Managing low-grade cervical lesions.
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Algorithms↗
Biomedical subjects
Peter Bryson
Publications and source records attributed to Peter Bryson.
An evidence-based estimate of the appropriate rate of utilization of radiotherapy for cancer of the cervix.
PURPOSE: Current estimates of the proportion of cancer patients who will require radiotherapy (RT) are based almost entirely on expert opinion. The objective of this study was to calculate the proportion of incident cases of cervical cancer that should receive RT by application of an evidence-based approach. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A systematic review of the literature was done to identify indications for RT for cervical cancer and to ascertain the level of evidence that supported each indication. A survey of Canadian gynecologic oncologists and radiation oncologists who treat cervical cancer was done to determine the level of acceptance of each indication among doctors who practice in the field. An epidemiologic approach was then used to estimate the incidence of each indication for RT in a typical North American population of patients with cervical cancer. RESULTS: The systematic review of the literature identified 29 different indications for RT for cervical cancer. The majority of the 75 experts who responded to the mail survey stated that they "usually" or "always" recommended RT in all but one of the clinical situations that were identified as indications for RT on the basis of the systematic review. The analysis of epidemiologic data revealed that, in a typical North American population, 65.4% +/- 2.5% of cervical cancer cases will develop one or more indications for RT at some point in the course of the illness, 63.4% +/- 2.3% will develop indications for RT as part of their initial management, and 2.0% +/- 0.9% will develop indications for RT for progressive or recurrent disease. The effects of variations in case mix on the need for RT was examined by sensitivity analysis, which suggested that the maximum plausible range for the appropriate rate of utilization of RT was 54.3% to 67.9%. The proportion of cases that required RT was stage dependent: 10.6% +/- 1.2% in Stage IA, 74.9% +/- 1.3% in Stage IB, 100% in Stages II and III, and 97.2% +/- 1.1% in Stage IV. CONCLUSIONS: This evidence-based estimate of the appropriate rate of use of RT for cervical cancer adds to the growing pool of knowledge about the need for RT that will ultimately provide a rational basis for long-term planning for RT programs and for auditing access to RT in the general population.
Canada↗
A comparison of endometrial cancer outcomes in Ontario.
OBJECTIVE: To compare endometrial cancer treatment strategies and outcomes across the province of Ontario, Canada. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 195 women diagnosed with endometrial cancer in Ontario between 1996 and 1998, as a sample of the population. The women's charts were randomly selected by the medical records departments at 5 tertiary care centres in Ontario. The outcomes measured included 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), use of adjuvant radiotherapy, treatment complications, and prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: The 2 main treatment strategies were (1) total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH BSO) and (2) surgical staging (defined as TAH BSO and pelvic lymph node dissection with or without cytology, peritoneal biopsies, and omentectomy). Surgical staging rates across the province ranged from 0% to 88%. Stratified survival analysis revealed a significant difference in OS among centres (log rank P =.039). Crude survival analysis revealed no difference in 5-year OS or DFS between the 2 treatment strategies. The Cox proportional hazards model identified advanced stage of tumour as being the most predictive factor of DFS, and the woman's age at diagnosis and tumour grade as predictive of OS. DISCUSSION: There was a significant difference in 5-year OS among the 5 tertiary care centres. There was no significant difference between surgical staging and TAH BSO with respect to 5-year DFS or OS. CONCLUSION: As there were significant differences in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma and OS across the province, a population-based study of endometrial cancer treatment strategies and outcomes is required.
Cohort Studies↗
Screening postmenopausal women for ovarian cancer: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVES: To assess ovarian cancer screening in asymptomatic, general-risk postmenopausal women. Outcomes of interest were the screening tests assessed (predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity), the stage of screen-detected disease at diagnosis, psychological effects of screening, and survival. METHODS: MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to June 2003 using the terms "ovarian," "cancer," "neoplasms," "screening," "clinical trial," "meta-analysis," and "systematic review." Studies were included if they were clinical trials, meta-analyses, or systematic reviews that evaluated tests used to detect ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women in the general population. Studies investigating women at increased risk for ovarian cancer (e.g., family history) and those with symptoms suggestive of ovarian cancer were excluded. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Seventeen prospective cohort studies and 3 pilot randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Screening tests for cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and ultrasound had low positive predictive values, resulting in healthy women being recalled and a false-positive rate of 0.01% to 5.8%. Of every 10,000 women participating in an annual screening program with CA125 for 3 years, 800 will have an ultrasound scan because of an elevated CA125, 30 will undergo surgery because of an abnormal ultrasound, and 6 will have ovarian cancer detected at surgery (3 will be diagnosed at early-stage disease and have a chance of a cure). CONCLUSION: There is insufficient evidence to support the introduction of screening for ovarian cancer in the asymptomatic general-risk postmenopausal population. Screening is associated with increased rates of surgery and patient anxiety.
Adult↗
Systematic review of first-line chemotherapy for newly diagnosed postoperative patients with stage II, III, or IV epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the optimal postoperative chemotherapy regimen for women with newly diagnosed stage II, III (micro or macro), or IV epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted to find randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses published between 1980 and April 2001. RESULTS: A published meta-analysis found that, compared with non-platinum-based regimens, platinum, alone or in combination with other agents, improved survival when used as first-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. The meta-analysis did not detect a difference in efficacy between cisplatin and carboplatin. A published randomized trial of cisplatin plus paclitaxel versus carboplatin plus paclitaxel did not detect a significant difference in survival between these regimens. In two randomized trials, treatment with paclitaxel plus cisplatin resulted in improved survival compared with cyclophosphamide plus cisplatin. A randomized trial of paclitaxel plus cisplatin versus paclitaxel alone versus cisplatin alone detected no differences in survival among the three treatment groups. While hematologic adverse effects were more frequent with carboplatin than with cisplatin, nonhematologic adverse effects were less frequent with carboplatin. The addition of paclitaxel to cisplatin did not appear to increase the incidence of serious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous carboplatin plus paclitaxel is the recommended postoperative chemotherapy regimen for newly diagnosed stage II-IV epithelial ovarian cancer. Intravenous cisplatin plus paclitaxel may also be considered a treatment option. Intravenous carboplatin as a single agent may be considered a treatment option in patients for whom paclitaxel is contraindicated or in patients who are unwilling to accept the adverse effects of paclitaxel chemotherapy.
Antineoplastic Agents↗