Browsing by Author "Hansen, Aaron R."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A Canadian approach to the regionalization of testis cancer: A review
    (CUA, 2020) Nason, Gregory J.; Wood, Lori; Huddart, Robert A.; Albers, Peter; Rendon, Ricardo A.; Einhorn, Lawrence H.; Nichols, Craig R.; Kollmannsberger, Christian; Anson-Cartwright, Lynn; Sweet, Joan; Warde, Padraig; Jewett, Michael A. S.; Chung, Peter; Bedard, Philippe L.; Hansen, Aaron R.; Hamilton, Robert J.; Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine
    At the Canadian Testis Cancer Workshop, the rationale and feasibility of regionalization of testis cancer care were discussed. The two-day workshop involved urologists, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, physician’s assistants, residents and fellows, and nurses, as well as patients and patient advocacy groups. This review summarizes the discussion and recommendations of one of the central topics of the workshop — the centralization of testis cancer in Canada. It was acknowledged that non-guideline-concordant care in testis cancer occurs frequently, in the range of 18–30%. The National Health Service in the U.K. stipulates various testis cancer care modalities be delivered through supra-regional network. All cases are reviewed at a multidisciplinary team meeting and aspects of care can be delivered locally through the network. In Germany, no such network exists, but an insurance-supported online second opinion network was developed that currently achieves expert case review in over 30% of cases. There are clear benefits to regionalization in terms of survival, treatment morbidity, and cost. There was agreement at the workshop that a structured pathway for diagnosis and treatment of testis cancer patients is required. Regionalization may be challenging in Canada because of geography; independent administration of healthcare by each province; physicians fearing loss of autonomy and revenue; patient unwillingness to travel long distances from home; and the inability of the larger centers to handle the ensuing increase in volume. We feel the first step is to identify the key performance indicators and quality metrics to track the quality of care received. After identifying these metrics, implementation of a “networks of excellence” model, similar to that seen in sarcoma care in Ontario, could be effective, coupled with increased use of health technology, such as virtual clinics and telemedicine.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Clinical dilemmas in local and regional testis cancer
    (Canadian Urological Association, 2021-01) Nason, Gregory J.; Rendon, Ricardo A.; Wood, Lori; Huddart, Robert A.; Albers, Peter; Einhorn, Lawrence H.; Nichols, Craig R.; Kollmannsberger, Christian; Anson-Cartwright, Lynn; Warde, Padraig; Jewett, Michael A.S.; Chung, Peter; Bedard, Philippe L.; Hansen, Aaron R.; Hamilton, Robert J.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    At the Canadian Testis Cancer Workshop, the multidisciplinary management of testis cancer care was discussed. The two-day workshop involved urologists, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, physician's assistants, residents, fellows, nurses, patients, and patient advocacy group members.This review summarizes the discussion regarding clinical dilemmas in local and regional testis cancer. We present cases that highlight the need for a coordinated approach to individualize care. Overarching themes include the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to testis cancer, willingness to involve a high-volume experienced center, and given that the oncological outcomes are excellent, a reminder that clinical decisions need to prioritize selecting a strategy with the least treatment-related morbidity when safe.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Controversies in the management of clinical stage 1 testis cancer
    (Canadian Urological Association, 2020-11) Nason, Gregory J.; Chung, Peter; Warde, Padraig; Huddart, Robert; Albers, Peter; Kollmannsberger, Christian; Booth, Christopher M.; Hansen, Aaron R.; Bedard, Philippe L.; Einhorn, Lawrence; Nichols, Craig; Rendon, Ricardo A.; Wood, Lori; Jewett, Michael A.S.; Hamilton, Robert J.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    In November 2018, The Canadian Testis Cancer Workshop was convened. The two-day workshop involved urologists, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, physician’s assistants, residents and fellows, nurses, patients and patient advocacy groups. One of the goals of the workshop was to discuss the challenging areas of testis cancer care where guidelines may not be specific. The objective was to distill through discussion around cases, expert approach to working through these challenges. Herein we present a summary of discussion from the workshop around controversies in the management of clinical stage 1 (CS1) disease. CS1 represents organ confined non-metastatic testis cancer that represents approximately 70-80% of men at presentation. Regardless of management, CS1 has an excellent prognosis. However, without adjuvant treatment, approximately 30% of CS1 nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) and 15% of CS1 seminoma relapse. The workshop reviewed that while surveillance has become the standard for the majority of patients with CS1 disease there remains debate in the management of patients at high-risk of relapse. The controversy in the management of CS1 testis cancer surrounds the optimal balance between the morbidity of overtreatment and the identification of patients who may derive most benefit from adjuvant treatment. The challenge lies in a shared decision process where discussion of options extends beyond the simple risk of relapse but to include the long-term toxicities of adjuvant treatments and the favorable cancer-specific survival.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Predicting Outcomes in Men With Metastatic Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors (NSGCT): Results From the IGCCCG Update Consortium
