The Dutch Early-Stage Melanoma (D-ESMEL) study: a discovery set and validation cohort to predict the absolute risk of distant metastases in stage I/II cutaneous melanoma.

Early-stage cutaneous melanoma patients generally have a favorable prognosis, yet a significant proportion of metastatic melanoma cases arise from this group, highlighting the need for improved risk stratification using novel prognostic biomarkers. The Dutch Early-Stage Melanoma (D-ESMEL) study introduces a robust, population-based methodology to develop an absolute risk prediction model for stage I/II melanoma, incorporating clinical, imaging, and multi-omics data to identify patients at increased risk for distant metastases. Utilizing the Netherlands Cancer Registry and Dutch Nationwide Pathology Databank, we collected primary tumor samples from early-stage melanoma patients, with and without distant metastases during follow-up.

Evaluation of the recently established Dutch nationwide Archipelago of Ovarian Cancer Research biobank.

Fundamental and translational research in ovarian cancer aims to enhance understanding of disease mechanisms and improve treatment and survival outcomes. To support this, we established the Dutch multicenter, interdisciplinary Archipelago of Ovarian Cancer Research (AOCR) infrastructure, which includes a nationwide biobank. In this study, we share our experiences in establishing the infrastructure, offer guidance for similar initiatives, and evaluate the AOCR patient cohort.

The INFLUENCE 3.0 model: Updated predictions of locoregional recurrence and contralateral breast cancer, now also suitable for patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy.

Background: Individual risk prediction of 5-year locoregional recurrence (LRR) and contralateral breast cancer (CBC) supports decisions regarding personalised surveillance. The previously developed INFLUENCE tool was rebuild, including a recent population and patients who received neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST).

Methods: Women, surgically treated for nonmetastatic breast cancer, diagnosed between 2012 and 2016, were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

The mode of circumferential margin involvement in rectal cancer determines its impact on outcomes: A population-based study.

Background: The clinical value of different modes of CRM involvement in rectal cancer patients is unclear. This study aims to determine the clinical impact of different modes of circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement in patients with a locally advanced rectal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: A cohort of patients who were diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer between June 2014 and June 2020 was selected from the prospective Dutch nationwide pathology databank (PALGA).

The Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure of the Multicenter Archipelago of Ovarian Cancer Research Biobank: A Potential Blueprint for Other Biobanks.

Biobanks play a crucial role in fundamental and translational research by storing valuable biomaterials and data for future analyses. However, the design of their information technology (IT) infrastructures is often customized to specific requirements, thereby lacking the ability to be used for biobanks comprising other (types of) diseases. This results in substantial costs, time, and efforts for each new biobank project.

COVID-19 in the Netherlands: lessons from a nationwide query of dutch autopsy, histology, and cytology pathological reports.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, autopsies have played a valuable role in understanding the pathophysiology of COVID-19. In this study, we have analyzed COVID-19-related pathology reports from autopsies, histology, and cytology on a nationwide level. Pathology reports from all 43 pathology laboratories in the Netherlands stating "COVID," "Corona," and/or "SARS" were queried from the Dutch Nationwide Pathology Database (Palga).

Association of metastatic pattern in breast cancer with tumor and patient-specific factors: a nationwide autopsy study using artificial intelligence.

Background: Metastatic spread is characterized by considerable heterogeneity in most cancers. With increasing treatment options for patients with metastatic disease, there is a need for insight into metastatic patterns of spread in breast cancer patients using large-scale studies.

Methods: Records of 2622 metastatic breast cancer patients who underwent autopsy (1974-2010) were retrieved from the nationwide Dutch pathology databank (PALGA).

Long-term consequences of juvenile vulvar lichen sclerosus: A cohort study of adults with a histologically confirmed diagnosis in childhood or adolescence.

Introduction: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) occurs in at least one in 900 girls. There is limited knowledge as to what extent the disease persists in adulthood and what the repercussions in adulthood may be. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term consequences of VLS diagnosed in childhood or adolescence.

The value of case reports in rare oncological scenarios: mixed method analysis of colorectal metastases from breast cancer.

With improved survival of cancer patients, we increasingly encounter infrequent metastatic locations. While for the common metastatic locations both prognostic information as well as evidence-based guidelines are available, for rare locations we have to rely on anecdotal case reports, the value of which is currently unknown. Therefore, we performed a systemic literature review and compare the results with a large national real-life cohort focussed on breast cancer patients with colorectal metastases.

Nationwide differences in cytology fixation and processing methods and their impact on interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity.

Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) immunostaining, which aids clinicians in decision-making on immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, is sometimes performed on cytological specimens. In this study, differences in cytology fixation and cell block (CB) processing between pathology laboratories were assessed, and the influence of these differences on interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity was investigated. Questionnaires on cytology processing were sent to all Dutch laboratories.

Development and Validation of an Algorithm to Identify Patients with Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Pathology Reports.

To facilitate nationwide epidemiological research on advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), that is, locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic cSCC, we sought to develop and validate a rule-based algorithm that identifies advanced cSCC from pathology reports. The algorithm was based on both hierarchical histopathological codes and free text from pathology reports recorded in the National Pathology Registry. Medical files from the Erasmus Medical Center of 186 patients with stage III/IV/recurrent cSCC and 184 patients with stage I/II cSCC were selected and served as the gold standard to assess the performance of the algorithm.

