The aim of this study was to determine the incidence trends of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Cluj County, from 1998 to 2011, and the 5-year net survival between 2006 and 2010. Data on all cases of CM and SCC between 1998 and 2011 were obtained from Cluj Cancer Registry. Incidence rates were age standardized by the direct method Age Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR), using the world standard population. Trends and annual percentage change (APC) of incidence rates were calculated by joinpoint regression analysis. The Pohar-Perme estimator was used to examine the 5-year net survival of cases diagnosed during 2006–2010 and followed up until December 2015. A total of 580 cases of CM and 397 cases of SCC were reported. During 1998–2011, the ASIR of CM increased significantly by 7.8% APC in male patients and by 7.42% APC in female patients, and the ASIR for SCC increased by 9.40% APC in male patients. In female patients, the incidence of SCC increased by 12.65% APC during 2002–2011. The 5-year net survival during 2006–2010 was 0.64 in men and 0.75 in women for CM and 0.86 and 1.00, respectively, for SCC. Survival rates showed an improving trend during 2006–2010, and were generally lower in men. Survival from both entities decreased with age and was lower in rural areas and in advanced stages in both sexes. This study reveals a rising incidence of cutaneous cancers in concordance with international trends. These data support the important role of primary and secondary prevention of skin cancers, focusing not only on melanoma, due to its lower survival, but also on SCC, in order to reduce their burden.
Background: Treatment indication for bone metastases is influenced by patient prognosis. Single-fraction radiotherapy (SFRT) was proven equally effective as multiple fractionation regimens (MFRT) but continues to be underused. Objective: Primary objectives: (a) to identify prognostic factors for overall survival and (b) to analyze treatment patterns of palliative radiotherapy (proportion of SFRT indication and predictive factors of radiotherapy regimen) for bone metastases. Methods: 582 patients with bone metastases who underwent conventional radiotherapy between January 1st 2014–31 December 2017 were analyzed. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify predictors of overall survival. For the treatment pattern analysis, 677 radiotherapy courses were evaluated. The logistic regression model was used to identify potential predictors of radiotherapy regimen. Results: The 3-year overall survival was 15%. Prognostic factors associated with poor overall survival were multiple bone metastases [hazard ratio (HR = 5.4)], poor performance status (HR = 1.5) and brain metastases (HR = 1.37). SFRT prescription increased from 41% in 2017 to 51% in 2017. Predictors of SFRT prescription were a poor performance status [odds ratio (OR = 0.55)], lung (OR = 0.49) and urologic primaries (OR = 0.33) and the half-body lower site of irradiation (OR = 0.59). Spinal metastases were more likely to receive MFRT (OR = 2.09). Conclusions: Based on the prognostic factors we identified, a selection protocol for patients candidates for palliative radiotherapy to bone metastases could be established, in order to further increase SFRT prescription in our institution.
(1) Background: Romania has one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates in Europe. In Cluj County, the first screening program was initiated in 1998. We aimed to investigate the time trends of cervical cancer incidence in women from Cluj County and to evaluate the data quality at the Cancer Registry. (2) Methods: We calculated time trends of standardized incidence rates in the period 1998–2014 and the Annual Percent Change (APC%). To assess data quality, we used the indicators: mortality/incidence ratio (M/I), percentage of cases declared only at death (DOD%), and percentage of cases with pathological confirmation (PC%). (3) Results: The standardized incidence rate increased steadily, from 23.74 cases/100,000 in 1998, to 32/100,000 in 2014, with an APC% of 2.49% (p < 0.05). The rise in incidence affected both squamous cell carcinoma (APC% 2.49%) (p < 0.05) and cervical adenocarcinoma (APC% 10.54%) (p < 0.05). The M/I ratio was 0.29, DOD% 2.66%, and MC% 94.8%. The last two parameters are within the silver standard concerning data quality. (4) Conclusions. Our study revealed an ascending trend of cervical cancer incidence, more consistent for adenocarcinoma, in the context of a newly introduced screening program and partially due to the improvement of the quality of case reporting at the Cancer Registry from Cluj.