    (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2021) Gillessen, Silke; Sauvé, Nicolas; Collette, Laurence; Daugaard, Gedske; de Wit, Ronald; Albany, Costantine; Tryakin, Alexey; Fizazi, Karim; Stahl, Olof; Gietema, Jourik A.; De Giorgi, Ugo; Cafferty, Fay H.; Hansen, Aaron R.; Tandstad, Torgrim; Huddart, Robert A.; Necchi, Andrea; Sweeney, Christopher J.; Garcia-Del-Muro, Xavier; Heng, Daniel Y. C.; Lorch, Anja; Chovanec, Michal; Winquist, Eric; Grimison, Peter; Feldman, Darren R.; Terbuch, Angelika; Hentrich, Marcus; Bokemeyer, Carsten; Negaard, Helene; Fankhauser, Christian; Shamash, Jonathan; Vaughn, David J.; Sternberg, Cora N.; Heidenreich, Axel; Beyer, Jörg; International Germ Cell Cancer Classification Update Consortium; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Purpose: The classification of the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) plays a pivotal role in the management of metastatic germ cell tumors but relies on data of patients treated between 1975 and 1990. Materials and methods: Data on 9,728 men with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors treated with cisplatin- and etoposide-based first-line chemotherapy between 1990 and 2013 were collected from 30 institutions or collaborative groups in Europe, North America, and Australia. Clinical trial and registry data were included. Primary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The survival estimates were updated for the current era. Additionally, a novel prognostic model for PFS was developed in 3,543 patients with complete information on potentially relevant variables. The results were validated in an independent data set. Results: Compared with the original IGCCCG publication, 5-year PFS remained similar in patients with good prognosis with 89% (87%-91%) versus 90% (95% CI, 89 to 91), but the 5-year OS increased from 92% (90%-94%) to 96% (95%-96%). In patients with intermediate prognosis, PFS remained similar with 75% (71%-79%) versus 78% (76%-80%) and the OS increased from 80% (76%-84%) to 89% (88%-91%). In patients with poor prognosis, the PFS increased from 41% (95% CI, 35 to 47) to 54% (95% CI, 52 to 56) and the OS from 48% (95% CI, 42 to 54) to 67% (95% CI, 65 to 69). A more granular prognostic model was developed and independently validated. This model identified a new cutoff of lactate dehydrogenase at a 2.5 upper limit of normal and increasing age and presence of lung metastases as additional adverse prognostic factors. An online calculator is provided (https://www.eortc.org/IGCCCG-Update). Conclusion: The IGCCCG Update model improves individual prognostication in metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. Increasing age and lung metastases add granularity to the original IGCCCG classification as adverse prognostic factors.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Survival and New Prognosticators in Metastatic Seminoma: Results From the IGCCCG-Update Consortium
    (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2021) Beyer, Jörg; Collette, Laurence; Sauvé, Nicolas; Daugaard, Gedske; Feldman, Darren R.; Tandstad, Torgrim; Tryakin, Alexey; Stahl, Olof; Gonzalez-Billalabeitia, Enrique; De Giorgi, Ugo; Culine, Stéphane; de Wit, Ronald; Hansen, Aaron R.; Bebek, Marko; Terbuch, Angelika; Albany, Costantine; Hentrich, Marcus; Gietema, Jourik A.; Negaard, Helene; Huddart, Robert A.; Lorch, Anja; Cafferty, Fay H.; Heng, Daniel Y. C.; Sweeney, Christopher J.; Winquist, Eric; Chovanec, Michal; Fankhauser, Christian; Stark, Daniel; Grimison, Peter; Necchi, Andrea; Tran, Ben; Heidenreich, Axel; Shamash, Jonathan; Sternberg, Cora N.; Vaughn, David J.; Duran, Ignacio; Bokemeyer, Carsten; Patrikidou, Anna; Cathomas, Richard; Assele, Samson; Gillessen, Silke; International Germ Cell Cancer Classification Update Consortium; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Purpose: The classification of the International Germ-Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) has been a major advance in the management of germ-cell tumors, but relies on data of only 660 patients with seminoma treated between 1975 and 1990. We re-evaluated this classification in a database from a large international consortium. Materials and methods: Data on 2,451 men with metastatic seminoma treated with cisplatin- and etoposide-based first-line chemotherapy between 1990 and 2013 were collected from 30 institutions or collaborative groups in Australia, Europe, and North America. Clinical trial and registry data were included. Primary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) calculated from day 1 of treatment. Variables at initial presentation were evaluated for their prognostic impact. Results were validated in an independent validation set of 764 additional patients. Results: Compared with the initial IGCCCG classification, in our modern series, 5-year PFS improved from 82% to 89% (95% CI, 87 to 90) and 5-year OS from 86% to 95% (95% CI, 94 to 96) in good prognosis, and from 67% to 79% (95% CI, 70 to 85) and 72% to 88% (95% CI, 80 to 93) in intermediate prognosis patients. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) proved to be an additional adverse prognostic factor. Good prognosis patients with LDH above 2.5× upper limit of normal had a 3-year PFS of 80% (95% CI, 75 to 84) and a 3-year OS of 92% (95% CI, 88 to 95) versus 92% (95% CI, 90 to 94) and 97% (95% CI, 96 to 98) in the group with lower LDH. Conclusion: PFS and OS in metastatic seminoma significantly improved in our modern series compared with the original data. The original IGCCCG classification retains its relevance, but can be further refined by adding LDH at a cutoff of 2.5× upper limit of normal as an additional adverse prognostic factor.