Validation of a clinicopathological and gene expression profile model for sentinel lymph node metastasis in primary cutaneous melanoma.

Background: The Clinicopathological and Gene Expression Profile (CP-GEP) model was developed to accurately identify patients with T1-T3 primary cutaneous melanoma at low risk for nodal metastasis.

Objectives: To validate the CP-GEP model in an independent Dutch cohort of patients with melanoma.

Methods: Patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with primary cutaneous melanoma who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) between 2007 and 2017 at the Erasmus Medical Centre Cancer Institute were eligible.

Secondary analyses of the randomized phase III Stop&Go study: efficacy of second-line intermittent versus continuous chemotherapy in HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.

Previously, we showed that reintroduction of the same (first-line) chemotherapy at progression could only partially make up for the loss in efficacy as compared to continuously delivered first-line chemotherapy. Here, we report the probability of starting second-line study chemotherapy in the Stop&Go trial, and the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients who received both the first- and second-line treatment in an intermittent versus continuous schedule. First-line chemotherapy comprised paclitaxel plus bevacizumab, second-line capecitabine or non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, given per treatment line as two times four cycles (intermittent) or as eight consecutive cycles (continuous).

The influence on quality of life of intermittent scheduling in first- and second-line chemotherapy of patients with HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.

Background: The Stop&Go study randomized patients with advanced breast cancer to intermittent (two times four) or continuous (eight subsequent cycles) first- and second-line chemotherapy.

Methods: QoL was measured with RAND-36 questionnaires every 12 weeks. The primary objective was to estimate differences in changes from baseline between intermittent and continuous treatment.

Are illness perceptions, beliefs about medicines and Type D personality associated with medication adherence among thyroid cancer survivors? A study from the population-based PROFILES registry.

To examine self-reported medication adherence and its association with illness perceptions, beliefs about medication and personality among thyroid cancer survivors. Individuals diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 1990 and 2008, as registered in the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received our survey; 86% ( = 306) responded. Many patients reported that they never forgot taking their medicines ( = 168; 56%), never altered the dose ( = 258; 88%), never stopped taking them ( = 291; 99%), never decided to miss a dose ( = 284; 97%) and never took less than instructed ( = 286; 97%).

Sinonasal cancer in The Netherlands: Follow-up of a population-based study 1989-2014 and incidence of occupation-related adenocarcinoma.

Background: Long-term trends of sinonasal cancer in The Netherlands have been investigated with particular attention on adenocarcinoma for which wood or leather dust is a well-known risk factor.

Methods: All 4345 patients (1989-2014) registered in the Netherlands Cancer Registry were included. Standardized 3-year moving incidence rates per 1 000 000/person-years, and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were calculated.

Intermittent versus continuous first-line treatment for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: the Stop & Go study of the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group (BOOG).

Purpose: We determined if intermittent first-line treatment with paclitaxel plus bevacizumab was not inferior to continuous treatment in patients with HER2-negative, advanced breast cancer.

Methods: Patients were randomized to 2 × 4 cycles or continuous 8 cycles of paclitaxel plus bevacizumab, followed by bevacizumab maintenance treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was overall progression-free survival (PFS).

A novel patient decision aid for aftercare in breast cancer patients: A promising tool to reduce costs by individualizing aftercare.

Objective: A patient decision aid (PtDA), was developed to support breast cancer patients making choices about their aftercare. The aim of this pilot was to test the effects of the PtDA on Shared Decision Making (SDM), Decision Evaluation (DES) in patients, consultation time, choice of aftercare and hospital costs.

Methods: A prospective before-and-after study including a control (no PtDA-usage) and experimental group (PtDA-usage during consultation) was conducted in six hospitals.

Current decisions on neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer: Experts' experiences in the Netherlands.

Purpose: To evaluate the opinion of surgical and medical oncologists on neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for early breast cancer.

Methods: Surgical and medical oncologists (N = 292) participating in breast cancer care in the Netherlands were invited for a 20-question survey on the influence of patient, disease, and management related factors on their decisions towards NAC.

Results: A total of 138 surgical and medical oncologists from 64 out of 89 different Dutch hospitals completed the survey.

Recruitment to and pilot results of the PACES randomized trial of physical exercise during adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer.

Purpose: We report the recruitment rate, reasons for and factors influencing non-participation, and descriptive results of a randomized controlled trial of two different exercise programs for patients with colon cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: Participants were randomized to a low-intensity, home-based program (Onco-Move), a moderate- to high-intensity, combined supervised resistance and aerobic exercise program (OnTrack), or Usual Care. Non-participants provided reasons for non-participation and were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing behavioral and attitudinal variables.

Variation in use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III breast cancer: Results of the Dutch national breast cancer audit.

