MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Secular trends in colon and rectal cancer relative survival

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2013

ISSN: 1460-2105; 0027-8874

DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djt299 [doi]

PMCID: PMC3848985

PMID: 24174654

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Treatment options for colorectal cancer (CRC) have improved substantially over the past 25 years. Measuring the impact of these improvements on survival outcomes is challenging, however, against the background of overall survival gains from advancements in the prevention, screening, and treatment of other conditions. Relative survival is a metric that accounts for these concurrent changes, allowing assessment of changes in CRC survival. We describe stage- and location-specific trends in relative survival after CRC diagnosis. METHODS: We analyzed survival outcomes for 233965 people in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program who were diagnosed with CRC between January 1, 1975, and December 31, 2003. All models were adjusted for sex, race (black vs white), age at diagnosis, time since diagnosis, and diagnosis year. We estimated the proportional difference in survival for CRC patients compared with overall survival for age-, sex-, race-, and period-matched controls to account for concurrent changes in overall survival using two-sided Wald tests. RESULTS: We found statistically significant reductions in excess hazard of mortality from CRC in 2003 relative to 1975, with excess hazard ratios ranging from 0.75 (stage IV colon cancer; P < .001) to 0.32 (stage I rectal cancer; P < .001), indicating improvements in relative survival for all stages and cancer locations. These improvements occurred in earlier years for patients diagnosed with stage I cancers, with smaller but continuing improvements for later-stage cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a steady trend toward improved relative survival for CRC, indicating that treatment and surveillance improvements have had an impact at the population level.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Rutter, Carolyn M.; Johnson, EA; Feuer, Eric J; Knudsen, Amy B; Kuntz, Karen M; Schrag, Deborah

Periodical (Full): Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Issue: 23

Volume: 105

Pages: 1806-3618

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop