Age Aspects of Demography, Pathology and Survival Assessment in Colorectal Cancer

• Aim: The aim of this study was to assess how age is related to differences in stage, tumour differentiation and treatment in colorectal cancer. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study in a consecutive series of colorectal cancer patients (n=2220) where age was related to demography, stage, tumour characteristics, treatment and outcome (OS/CSS) both as a continuous variable and grouped by high/low 10th percentiles, as young/old groups, with a third median reference group. Results: Young patients had more advanced cancer stages (p=0.012), higher N-status (p=0.011) and more frequent T4/G4 tumours. Old patients had higher postoperative mortality and were less likely to receive chemotherapy. The proportion of cancer-related deaths was stage-dependent and decreased with age. Conclusion: Cancer stage, tumour characteristics, treatment and outcome can vary with age in colorectal cancer. The increasing proportion of non-cancer deaths at a higher age can affect the use of overall survival as an outcome parameter, which may be of importance in evaluating clinical and translational research.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Prognosis

cancer-specific survival

tumour characteristics

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)