Sebaceous carcinoma epidemiology, associated malignancies and Lynch/Muir-Torre syndrome screening in England from 2008 to 2018.

Background: Sebaceous carcinomas (SC) may be associated with the cancer predisposition syndrome Muir-Torre/Lynch syndrome (MTS/LS), identifiable by SC mismatch repair (MMR) screening; however, there is limited data on MMR status of SC.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of SC, copresentation of other cancers, and population level frequency of MMR screening in SC.

Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study of SC patients in the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service in England.

A Systematic Review and Multilevel Regression Analysis Reveals the Comorbidity Prevalence in Cancer.

Unlabelled: Comorbidities can have major implications for cancer care, as they might impact the timing of cancer diagnosis, compromise optimal care, affect treatment outcomes, and increase healthcare costs. Thus, it is important to comprehensively evaluate cancer comorbidities and examine trends over time. Here, we performed a systematic literature review on the prevalence and types of comorbidities for the five most common forms of cancer.

Long-term Survival Update and Extended RAS Mutational Analysis of the CAIRO2 Trial: Addition of Cetuximab to CAPOX/Bevacizumab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Here we present updated survival of the CAIRO2 trial and assessed whether the addition of anti-EGFR to anti-VEGF therapy could still be an effective treatment option for patients with extended RAS/BRAF wildtype and left-sided metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective updated survival and extended RAS and BRAF V600E mutational analysis were performed in the CAIRO2 trial, a multicenter, randomized phase III trial on the effect of adding cetuximab to a combination of capecitabine, oxaliplatin (CAPOX), and bevacizumab in mCRC.

Results: Updated survival analysis confirmed that the addition of cetuximab did not provide a benefit on either progression free (PFS) or overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat population.

Cancer treatments touch a wide range of values that count for patients and other stakeholders: What are the implications for decision-making?

Background: Cancer rates and expenditures are increasing, resulting in debates on the exact value of this care. Perspectives on what exactly constitutes worthwhile values differ. This study aims to explore all values-elements regarding new oncological treatments for patients with cancer and all stakeholders involved and to assess their implications in different decision-making procedures.

Time Trends in Treatment Strategies and Survival of Older versus Younger Patients with Synchronous Metastasised Melanoma-A Population-Based Study in the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

Around 45% of patients with melanoma are older than 65 years. In recent years, immunotherapy has proven very effective for metastasised melanoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the time trends in treatment strategies and survival in older versus younger patients with synchronous metastasised melanoma.

Serum-based measurements of stromal activation through ADAM12 associate with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Background: Recently it has been recognized that stromal markers could be used as a clinically relevant biomarker for therapy response and prognosis. Here, we report on a serum marker for stromal activation, A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 12 (ADAM12) in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Using gene expression databases we investigated ADAM12 expression in CRC and delineated the source of ADAM12 expression.

Postoperative circulating tumour DNA is associated with pathologic response and recurrence-free survival after resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Background: Recurrence rates after resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) are high and correlate with worse survival. Postoperative circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is a promising prognostic biomarker. Focusing on patients with resected CRLM, this study aimed to evaluate the association between the detection of postoperative ctDNA, pathologic response and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

Short-Term Outcomes of Secondary Liver Surgery for Initially Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases Following Modern Induction Systemic Therapy in the Dutch CAIRO5 Trial.

Objective: To present short-term outcomes of liver surgery in patients with initially unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) downsized by chemotherapy plus targeted agents.

Background: The increase of complex hepatic resections of CRLM, technical innovations pushing boundaries of respectability, and use of intensified induction systemic regimens warrant for safety data in a homogeneous multicenter prospective cohort.

Methods: Patients with initially unresectable CRLM, who underwent complete resection after induction systemic regimens with doublet or triplet chemotherapy, both plus targeted therapy, were selected from the ongoing phase III CAIRO5 study (NCT02162563).

Association between antihypertensive medications and risk of skin cancer in people older than 65 years: a population-based study.

