title: Characteristics, therapy and outcome in an unselected and prospectively registered cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to examine characteristics, treatment and outcome in an unselected, prospectively registered complete population of patients with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma cancer (GEA).
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases diagnosed with GEA between 2008 and 2009 in the Region of Southern Denmark (pop: 1,200,000) were registered. Patient characteristics, including performance status, stage and therapy, were retrieved from patient charts and used to compare sub-groups of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and thirty patients were registered as having GEA. Patients were divided into three clinical subgroups based on initial treatment option: group 1: patients with resectable GEA (n = 113); group 2: patients receiving first-line therapy (n = 107); group 3: patients receiving no tumour-directed therapy (n = 110). Median overall survival (95% CI) in the three groups was 36 months (25-not reached), 7.1 months (7-9) and 2.4 months (2-3), respectively. Seven percent of patients participated in clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients not amendable to resection, around 30% are candidates for three-drug combination chemotherapy. Age > 65 years was found not to be a poor prognostic factor for survival, giving the possibility of treating elderly patients in the future. Many patients (approx. 30%), however, never received cancer-directed therapy. In order to improve survival in the entire population, it is important that future trials also focus on this group of patients.
authors: Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital , Odense , Denmark.
authors: Katrine R
authors: KR
authors: Schønnemann
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: Mortensen
authors: Jon K
authors: JK
authors: Bjerregaard
authors: Claus
authors: C
authors: Fristrup
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome