Variation in survival among European regions in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) demonstrate the need for increased access to adequate care, according to results of a study published online ahead of print in the Lancet Haematology.
Treatment for FL and DLBCL has changed dramatically, which has resulted in decreasing mortality rates. Researchers sought to compare cancer mortality in patients with FL and DLBCL in 5 large European areas using data from the largest number of collaborative European population-based cancer registries (EUROCARE).
Patients older than 15 years diagnosed with FL or DLBCL between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 3004 were included. Five areas were studied: Scotland and Wales, northern, central, eastern, and southern Europe.
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A total of 13,988 FL cases and 23,320 DLBCL cases were identified. Improvement in 5-year net survival occurred for both cancers for all ages between 1999 to 2001 and 2002 to 2004, except for FL in Scotland and Wales and DLBCL in eastern Europe.
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The largest disparity occurred between eastern and northern Europe during 2002 to 2004. Year of diagnosis was correlated to excess mortality in all areas except for DLBCL in eastern Europe.
“Study of the dynamics of the excess mortality rate seems to be a useful clinical indicator to help the practitioner’s choice of optimum management of patients,” the authors concluded.
Reference
- Mounier M, Bossard N, Remontet L, et al. Changes in dynamics of excess mortality rates and net survival after diagnosis of follicular lymphoma or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: comparison between European population-based data (EUROCARE-5) [published online ahead of print October 22, 2015]. Lancet Haematol. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(15)00155-6.