Background: The risk of skin cancer associated with antihypertensive medication use is unclear, although thiazides have been implicated in regulatory safety warnings. We aimed to assess whether use of thiazides and other antihypertensives is associated with increased rates of keratinocyte carcinoma and melanoma.

Methods: We conducted a population-based inception cohort study using linked administrative health data from Ontario, 1998-2017.

Assessment of Studies Evaluating Incremental Costs, Effectiveness, or Cost-Effectiveness of Systemic Therapies in Breast Cancer Based on Claims Data: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Large secondary databases, such as those containing insurance claims data, are increasingly being used to compare the effects and costs of treatments in routine clinical practice. Despite their appeal, however, caution must be exercised when using these data. In this study, we aimed to identify and assess the methodological quality of studies that used claims data to compare the effectiveness, costs, or cost-effectiveness of systemic therapies for breast cancer.

Research Techniques Made Simple: Sample Size Estimation and Power Calculation.

Sample size and power calculations help determine if a study is feasible based on a priori assumptions about the study results and available resources. Trade-offs must be made between the probability of observing the true effect and the probability of type I errors (α, false positive) and type II errors (β, false negative). Calculations require specification of the null hypothesis, the alternative hypothesis, type of outcome measure and statistical test, α level, β, effect size, and variability (if applicable).

Incidence and relative survival of melanoma in children and adolescents in the Netherlands, 1989-2013.

Background: Melanoma is rare in the first two decades of life. Trends in incidence differ across countries.

Objective: To describe incidence and relative survival of children and adolescents with melanoma in the Netherlands for children (0 through 11 years) and adolescents (12 through 19 years) separately.

Report from the first European Dermato-Epidemiology Network forum.

The first European Dermato-Epidemiology Network (EDEN) forum was held on 30-31 March 2017 in Madrid, Spain. Dermatoepidemiology describes the study of causes, prevention, health services research and evaluation of interventions of skin diseases. EDEN aims to promote high-quality research, share expertise and facilitate collaboration.

More Than Many: How to Manage the Most Frequent Cancer?

Leiter et al. report on the increasing incidence of keratinocyte cancers in Germany. The true population burden is even larger then reported, because many of these new patients will develop multiple keratinocyte cancers.

Incidence of capecitabine-related cardiotoxicity in different treatment schedules of metastatic colorectal cancer: A retrospective analysis of the CAIRO studies of the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group.

Background: The frequency of capecitabine-related cardiotoxicity has been reported to be low but includes serious adverse events. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the incidence and severity of capecitabine-related cardiotoxicity in different regimens in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in three randomised phase 3 studies.

Methods: We used data of cardiac events reported in the CAIRO, CAIRO2 and CAIRO3 studies of the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group (DCCG) and analysed the incidence and severity of cardiac events in the different treatment regimens of the trials which all included the use of capecitabine.

Epidemiology of Lentigo Maligna and Lentigo Maligna Melanoma in the Netherlands, 1989-2013.

Lentigo maligna (LM) is considered a precursor to LM melanoma (LMM). We assessed trends in LM and LMM incidence rates between 1989 and 2013 in the Netherlands, and estimated the risk of an LMM after LM. Data on newly diagnosed LM and LMM were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and PALGA: Dutch Pathology Registry.

Network-Based Integration of GWAS and Gene Expression Identifies a HOX-Centric Network Associated with Serous Ovarian Cancer Risk.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have so far reported 12 loci associated with serous epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk. We hypothesized that some of these loci function through nearby transcription factor (TF) genes and that putative target genes of these TFs as identified by coexpression may also be enriched for additional EOC risk associations.

Methods: We selected TF genes within 1 Mb of the top signal at the 12 genome-wide significant risk loci.

A Pain Monitoring Program for nurses: effect on the administration of analgesics.

Both physicians and nurses are responsible for adequate pain management. The aim of this study was to assess pain management behavior of physicians and nurses, and to evaluate the effects of a Pain Monitoring Program for nurses on the extent to which nurses administer analgesics. The Pain Monitoring Program consisted of two components: educating nurses about pain, pain assessment and pain management; and implementing daily pain assessment by means of a numeric rating scale.