Wide Variation in the Use of Radiotherapy in the Management of Surgically Treated Rectal Cancer Across the English National Health Service

E. J.A. Morris; P. J. Finan; K. Spencer; I. Geh; A. Crellin; P. Quirke; J. D. Thomas; S. Lawton; R. Adams; D. Sebag-Montefiore

doi:10.1016/j.clon.2016.02.002

Wide Variation in the Use of Radiotherapy in the Management of Surgically Treated Rectal Cancer Across the English National Health Service

E. J.A. Morris^*, P. J. Finan, K. Spencer, I. Geh, A. Crellin, P. Quirke, J. D. Thomas, S. Lawton, R. Adams, D. Sebag-Montefiore

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality in the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer. It is delivered both in the neoadjuvant setting and postoperatively, but, although it reduces local recurrence, it does not influence overall survival and increases the risk of long-term complications. This has led to a variety of international practice patterns. These variations can have a significant effect on commissioning, but also future clinical research. This study explores its use within the large English National Health Service (NHS). Materials and methods Information on all individuals diagnosed with a surgically treated rectal cancer between April 2009 and December 2010 were extracted from the Radiotherapy Dataset linked to the National Cancer Data Repository. Individuals were grouped into those receiving no radiotherapy, short-course radiotherapy with immediate surgery (SCRT-I), short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery (SCRT-D), long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT), other radiotherapy (ORT) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Patterns of use were then investigated. Results The study consisted of 9201 individuals; 4585 (49.3%) received some form of radiotherapy. SCRT-I was used in 12.1%, SCRT-D in 1.2%, LCCRT in 29.5%, ORT in 4.7% and PORT in 2.3%. Radiotherapy was used more commonly in men and in those receiving an abdominoperineal excision and less commonly in the elderly and those with comorbidity. Significant and substantial variations were also seen in its use across all the multidisciplinary teams managing this disease. Conclusion Despite the same evidence base, wide variation exists in both the use of and type of radiotherapy delivered in the management of rectal cancer across the English NHS. Prospective population-based collection of local recurrence and patient-reported early and late toxicity information is required to further improve patient selection for preoperative radiotherapy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	522-531
Number of pages	10
Journal	Clinical Oncology
Volume	28
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clon.2016.02.002
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This paper is a contribution from the National Cancer Intelligence Network ( www.ncin.org.uk ). E. Morris was funded by the Cancer Research UK Bobby Moore Fund ( C23434/A9805 ) and the Leeds MRC Medical Bioinformatics Centre ( MR/L01629X/1 ), P. Quirke by Yorkshire Cancer Research ( L354PA ) and the Leeds Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre . P. Finan was supported by the Leeds Cancer Research UK Centre .

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Royal College of Radiologists

Keywords

Radiotherapy
rectal cancer
surgery

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.clon.2016.02.002

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@article{6a46e7cf92e14b0c9c8ce5cad75a6ebb,

title = "Wide Variation in the Use of Radiotherapy in the Management of Surgically Treated Rectal Cancer Across the English National Health Service",

abstract = "Aims Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality in the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer. It is delivered both in the neoadjuvant setting and postoperatively, but, although it reduces local recurrence, it does not influence overall survival and increases the risk of long-term complications. This has led to a variety of international practice patterns. These variations can have a significant effect on commissioning, but also future clinical research. This study explores its use within the large English National Health Service (NHS). Materials and methods Information on all individuals diagnosed with a surgically treated rectal cancer between April 2009 and December 2010 were extracted from the Radiotherapy Dataset linked to the National Cancer Data Repository. Individuals were grouped into those receiving no radiotherapy, short-course radiotherapy with immediate surgery (SCRT-I), short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery (SCRT-D), long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT), other radiotherapy (ORT) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Patterns of use were then investigated. Results The study consisted of 9201 individuals; 4585 (49.3%) received some form of radiotherapy. SCRT-I was used in 12.1%, SCRT-D in 1.2%, LCCRT in 29.5%, ORT in 4.7% and PORT in 2.3%. Radiotherapy was used more commonly in men and in those receiving an abdominoperineal excision and less commonly in the elderly and those with comorbidity. Significant and substantial variations were also seen in its use across all the multidisciplinary teams managing this disease. Conclusion Despite the same evidence base, wide variation exists in both the use of and type of radiotherapy delivered in the management of rectal cancer across the English NHS. Prospective population-based collection of local recurrence and patient-reported early and late toxicity information is required to further improve patient selection for preoperative radiotherapy.",

keywords = "Radiotherapy, rectal cancer, surgery",

author = "Morris, {E. J.A.} and Finan, {P. J.} and K. Spencer and I. Geh and A. Crellin and P. Quirke and Thomas, {J. D.} and S. Lawton and R. Adams and D. Sebag-Montefiore",

note = "Funding Information: This paper is a contribution from the National Cancer Intelligence Network ( www.ncin.org.uk ). E. Morris was funded by the Cancer Research UK Bobby Moore Fund ( C23434/A9805 ) and the Leeds MRC Medical Bioinformatics Centre ( MR/L01629X/1 ), P. Quirke by Yorkshire Cancer Research ( L354PA ) and the Leeds Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre . P. Finan was supported by the Leeds Cancer Research UK Centre . Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 The Royal College of Radiologists",

year = "2016",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.clon.2016.02.002",

language = "English",

volume = "28",

pages = "522--531",

journal = "Clinical Oncology",

issn = "0936-6555",

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number = "8",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Wide Variation in the Use of Radiotherapy in the Management of Surgically Treated Rectal Cancer Across the English National Health Service

AU - Morris, E. J.A.