Nationwide implementation of a multifaceted tailored strategy to improve uptake of standardized structured reporting in pathology: an effect and process evaluation.

Background: Implementation strategies are aimed at improving guideline adherence. Both effect and process evaluations are conducted to provide insights into the success or failure of these strategies. In our study, we evaluate the nationwide implementation of standardized structured reporting (SSR) in pathology.

Mutation-tailored treatment selection in non-small cell lung cancer patients in daily clinical practice.

Objectives: The number of targeted drugs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is ever-expanding and requires testing of an increasing number of predictive biomarkers. We present a comprehensive real-world evaluation of molecular testing and treatment selection in stage IV NSCLC patients in the Netherlands from 2017 to 2019.

Materials And Methods: Molecular pathology reports of NSCLC patients were collected from the Dutch Pathology Registry in time intervals between Oct-2017 and April-2019 (N = 5,038 patients) to study diagnostic yield.

Evidence-Based Selection, Development, and Testing of a Tailored Strategy to Improve Standardized Structured Reporting in Pathology: A Multicenter Study.

Context.—: Standardized structured reporting (SSR) among pathologists results in more complete diagnoses and, subsequently, improved treatment decisions and patient outcomes. Therefore, SSR templates' usage is advocated in oncology guidelines.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on diagnostic pathology in the Netherlands.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has a huge impact on healthcare provided. The nationwide pathology registry of the Netherlands, PALGA, offers an outstanding opportunity to measure this impact for diseases in which pathology examinations are involved.

Methods: Pathology specimen numbers in 2020 were compared with specimen numbers in 2019 for 5 periods of 4 weeks, representing two lockdowns and the periods in between, taking into account localization, procedure and benign versus malignant diagnosis.

Molecular pathways in post-colonoscopy versus detected colorectal cancers: results from a nested case-control study.

Background: Post-colonoscopy colorectal cancers (PCCRCs) pose challenges in clinical practice. PCCRCs occur due to a combination of procedural and biological causes. In a nested case-control study, we compared clinical and molecular features of PCCRCs and detected CRCs (DCRCs).

Nationwide evaluation of mutation-tailored anti-EGFR therapy selection in patients with colorectal cancer in daily clinical practice.

For a nationwide real-word data study on the application of predictive mutation testing of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy stratification, pathology data were collected from the Dutch Pathology Registry from October 2017 until June 2019 (N=4060) and linked with the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Mutation testing rates increased from 24% at diagnosis of stage IV disease to 60% after 20-23 months of follow-up (p<0.001).

Improving Interdisciplinary Communication: Barriers and Facilitators for Implementation of Standardized Structured Reporting in Oncology.

Background: Standardized structured reporting (SSR) improves quality of diagnostic cancer reporting and interdisciplinary communication in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, resulting in more adequate treatment decisions and better health outcomes. However, use of SSR varies widely among pathologists, but might be encouraged by MDT members (MDTMs). Our objectives were to identify barriers and facilitators (influencing factors) for SSR implementation in oncologic pathology from the perspective of MDTMs and their determinants.

Considerable interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity in a nationwide cohort of non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Objectives: Immunohistochemical expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is used as a predictive biomarker for prescription of immunotherapy to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Accurate assessment of PD-L1 expression is therefore crucial. In this study, the extent of interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity in the Netherlands was assessed, using real-world clinical pathology data.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth: A Dutch population-based cohort study with 45,259 pregnancy outcomes.

Background: Excisional procedures of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) may increase the risk of preterm birth. It is unknown whether this increased risk is due to the excision procedure itself, to the underlying CIN, or to secondary risk factors that are associated with both preterm birth and CIN. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of spontaneous preterm birth in women with treated and untreated CIN and examine possible associations by making a distinction between the excised volume of cervical tissue and having cervical disease.

Umbilical metastases: Real-world data shows abysmal outcome.

Umbilical metastases form a clinical challenge, especially when they represent the first sign of malignant disease and the primary tumor is unknown. Our study aims to generate insight into the origin and timing of umbilical metastasis, as well as patient survival, using population-based data. A nationwide review of pathology records of patients diagnosed with an umbilical metastasis between 1979 and 2015 was performed.

Nationwide evaluation of mutation-tailored treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in daily clinical practice.

Background: Molecular analysis of KIT and PDGFRA is critical for tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment selection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and hence recommended by international guidelines. We performed a nationwide study into the application of predictive mutation testing in GIST patients and its impact on targeted treatment decisions in clinical practice.

Methods: Real-world clinical and pathology information was obtained from GIST patients with initial diagnosis in 2017-2018 through database linkage between the Netherlands Cancer Registry and the nationwide Dutch Pathology Registry.

IBD-Associated Dysplastic Lesions Show More Chromosomal Instability Than Sporadic Adenomas.

Background: Patients with longstanding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; ie, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Due to ongoing inflammation, IBD-associated dysplastic lesions can develop. These lesions have an increased risk to progress to cancer compared with sporadic adenomas, which are also found in these patients.

Synoptic reporting increases quality of upper gastrointestinal cancer pathology reports.

Introduction: Traditionally, surgical pathology reports are narrative. These report types are prone to error and missing data; therefore, structured standardized reporting was introduced. However, the effect of synoptic reporting on the completeness of esophageal and gastric carcinoma pathology reports is not yet established.