P-0185 Health Service Research on Patients With Colon Cancer in A Network of Integrative Oncology

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Non-pharmacotherapy based interventions (NPTs) and Viscum album extracts (VA) are integral part of integrative oncology (IO) and support conventional cancer therapies to meet patients' needs and reduce chemotherapy induced side effects. NPTs are introduced in IO to activate patients' resources and enhance quality of life, whereas VA induces apoptosis, stimulation of immunocompetent cells and reduces adverse reactions of systemic oncological therapies. Methods We analysed characteristics of patients diagnosed with colon cancer (ICD.10 C18) recorded by the Network Oncology, a conjoint clinical registry of German hospitals and out-patient practitioners. We used non-parametric Fisher exact test (F) to compare observed frequencies, Wilcoxon rank sum (W) for differences between groups. We fitted a logistic regression model on a complete data set to explain use of NPTs and use of VA using the sex, age, UICC stage, occurrence of chemo or radiation therapy and surgery as explaining factors. Results Of 1056 patients recorded 631 were female. Male and female patients differed in median age (medage, female=69, medage, male=66, W=150015, p= 0.001). Most patients had malignant neoplasm at the colon sigmoideum (FC18.7= 32.5%, FC18.2= 19.1%, FC18.9= 10.7%). UICC staging information at first diagnosis was available for 82% of the patients: 30% stage IV, 34% stage III, 23% stage II, 12% stage I and 2% carcinoma in situ. Median time between first diagnosis and admission to a NO facility increased with UICC staging: I= 22, II= 28, III= 60, IV= 72 days. 97% received surgery, 55% chemotherapy and 10% radiation. 74% got surgery, 47% received chemotherapy and 8% radiation post their admission to a NO facility. 76% of the palliative UICC-IV patients got received chemotherapy. 74% of all participants were treated with VA starting in the median 13 weeks after first diagnosis. Mean therapy length was 41.0±84.7 weeks (min= 0.14, max= 863.3). 91% of the patients treated with chemotherapy got additional VA. Choice of VA was negatively associated with age (p= 0.004) and positively associated with chemotherapy (p Conclusion This study demonstrates that complementary therapies like VA and NPTs are chosen by a high number of patients in adjuvant and palliative treatment in an integrative oncological setting. The use of complementary therapies does not reduce conventional therapy approaches. Female patients seem to be more open minded to integrative therapies. Our results support that health service research data are appropriate to evaluate IO in daily care and to generate hypotheses for scheduling prospective studies in this field.