AU - Finan, P. J.

AU - Spencer, K.

AU - Geh, I.

AU - Crellin, A.

AU - Quirke, P.

AU - Thomas, J. D.

AU - Lawton, S.

AU - Adams, R.

AU - Sebag-Montefiore, D.

N1 - Funding Information: This paper is a contribution from the National Cancer Intelligence Network ( www.ncin.org.uk ). E. Morris was funded by the Cancer Research UK Bobby Moore Fund ( C23434/A9805 ) and the Leeds MRC Medical Bioinformatics Centre ( MR/L01629X/1 ), P. Quirke by Yorkshire Cancer Research ( L354PA ) and the Leeds Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre . P. Finan was supported by the Leeds Cancer Research UK Centre . Publisher Copyright: © 2016 The Royal College of Radiologists

PY - 2016/8/1

Y1 - 2016/8/1

N2 - Aims Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality in the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer. It is delivered both in the neoadjuvant setting and postoperatively, but, although it reduces local recurrence, it does not influence overall survival and increases the risk of long-term complications. This has led to a variety of international practice patterns. These variations can have a significant effect on commissioning, but also future clinical research. This study explores its use within the large English National Health Service (NHS). Materials and methods Information on all individuals diagnosed with a surgically treated rectal cancer between April 2009 and December 2010 were extracted from the Radiotherapy Dataset linked to the National Cancer Data Repository. Individuals were grouped into those receiving no radiotherapy, short-course radiotherapy with immediate surgery (SCRT-I), short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery (SCRT-D), long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT), other radiotherapy (ORT) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Patterns of use were then investigated. Results The study consisted of 9201 individuals; 4585 (49.3%) received some form of radiotherapy. SCRT-I was used in 12.1%, SCRT-D in 1.2%, LCCRT in 29.5%, ORT in 4.7% and PORT in 2.3%. Radiotherapy was used more commonly in men and in those receiving an abdominoperineal excision and less commonly in the elderly and those with comorbidity. Significant and substantial variations were also seen in its use across all the multidisciplinary teams managing this disease. Conclusion Despite the same evidence base, wide variation exists in both the use of and type of radiotherapy delivered in the management of rectal cancer across the English NHS. Prospective population-based collection of local recurrence and patient-reported early and late toxicity information is required to further improve patient selection for preoperative radiotherapy.

AB - Aims Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality in the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer. It is delivered both in the neoadjuvant setting and postoperatively, but, although it reduces local recurrence, it does not influence overall survival and increases the risk of long-term complications. This has led to a variety of international practice patterns. These variations can have a significant effect on commissioning, but also future clinical research. This study explores its use within the large English National Health Service (NHS). Materials and methods Information on all individuals diagnosed with a surgically treated rectal cancer between April 2009 and December 2010 were extracted from the Radiotherapy Dataset linked to the National Cancer Data Repository. Individuals were grouped into those receiving no radiotherapy, short-course radiotherapy with immediate surgery (SCRT-I), short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery (SCRT-D), long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT), other radiotherapy (ORT) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Patterns of use were then investigated. Results The study consisted of 9201 individuals; 4585 (49.3%) received some form of radiotherapy. SCRT-I was used in 12.1%, SCRT-D in 1.2%, LCCRT in 29.5%, ORT in 4.7% and PORT in 2.3%. Radiotherapy was used more commonly in men and in those receiving an abdominoperineal excision and less commonly in the elderly and those with comorbidity. Significant and substantial variations were also seen in its use across all the multidisciplinary teams managing this disease. Conclusion Despite the same evidence base, wide variation exists in both the use of and type of radiotherapy delivered in the management of rectal cancer across the English NHS. Prospective population-based collection of local recurrence and patient-reported early and late toxicity information is required to further improve patient selection for preoperative radiotherapy.

KW - Radiotherapy

KW - rectal cancer

KW - surgery

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U2 - 10.1016/j.clon.2016.02.002

DO - 10.1016/j.clon.2016.02.002

M3 - Article

C2 - 26936609

AN - SCOPUS:84975780541

SN - 0936-6555

VL - 28

SP - 522

EP - 531

JO - Clinical Oncology

JF - Clinical Oncology

IS - 8

ER -

Wide Variation in the Use of Radiotherapy in the Management of Surgically Treated Rectal Cancer Across the English National Health Service

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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