed until 31 December 2015, from cancer registries covering seven participating countries with similar access to healthcare (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK).

Differences in cancer survival by remoteness of residence: an analysis of data from a population-based cancer registry.

Purpose: Cancer survival is generally lower for rural compared with urban residents, but findings have been inconsistent. We aimed to assess inequalities in cancer survival by remoteness of residence in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: Incident cancer cases diagnosed in 2001-2015 with 30 cancer types (n = 331,302) were identified through the Victorian Cancer Registry and followed to the end of 2015 through death registries.

Differences in cancer survival by area-level socio-economic disadvantage: A population-based study using cancer registry data.

Despite overall improvements in cancer survival due to earlier diagnosis and better treatment, socio-economically disadvantaged people have lower cancer survival than more advantaged people. We aimed to examine differences in cancer survival by area-level socio-economic disadvantage in Victoria, Australia and assess whether these inequalities varied by year of diagnosis, age at diagnosis, time since diagnosis and sex. Cases diagnosed with a first primary cancer in 2001-2015 were identified using the Victorian Cancer Registry and followed to the end of 2016.

Progress in cancer survival, mortality, and incidence in seven high-income countries 1995-2014 (ICBP SURVMARK-2): a population-based study.

Background: Population-based cancer survival estimates provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of cancer services and can reflect the prospects of cure. As part of the second phase of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP), the Cancer Survival in High-Income Countries (SURVMARK-2) project aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cancer survival across seven high-income countries and a comparative assessment of corresponding incidence and mortality trends.

Methods: In this longitudinal, population-based study, we collected patient-level data on 3·9 million patients with cancer from population-based cancer registries in 21 jurisdictions in seven countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK) for seven sites of cancer (oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas, lung, and ovary) diagnosed between 1995 and 2014, and followed up until Dec 31, 2015.

Changes in colorectal cancer incidence in seven high-income countries: a population-based study.

Background: The overall incidence of colorectal cancer is decreasing in many high-income countries, yet analyses in the USA and other high-income countries such as Australia, Canada, and Norway have suggested increasing incidences among adults younger than 50 years. We aimed to examine longitudinal and generational changes in the incidence of colon and rectal cancer in seven high-income countries.

Methods: We obtained data for the incidence of colon and rectal cancer from 21 population-based cancer registries in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK for the earliest available year until 2014.

Differences in cancer survival by sex: a population-based study using cancer registry data.

Purpose: Few large-scale studies have investigated sex differences in cancer survival and little is known about their temporal and age-related patterns.

Methods: We used cancer registry data for first primary cancers diagnosed between 1982 and 2015 in Victoria, Australia. Cases were followed until the end of 2015 through linkage to death registries.

Assessing the feasibility and validity of the Toronto Childhood Cancer Stage Guidelines: a population-based registry study.

Background: Cancer stage at diagnosis is crucial for assessing global efforts to increase awareness of childhood cancer and improve outcomes. However, consistent information on childhood cancer stage is absent from population cancer registries worldwide. The Toronto Childhood Cancer Stage Guidelines, compiled through an international consensus process, were designed to provide a standard framework for collection of information on stage at diagnosis of childhood cancers.

Hepatocellular carcinoma over three decades in Victoria, Australia: epidemiology, diagnosis and trends, 1984-2013.

Background: Liver cancer continues to be a health priority in Australia, with the majority attributable to preventable causes, and certain populations at higher risk.

Aims: Epidemiological assessment of incidence, trends and distribution to inform prevention, and reassessment of data in light of recent changes to registry case definitions.

Methods: Reported cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Victoria, Australia, 1984-2013, were obtained from the Victorian Cancer Registry.

Recurrent glioblastoma: Current patterns of care in an Australian population.

This retrospective population-based survey examined current patterns of care for patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) who had previously undergone surgery and post-operative therapy at original diagnosis. The patients were identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) from 2006 to 2008. Patient demographics, tumour characteristics and oncological management were extracted using a standardised survey by the treating clinicians/VCR staff and results analysed by the VCR.

Novel population-based study finding higher than reported hepatocellular carcinoma incidence suggests an updated approach is needed.

Unlabelled: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is rising rapidly in many developed countries. Primary epidemiological data have invariably been derived from cancer registries that are heterogeneous in data quality and registration methodology; many registries have not adopted current clinical diagnostic criteria for HCC and still rely on histology for classification. We performed the first population-based study in Australia using current diagnostic criteria, hypothesizing that HCC incidence may be higher than reported.

Management of glioblastoma in Victoria, Australia (2006-2008).

We describe the management of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in a population-based cohort and compare this to a previously studied cohort. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with GBM from 2006-2008 in Victoria, Australia. Patients were identified from the population-based Victorian Cancer Registry and their treating doctors surveyed by questionnaire.

Surgical resection and long-term survival outcome for non-small cell lung cancer: a comparison of Victorian population-based studies spanning a decade.

