Background: The potential benefit of surgery of the primary tumour in patients with asymptomatic metastatic colorectal cancer is debated. This EURECCA international comparison analyses treatment... Show moreBackground: The potential benefit of surgery of the primary tumour in patients with asymptomatic metastatic colorectal cancer is debated. This EURECCA international comparison analyses treatment strategies and overall survival in the Netherlands and Norway in patients with incurable metastatic colorectal cancer.Methods: National cohorts (2007-2013) from the Netherlands and Norway including all patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer were compared on treatment strategy and overall survival. Using country as an instrumental variable, we assessed the effect of different treatment strategies on mortality in the first year.Results: Of 21,196 patients (16,144 Dutch and 5052 Norwegian), 38.6% Dutch and 51.5% (p < 0.001) Norwegian patients underwent resection of the primary tumour. In the Netherlands, 58.2% received chemotherapy compared with 21.4% in Norway. Radiotherapy was given in 9.5% of Dutch patients and 7.2% of Norwegian patients. Using the Netherlands as reference, the adjusted HR for overall survival was 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-0.99; p = 0.024). Instrumental variable analysis showed an adjusted OR of 1.00 (95% CI 0.99-1.02; p = 0.741).Conclusions: Treatment strategies varied significantly between the Netherlands and Norway, with more surgery and less radiotherapy in Norway. Adjusted overall survival was better in Norway for all patients and patients <75 years, but not for patients >= 75 years. Instrumental variable analysis showed no benefit in one-year mortality for a treatment strategy with a higher proportion of surgery and a lower proportion of radiotherapy. Our findings emphasise the need for further research to select patients with incurable metastatic colorectal cancer for different treatment options. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd, BASO similar to The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved. Show less
Introduction: Various options for axillary staging after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) are available for breast cancer patients with a clinically positive axillary node (cN+). This survey... Show moreIntroduction: Various options for axillary staging after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) are available for breast cancer patients with a clinically positive axillary node (cN+). This survey assessed current practices amongst breast cancer specialists.Materials and methods: A survey was performed amongst members of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and two UK-based Associations: the Association of Breast Surgery and the British Association of Surgical Oncology. The survey included 3 parts: 1. general information, 2, diagnostic work-up and 3. axillary staging after NST.Results: A total of 310 responses were collected: parts 1, 2 and 3 were fully completed by 282 (91%), 270 (87.1%) and 225 (72.6%) respondents respectively. After NST, 153/267 (57.3%) respondents currently perform ALND routinely and 114 (42.7%) respondents perform less invasive restaging of the axilla with possible omission of ALND. In the latter group, 85% does and 15% does not use nodal response seen on imaging to guide the axillary restaging procedure. Regarding respondents that do use imaging: 95% would perform a less invasive staging procedure in case of complete nodal response on imaging (63% sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), excision of a previously marked positive node with SLNB (21%) and without SLNB (11%)). In case of no nodal response on imaging 77% would perform ALND.Conclusion: Current axillary staging and management practices in cN + patients after NST vary widely. To determine optimal axillary staging and management in terms of quality of life and oncologic safety, breast specialists are encouraged to include patients in clinical trials prospective registries. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd, BASO - The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved. Show less
Conclusions: Lower plasma glutamine and arginine concentrations were measured in the enteral group, whereas a better clinical outcome was observed. We conclude that plasma amino acids do not... Show moreConclusions: Lower plasma glutamine and arginine concentrations were measured in the enteral group, whereas a better clinical outcome was observed. We conclude that plasma amino acids do not provide a causal explanation for the observed beneficial effects of early enteral feeding after major rectal surgery. Show less
Bastiaannet, E.; Charman, J.; Johannesen, T.B.; Schrodi, S.; Siesling, S.; Eycken, L. van; ... ; Velde, C.J.H. van de 2016