Objectives: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is important in the optimal treatment of patients with locally advanced (stage III) breast cancer (BC). The objective of this study was to examine the clinical practice of NAC for stage III BC patients in all Dutch hospitals participating in BC care.

Materials And Methods: All patients aged 18-70 years who received surgery for stage III BC from January 2011 to September 2015 were selected from the national multidisciplinary NABON Breast Cancer Audit.

Improved survival for sequentially as opposed to concurrently delivered neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: The INTENS study was designed to determine whether delivering neoadjuvant chemotherapy at a higher dose in a shorter period of time improves outcome of breast cancer patients.

Methods: Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer were randomly assigned to neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of four cycles of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by four cycles of docetaxel (AC 60/600-T 100 mg/m) or six cycles of TAC as triplet chemotherapy (75/50/500 mg/m) every 3 weeks. The primary outcome was the pathologic complete response (pCR), with disease-free and overall survival as secondary endpoints.

Is Type D personality a risk factor for all-cause mortality? A prospective population-based study among 2625 colorectal cancer survivors from the PROFILES registry.

Unlabelled: Objective Our goal was to examine whether Type D personality and its components, negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), were associated with all-cause mortality among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods: CRC patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009, as registered in the Dutch population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received a questionnaire on Type D (DS14) on average 5.3years after diagnosis.

Improved Outcome of High-Grade, Early 1-Stage Endometrioid Endometrial Carcinoma With Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy: Comparison of 2 Treatment Strategies.

Objective: Patients with high-grade endometrioid endometrial carcinoma have a high risk of recurrence, even in early stage. To determine the benefit of a more aggressive adjuvant treatment approach, different treatment strategies of 2 referral centers were compared.

Materials And Methods: Outcome of all patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics IB and II high-grade endometrioid endometrial carcinoma treated between 2008 and 2012, at the Gynecological Oncology Center South (GOCS) were compared with patients treated at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA).

Data quality in rare cancers registration: the report of the RARECARE data quality study.

Purpose: Rare cancers represent 22% of all tumors in Europe; however, the quality of the data of rare cancers may not be as good as the quality of data for common cancer. The project surveillance of rare cancers in Europe (RARECARE) had, among others, the objective of assessing rare cancer data quality in population-based cancer registries (CRs). Eight rare cancers were considered: mesothelioma, liver angiosarcoma, sarcomas, tumors of oral cavity, CNS tumors, germ cell tumors, leukemia, and malignant digestive endocrine tumors.

Personality, health behaviors, and quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors: Results from the PROFILES registry.

Purpose: There is a paucity of research looking into the relationship between personality and health behaviors among cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Type D personality and its two constituent components, negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), are associated with health behaviors, quality of life (QoL), and mental distress among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods: A population-based study was conducted among 2,620 CRC patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009, who completed measures of personality (DS14), health behaviors, QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30), and mental distress (hospital anxiety and depression scale).

Common variables in European pancreatic cancer registries: The introduction of the EURECCA pancreatic cancer project.

Background: Quality assurance of cancer care is of utmost importance to detect and avoid under and over treatment. Most cancer data are collected by different procedures in different countries, and are poorly comparable at an international level. EURECCA, acronym for European Registration of Cancer Care, is a platform aiming to harmonize cancer data collection and improve cancer care by feedback.

Psychological impact of lymphoma on adolescents and young adults: not a matter of black or white.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine differences in perceived impact of cancer (IOC) between adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 18-35 years at cancer diagnosis), adults (36-64 years) and elderly (65-84 years) with a history of (non-)Hodgkin lymphoma. Furthermore, to investigate the association of socio-demographic, clinical and psychological characteristics with IOC; and the association between IOC and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among AYAs only.

Methods: This study is part of a population-based PROFILES registry survey among lymphoma patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2009.

Migrant breast cancer patients and their participation in genetic counseling: results from a registry-based study.

Certain ethnic groups seem to have less access to cancer genetic counseling. Our study was to investigate the participation in cancer genetic counseling among migrant breast cancer patients of Turkish and Moroccan origin. Hospital medical records of Turkish and Moroccan and of a comparative group of non-Turkish/Moroccan newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were studied.

Hospice care in the Netherlands: who applies and who is admitted to inpatient care?

Background: Ten percent of non-sudden deaths in the Netherlands occur in inpatient hospice facilities. To investigate differences between patients who are admitted to inpatient hospice care or not following application, how diagnoses compare to the national population, characteristics of application, and associations with being admitted to inpatient hospice care or not.

Methods: Data from a database representing over 25% of inpatient hospice facilities in the Netherlands were analysed.

Evaluating the impact of accreditation and external peer review.

Purpose: Accreditation and external peer review play important roles in assessing and improving healthcare quality worldwide. Evidence on the impact on the quality of care remains indecisive because of programme features and methodological research challenges. The purpose of this paper is to create a general methodological research framework to design future studies in this field.