Aim: A survey of management of lung cancer diagnosed in Victoria in 2003 was commissioned by the Victorian Cooperative Oncology Group to identify gaps in the management of this disease. Results from a similar survey in 1993 were available to identify differences in the disease, management and outcomes. This paper details results of the surgically managed subset within the larger study.

Lung cancer in Victoria: are we making progress?

Objectives: To identify areas to improve patient management in lung cancer, which remains the greatest cause of death from cancer in Australia.

Design And Setting: Retrospective survey of all cases of lung cancer reported to the Victorian Cancer Registry from 1 January to 30 June 2003 and followed up for 5 years.

Main Outcome Measures: Patient and disease characteristics, investigations, staging, treatment, cause of death, survival.

Evaluation of the Simplified Comorbidity Score (Colinet) as a prognostic indicator for patients with lung cancer: a cancer registry study.

Introduction: A Simplified Comorbidity Score (SCS) provided additional prognostic information to the established factors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer lung cancer. We undertook this analysis to test the prognostic value of the SCS in a population-based study.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective survey of all Victorians diagnosed with lung cancer in January-June 2003, identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry.

Pancreatic cancer: surgical management and outcomes after 6 years of follow-up.

Objective: To describe the management and outcomes of a population-based cohort of patients with pancreatic cancer in Victoria, Australia.

Design, Setting And Patients: Retrospective study based on questionnaires completed from medical histories of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during 2002-2003 in Victoria who were identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry and followed up for 6 years.

Main Outcome Measures: Proportion of patients receiving each form of treatment, 30-day mortality, median survival, and 5-year and 6-year survival.

Use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer in Victoria (2002-2003): a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To describe the management and outcomes of a population-based cohort of patients with pancreatic cancer treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in Victoria, Australia.

Design, Setting And Patients: Questionnaire-based study of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during 2002-2003 in Victoria who were retrospectively identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry and followed up for a minimum of 5 years.

Main Outcome Measures: Reported treatment, referral patterns and survival rates.

Incidence and survival of lymphohematopoietic neoplasms according to the World Health Organization classification: a population-based study from the Victorian Cancer Registry in Australia.

We studied the incidence and relative survival of 39 837 cases of lymphohematopoietic neoplasms (LHN) reported to the Victorian Cancer Registry during 1982-2004, classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We modeled excess mortality using Poisson regression to estimate differences in survival by age, sex, and time period. Age-standardized incidence rates varied across subtypes of lymphoid and myeloid neoplasms.

Gender-specific activity of chemotherapy correlates with outcomes in chemosensitive cancers of young adulthood.

Good evidence indicates that adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer do badly compared with children with similar cancers. The reasons are poorly understood. Australian registry data on 14,824 cancers of adolescence and young adulthood seen between 1982 and 2002 were reviewed.

Season of diagnosis has no effect on survival from malignant melanoma.

Diagnosis in summer had been shown to be associated with better survival from some cancers, but such studies on malignant melanoma where sun exposure is a risk factor for disease are rare. We evaluated seasonality in melanoma diagnosis and its effect on survival in Victoria, Australia using 26,060 cases reported to the population-based Victorian Cancer Registry during 1986-2004. To estimate the amplitude of the seasonal variation, we calculated the ratio of the number of melanoma cases diagnosed in summer to that in winter.

The use of chemotherapy in patients with gliomas: patterns of care in Victoria from 1998-2000.

Chemotherapy has an increasing role in the management of gliomas. In particular, chemotherapy provides survival and quality of life benefits in the setting of recurrent high-grade gliomas and in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. We have previously reported details on patterns of care regarding 828 patients diagnosed with a glioma in the state of Victoria for the period 1998-2000.

Brain stem gliomas: patterns of care in Victoria from 1998-2000.

This study describes the management of and outcomes for adult and paediatric patients with newly diagnosed brain stem gliomas during 1998-2000 in Victoria. Adult patients were identified in a retrospective cohort study conducted by surveying doctors involved in managing incident brainstem glioma cases identified from the population-based Victorian Cancer Registry. Paediatric cases were identified from a retrospective analysis of the Victorian Paediatric Brain tumour database for the same period.

The management of primary cutaneous melanoma in Victoria in 1996 and 2000.

Objective: To describe tumour characteristics and clinical management of melanomas newly diagnosed in 1996 and in 2000--before and after publication of the clinical practice "Guidelines for the management of cutaneous melanoma" by the Australian Cancer Network (1997), and their endorsement by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and republication (1999).

Design And Setting: Survey of clinicians involved in the management of patients with melanoma sampled from the Victorian Cancer Registry. The Registry is notified of all cases of cancer diagnosed by pathology laboratories and hospitals in both the public and private health sectors in the state of Victoria.

Management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer in Victoria, 1990-1995.

Background: The management and outcomes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer are described in this article.

Methods: A retrospective survey of medical practitioners involved in the management of bladder cancer was conducted. The survey obtained at least 5 years of follow-up data on all patients.