Occurrence and survival of synchronous pulmonary metastases in colorectal cancer: a nationwide cohort study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Occurrence and survival of synchronous pulmonary metastases in colorectal cancer

T2 - a nationwide cohort study

AU - Nordholm-Carstensen, Andreas

AU - Krarup, Peter-Martin

AU - Jorgensen, Lars N

AU - Wille-Jørgensen, Peer A

AU - Harling, Henrik

AU - Danish Colorectal Cancer Group

N1 - Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - Objective To investigate the occurrence of synchronous colorectal cancer metastases (SCCM) confined to the lungs, risk factors for these metastases and their impact on survival. Methods In a nationwide cohort study of 26,200 patients data were prospectively entered into the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group's (DCCG's) database between May 2001 and December 2011. The recorded data were merged with data from the Danish Pathology Registry and the National Patient Registry. Multivariable logistic- and extended Cox regression analyses were used to adjust for confounding variables. Results In total, 1970 patients (7.5%) had pulmonary SCCM of whom 736 (37%) had metastases exclusively in the lungs. Advanced age, recent years of diagnosis and a rectal index cancer were significantly associated with pulmonary SCCM. Adjustment for excess use of thoracic CT scans in rectal cancer patients did not alter this association (adjusted OR = 1.81 (95% CI: 1.46-2.25, P < 0.001)). Patients subjected to pulmonary metastasectomy, resection of primary tumour and chemotherapy had a superior overall survival compared with non-treated patients, especially when these therapeutic modalities were combined. Conclusions The occurrence of pulmonary SCCM was higher than previously reported and had a severe impact on survival. Our analyses suggest that pulmonary metastasectomy, resection of the primary tumour and chemotherapy may be a sound strategy in patients with confined pulmonary SCCM, but the risk of selection bias and consequent exaggeration of the treatment effect should be kept in mind. This study may serve as a reliable un-biased reference for future evaluation on detection strategies and potential therapeutic interventions.

AB - Objective To investigate the occurrence of synchronous colorectal cancer metastases (SCCM) confined to the lungs, risk factors for these metastases and their impact on survival. Methods In a nationwide cohort study of 26,200 patients data were prospectively entered into the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group's (DCCG's) database between May 2001 and December 2011. The recorded data were merged with data from the Danish Pathology Registry and the National Patient Registry. Multivariable logistic- and extended Cox regression analyses were used to adjust for confounding variables. Results In total, 1970 patients (7.5%) had pulmonary SCCM of whom 736 (37%) had metastases exclusively in the lungs. Advanced age, recent years of diagnosis and a rectal index cancer were significantly associated with pulmonary SCCM. Adjustment for excess use of thoracic CT scans in rectal cancer patients did not alter this association (adjusted OR = 1.81 (95% CI: 1.46-2.25, P < 0.001)). Patients subjected to pulmonary metastasectomy, resection of primary tumour and chemotherapy had a superior overall survival compared with non-treated patients, especially when these therapeutic modalities were combined. Conclusions The occurrence of pulmonary SCCM was higher than previously reported and had a severe impact on survival. Our analyses suggest that pulmonary metastasectomy, resection of the primary tumour and chemotherapy may be a sound strategy in patients with confined pulmonary SCCM, but the risk of selection bias and consequent exaggeration of the treatment effect should be kept in mind. This study may serve as a reliable un-biased reference for future evaluation on detection strategies and potential therapeutic interventions.

KW - Age Factors

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Colorectal Neoplasms

KW - Combined Modality Therapy

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Follow-Up Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Kaplan-Meier Estimate

KW - Logistic Models

KW - Lung Neoplasms

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Multivariate Analysis

KW - Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

KW - Proportional Hazards Models

KW - Registries

KW - Risk Factors

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.10.009

DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.10.009

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24215844

SN - 0959-8049

VL - 50

SP - 447

EP - 456

JO - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

JF - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

IS - 2

ER -