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Background: Primary spinal gliomas are rare. Because data from the Cancer Registry of England and Wales covered larger numbers of patients and longer durations of follow-up, our objective was to define prognostic factors for survival at a national population level., Methods: From 1971 to 1995, data on 459 adult patients (age, >15 years) with primary spinal cancer from the Cancer Registry of England and Wales were analyzed. Median survival and CSRs with respect to 7 variables (age, sex, morphology, WHO grade, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and period of diagnosis) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression was performed for estimating HRs for death., Results: The median survival and the 1-, 5-, and 10-year CSRs for the population were 10.2 years, 78.7%, 59.7%, and 50.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that age at diagnosis, morphology, WHO grade, and period of diagnosis affected the CSR. Multivariate analysis demonstrated 3 factors influencing survival: older age (ie, >60 years; HR = 2.67; P < .001), non-ependymomas (HR = 3.51; P < .001), and high-grade tumors (HR = 3.01; P < .001). The improved survival in recent periods was associated with an increased number of diagnosed ependymomas., Conclusion: This study identifies old age, non-ependymomas, and high-grade tumors as negative prognostic factors for patient survival. The results from this population-based study are very helpful for comparison with those of other hospital-based studies and for public health purposes.

Background: To investigate the effects of SES and geographic variations on survival for adult patients with glioma, we analyzed data from 30489 patients from the Cancer Registry in England and Wales., Methods: Median survival and CSRs for 8 variables (age, sex, morphology, World Health Organization [WHO] grade, tumor site, SES, geographic regions, and periods of diagnosis) are calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Distributions among different variables are compared using chi(2) test. Cox regressions are performed for estimating HRs to death., Results: The median survival and the 1-, 5-, and 10-year CSR in this population are 0.42 years, 29.1%, 12.0%, and 7.7%, respectively. There is a gradient in SES from the south to the north (chi(2) test, P < .001) and a gradual increment in higher SES from the early to the recent period (chi(2) test, P < .001). Mono- and multivariate analyses reveal that all the 8 variables influenced the survival (P < .05). Age (HR, 1.04 per year from 15 years, P < .001), WHO grade (1.21 per grade from grade I, P < .001), and morphology (HR from 1.23 to 1.89, compared with ependymoma, P < .05) are the most influential factors. However, there are also independent effects from SES (HR, 1.03 per quintile of deprivation, P < .001) and geographic regions (HR, 1.10 for outside southern England; P < .001) on the survival., Conclusions: Although age and tumor characteristics (morphology, WHO grade, tumor site) are well-known prognostic factors, SES and geographic variations also play a slight but significant role, and for more cost-effective allocation of health resources, alleviation on these 2 modifiable factors should be considered.

Primary malignant brain tumor is the second most common cancer in children. To investigate factors affecting children's survival at a population level, data of 3,169 patients (age<15 years) from the Cancer Registry in England and Wales were used. They were diagnosed during 1971-1990 and followed up until 1995. Variables including age, gender, morphology, WHO grade, tumor site, socioeconomic status, geographical region, and period of diagnosis were available for analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox hazards ratio (HR) regression. Results showed that the median survival and the 1-, 5-, and 10-year crude survival rate for this population were 8.7 years, 72.4, 54.0, and 49.2% respectively. Survival was influenced by age (HR 0.88/5 years), morphology (ependymoma HR 2.43), WHO grades (HR 1.42/grade), tumor sites (brain stem HR 2.11), and periods of diagnosis (HR 0.88/5 years). Gender, socioeconomic status, and geographical region did not affect their survival. Results from this population-based data are very helpful for comparison with other hospital-based studies and for public health purposes., (Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background and Purpose: To investigate factors influencing survival for adult glioma at the national population level, data from the Cancer Registry in England and Wales were analyzed. Glioma was diagnosed in 32,267 patients during 1971-1990 and follow-up data were available for these patients until 1995., Methods: Median survival and crude survival rates (CSR) for 8 variables (age, gender, International Classification of Diseases for Oncology [ICD-O] morphology, World Health Organization [WHO] grade, tumor site, deprivation, geographical region, and period of diagnosis) were calculated and tested using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Relative survival rates (RSR) were calculated using the life table of 1981. Cox multivariate regression was performed for estimating hazards ratios (HR) and tested using the log likelihood ratio test., Results: The median survival and the 1-, 5-, and 10-year CSR for this population were 0.42 years, 29.1%, 12.0%, and 7.7%, respectively. The 1- and 5-year RSR were 29.6% and 12.3%, respectively. Survival was influenced by all 8 variables tested (p