Summary Background Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), together known as keratinocyte cancers (KCs), are the commonest cancer in white ethnic populations. Recent improvements to registry data collection in England has allowed more accurate analysis of the epidemiology of BCC and cSCC and for the first time we are able to provide an accurate (representative) tumour burden for KC in the U.K. Objectives To estimate the incidence of BCC and cSCC in the U.K. Methods A cohort of patients with KCs between 2013 and 2015 were identified using linkage to diagnostic codes derived from pathology reports collected into the national cancer registry. Data from England's cancer registry were combined with data from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. European age‐standardized incidence rates (EASRs) of the first BCC and cSCC per patient per annum (PPPA) were calculated. Results In the U.K, the EASR of the first BCC and cSCC PPPA in 2013–15 were 285 and 77 per 100 000 person years, respectively (211 120 KCs total in 2015). The mean annual percentage increase was 5% between 2013 and 2015 for both BCC and cSCC. By counting the first KC PPPA, we include an additional 51% KCs compared with the previous reporting technique which counts only the first BCC and cSCC in a patient's lifetime, yet it represents a probable underestimation of 5–11% of the true tumour count. Conclusions Based on an improved methodology, a more representative incidence of KC is presented, which is essential to healthcare planning and will lead to improved understanding of the epidemiology of KC. What's already known about this topic? Keratinocyte cancers (KCs) are the most common cancers affecting white ethnic populations. The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is increasing worldwide including the U.K., most commonly in elderly male Caucasian patients. These cancers are traditionally substantially underreported and frequently excluded from national cancer statistics. What does this study add? Using improved data collection methods in England and validated tumour‐reporting techniques, we report the most accurate BCC and cSCC incidence data for the U.K. ever published. Identifying the first BCC and cSCC per patient per annum, the incidence of BCC and cSCC in the U.K. (excluding Wales) was 285 and 77 per 100 000 person years, respectively, between 2013 and 2015, with more than 210 000 KCs in the U.K. in 2015.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is uncommon in Chinese population and its biology, genetics and treatment outcome in Chinese patients have not been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we studied the clinicopathological features and outcome of 212 Chinese patients with newly diagnosed CLL in Hong Kong and Singapore. The median age at diagnosis was 64 years. The majority of patients presented with early-stage disease (Binet stage A, 56.1%). Del(13)(q14) was the most frequent abnormality (41.7%) detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Del(17p) and TP53 gene mutations were detected in 7.8% and 8.2% of patients, respectively. MYD88 mutations were found at a higher frequency (11.5%) than expected. CLL with unmutated variable region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes (IGHV) occurred in only 31.2% of cases, and was associated with advanced-stage disease (p <0.01) and adverse FISH abnormalities (p<0.01). With a median follow-up of 39 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 108 months. The presence of del(17p) or TP53 mutations was associated with a significantly shorter time to first treatment and an inferior OS (p <0.01). Unmutated IGHV was also associated with a significantly shorter time to treatment (p <0.01). Among patients who required treatment, the median OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were 107 and 23 months, respectively. The presence of del(17p) was associated with a significantly inferior OS and PFS (p <0.01). In summary, Chinese CLL patients had similar genetic aberrations at diagnosis compared with those of Western populations. FISH abnormalities are major factors affecting outcome.

We studied the role of caveolin-1 in tumor progression and prognosis in serous ovarian carcinoma and the association between caveolin-1 and MDR1 expression. The study involved immunohistochemical analysis for caveolin-1 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in 75 effusions and 90 solid lesions from ovarian and primary peritoneal carcinoma; in situ hybridization for MDR1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in 62 effusions and all 90 tumors; and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for caveolin-1 mRNA expression in 23 effusions. Immunohistochemical analysis localized caveolin-1 to the cell membrane in 43 effusions and 24 tumors. P-gp membrane expression was detected in 14 effusions and 11 tumors; MDR1 mRNA, in 20 effusions and 30 tumors. Caveolin-1 mRNA was expressed in 19 effusions. Caveolin-1 protein expression showed no association with that of P-gp protein or MDR1 mRNA. The expression of all markers was similar in carcinoma cells in pleural and peritoneal effusions. Caveolin-1 is a novel diagnostic marker for effusions; expression is moderately elevated in tumor cells in effusions, possibly owing to altered signal transduction and metabolism in cancer cells at this site. Expression seems MDR1 independent.

No abstract

integrate inpatient/outpatient clinical data, genomic data, as well as out-of-hospital follow-up data (e.g. LinkDoc call center) for developing a patient (pt)-level longitudinal clinico-genomic database in a HIPAA-compliant manner. The de-identified structured and unstructured data were extracted from electronic medical records (EMR) or other data sources (third-party genetic-testing company databases) via technology-aided manual abstraction. Rigorous data consistency check was performed daily by duplicate manual review to ensure the accuracy of data entry. The multi-source data were then linked and aggregated using a unique ID. Medical review for pt-level data was further conducted to ensure data quality. Results: Up to May 2020, nine tertiary hospitals from 9 provinces or cities participated in the NUWA project, resulting in inpatient EMR data of 8486 ovarian cancer (OC) pts. The clinico-genomic data of 1114 OC pts were available and more genomic data are on the way. Of 8486 OC pts, 5942 (70.1%) received at least one follow-up phone call. The median follow-up time was 515 (range: 1-4993) days. In December 2021, 30 tertiary hospitals will collaborate on the platform that cover 19 provinces or cities in China, with estimated clinico-genomic data of over 6000 GO pts.