KRAS mutations may predict poor response to radiotherapy. Downstream events from KRAS, such as activation of BRAF, AKT and ERK, may also confer prognostic information but have not been tested in rectal cancer (RC). Our objective was to explore the relationships of KRAS and BRAF mutation status with p-AKT and p-ERK and outcomes in RC.

PURPOSE: Based on the International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy analysis, 3 months of adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) is an option for stage III colorectal cancer (colorectal cancer [CRC]), with cost and toxicity benefits. We examined the patterns of uptake of CAPOX versus fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and chemotherapy duration in a contemporary real-world cohort of patients in Canada. METHODS: The provincial pharmacy database was used to identify patients with resected stage III CRC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy between January 2021 and December 2022. Demographic, tumor, and treatment information was collected and compared. RESULTS: Of 452 patients, 234 (52%) and 218 (48%) were planned to receive 3 and 6 months of chemotherapy, respectively. Within the 3-month group, 226 (97%) received CAPOX. Within the 6-month group, there was a 51%-49% split between CAPOX and FOLFOX. Age >70 years ( P = .039), well/moderately differentiated ( P = .005), and low-risk disease ( P < .0001) were significantly associated with 3 months. Performance status, ileostomy, or preexisting neuropathy did not affect treatment choice. Of patients planned for 6 months, 29% had low-risk disease, with 52% of these receiving CAPOX. Patients receiving 6 months were more likely to report neuropathy (68 v 36%, P < .0001) and to stop oxaliplatin early (54 v 31%, P < .0001). The most likely reason for early adjuvant discontinuation was neuropathy in the 6-month group and gastrointestinal toxicity in the 3-month group ( P < .0001). Irrespective of duration, mean time from consult to starting chemotherapy was longer for FOLFOX versus CAPOX (24 v 19 days, P = .007). CONCLUSION: In this contemporary cohort, 6 months chemotherapy is still being offered to patients with low-risk disease and is associated with more neuropathy. Exploration of patient preferences and resource costs may improve adoption of reduced duration adjuvant CAPOX in stage III CRC.

Background. Yttrium-90 (Y-90) can be an effective liver-directed therapy for patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), but population-based data are limited. We characterized the use of Y-90 in NET patients and identified factors associated with response. Methods. We identified 49 patients with metastatic liver-dominant NETs across BC Cancers six regional centres who received Y-90 between June 2011 and January 2017 in British Columbia, Canada. Baseline characteristics, radiographic responses, and outcomes were summarized. Results. Of the 49 patients who received Y-90, the median age was 56years (range 2178), 49% were male, and 94% had an ECOG performance status of 01. The primary location of the NET included pancreas (31%), small bowel (41%), large bowel (6%), unknown (14%), and others (12%). 69% of these patients had liver metastases alone, and tumors were graded as G1 (61%), G2 (25%), G3 (2%), and unknown (12%). Prior therapies included surgery (63%), local ablative therapy (25%), somatostatin analogue (69%), and systemic therapy (35%). The median Y-90 dose was 2.2GBq (range 0.83.6), as SIR-spheres (69%) or TheraSpheres (29%). Median time to Y-90 from diagnosis of metastases measured 1.54 years. 88% received segmental Y-90, with 1 (69%), 2 (29%), and 3 (2%) treatments. Y-90 resulted in partial response (53%), stable disease (33%), and progressive disease (12%). Y-90 was well-tolerated, with infrequent grade 3-4 biochemical toxicities (2%) and grade 3 abdominal pain (6%). Longer overall survival (OS) was associated with resection of primary tumor, well-differentiated histology, and low Ki-67. Median OS was 27.2 months (95% CI 8.046.5).Conclusions. In our population-based cohort, Y-90 was well-tolerated in patients with metastatic liver-dominant NETs. Prior surgical resection was an important predictor of OS.

The internet is an important source of health information, and yet the quality of the resources that patients’ access can vary widely. Previous research has evaluated the quality of information for several types of cancer; however, this has not yet been done for cervical cancer beyond treatment information. The goal of this project was to systematically evaluate the quality of resources for cervical cancer information available against a range of metrics, including content breadth and accuracy, readability, and accountability. An internet search was performed using the term “cervical cancer” using Google and two meta-search engines, Dogpile and Yippy. The top-100 websites returned across all three engines were evaluated using a validated structured rating tool. Only 32% of websites disclosed their author and only 38% used citations, while 64% of websites had been updated in the last two years. Readability was at university-level or higher for 19% of websites, and high-school level for 78%. Coverage was highest for etiology and risk factors (93% of websites) and prevention strategies such as pap smears and vaccines (92%); coverage was lowest for prognosis (49%), staging (52%), side effects (47%), and follow-up (25%). When a topic was covered the information was predominantly accurate, and few websites had inaccurate information. At least one social-media platform was linked to by 79% of websites. This project highlights the strengths and limitations in the quality of the top-100 informational cervical cancer websites. These findings can inform the dialogue between health care providers and patients around selecting and evaluating information resources. These findings can also inform specific improvements to make online resources for cervical cancer more accessible, comprehensive, and relevant to patients.

Background: The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) includes different therapeutic modalities and multidisciplinary tumor board reviews. The impact of geography and treatment center type (quaternary vs. non-quaternary) on access to care is unclear. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on HCC patients who received sorafenib in British Columbia from 2008 to 2016. Patients were grouped by Statistics Canada population center (PC) size criteria: large PC (LPC), medium PC (MPC), and small PC (SPC). Access to specialists, receipt of liver-directed therapies, and survival outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: Of 286 patients, the geographical distribution was: LPC: 75%; MPC: 16%; and SPC: 9%. A higher proportion of Asians (51% vs. 9% vs. 4%; p < 0.001), Child–Pugh A (94% vs. 83% vs. 80%; p = 0.022), and hepatitis B (37% vs. 15% vs. 4%; p < 0.001) was observed in LPC vs. MPC vs. SPC, respectively. LPC patients were more likely referred to a hepatologist (62% vs. 48% vs. 40%; p = 0.031) and undergo transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) (43% vs. 24% vs. 24%; p = 0.018). Sixty percent were treated at a quaternary center, and the median overall survival (OS) was higher for patients treated at a quaternary vs. non-quaternary center (28.0 vs. 14.6 months, respectively; p < 0.001) but similar when compared by PC size. Treatment at a quaternary center predicted an improved survival on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio (HR): 0.652; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.503–0.844; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Geography did not appear to impact OS but patients from LPC were more likely to be referred to hepatology and undergo TACE. Treatment at a quaternary center was associated with an improved survival.