Independently predictive prognostic variables after resection for colorectal carcinoma

Critical care provision after colorectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 2nd largest cause of cancer related mortality in the UK with 40 000 new patients being diagnosed each year. Complications of CRC surgery can occur in the perioperative period that leads to the requirement of organ support. The aim of this study was to identify pre-operative risk factors that increased the likelihood of this occurring.

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational study of all 6441 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery within the West of Scotland Region between 2005 and 2011. Logistic regression was employed to determine factors associated with receiving postoperative organ support.

RESULTS

A total of 610 (9 %) patients received organ support. Multivariate analysis identified age ≥65, male gender, emergency surgery, social deprivation, heart failure and type II diabetes as being independently associated with organ support postoperatively. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, patients with metastatic disease appeared less likely to receive organ support (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one in ten patients undergoing CRC surgery receive organ support in the post operative period. We identified several risk factors which increase the likelihood of receiving organ support post operatively. This is relevant when consenting patients about the risks of CRC surgery.

Effect of the 12-gene colon cancer assay results on adjuvant treatment recommendations in patients with stage II colon cancer

INTRODUCTION

The 12-gene colon cancer Recurrence Score assay is a clinically validated predictor of recurrence risk in stage II colon cancer patients. A survey was performed characterizing the assay's impact on treatment recommendations for these patients.

METHODS

US medical oncologists (n = 346) who ordered the assay for ≥3 stage II colon cancer patients were asked to complete a web-based survey regarding their most recent such patient. Physicians surveyed represented users of the assay within the first 2 years of commercial availability which may include 'early adopters'.

RESULTS

Most of 116 eligible physicians were in community practice (86%), with median 14.5 years' experience (range = 2-40). Mean patient age was 61 years (range = 32-85); 81% had T3 disease, and 38% had comorbidities. Of 76 patients tested for mismatch-repair/microsatellite-instability (MMR/MSI), 13 (17%) were MMR-deficient/MSI-high; 46 (61%) MMR-proficient/MSI-low; and 17 (22%) unknown. Most patients (84%) had ≥12 nodes examined. Median Recurrence Score result was 20 (range = 1-77). Before assay, treatment recommendations were specified for 92 (79%) patients, with no recommendation for 24 (21%). Of the 92 with pre-assay recommendations, chemotherapy was planned for 52 (57%) and observation for 40 (43%); the assay changed recommendations for 27 (29%). Treatment intensity decreased for 18 (67%) and increased for nine (33%) patients; it was more likely to decrease for lower Recurrence Score values and increase for higher values (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

For stage II colon cancer patients receiving Recurrence Score testing, 29% of treatment recommendations were changed. Use of the assay may lead to reductions in treatment intensity. Study limitations include retrospective design, data gathering during the first 2 years of assay availability only, and potential non-representativeness of respondents.

New insights into the role of age and carcinoembryonic antigen in the prognosis of colorectal cancer

The aim of this study was to verify through relative survival (an estimate of cancer-specific survival) the true prognostic factors of colorectal cancer. The study involved 506 patients who underwent locally radical resection. All the clinical, histological and laboratory parameters were prognostically analysed for both overall and relative survival. This latter was calculated from the expected survival of the general population with identical age, sex and calendar years of observation. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to the proportional hazards model. Liver metastases, age, lymph node involvement and depth of bowel wall involvement were independent prognosticators of both overall and relative survival, whereas carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was predictive only of relative survival. Increasing age was unfavourably related to overall survival, but mildly protective with regard to relative survival. Three out of the five prognostic factors identified are the cornerstones of the current staging systems, and were confirmed as adequate by the analysis of relative survival. The results regarding age explain the conflicting findings so far obtained from studies considering overall survival only and advise against the adoption of absolute age limits in therapeutic protocols. Moreover, the prechemotherapy CEA level showed a high clinical value.

Presentation, treatment, and multivariate analysis of risk factors for obstructive and perforative colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

It is known that emergency surgery for colorectal cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the presentation, treatment, and outcome of patients with complicated colorectal cancer. Risk factors for morbidity and mortality were also evaluated.

METHODS

From 1991 to 2002, the medical records of 107 consecutive patients undergoing emergency surgery for obstructing or perforating colorectal carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Information regarding patient and tumor characteristics, treatment, and outcome was recorded. Risk factors were assessed by multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Eighty-three patients (78%) had complete obstruction and 24 (22%) had perforation. Overall and major complications occurred in 70% and 34%, respectively. The mortality rate was 15%. Independent risk factors for major morbidity were perioperative blood transfusion and high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, whereas those for mortality were older age and high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency surgery for complicated colorectal carcinoma carries high rates of morbidity and mortality. To achieve improvements in outcome, intensive treatment after surgery in patients with risk factors is recommended.

The association of pretreatment health-related quality of life with surgical complications for patients undergoing open surgical resection for colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to define the association between pretreatment health-related quality of life (HRQL) and surgical complications for patients with colorectal cancer.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

For patients with colorectal cancer, surgical complications arise from an interaction between underlying medical comorbidity, colorectal cancer severity, and quality and type of treatment provided. Measurement of HRQL provides a summarization of well-being in the context of medical comorbidity and colorectal cancer severity. The summarization of these factors may be useful in prospective risk assessment of patients about to undergo surgery for colorectal cancer.

METHODS

A single-institution, prospective, cohort study of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma was performed from August 1, 1999, to March 31, 2002. Before treatment, all participants completed Medical Outcomes Survey SF-36 (SF-36); after the first year of the study, patients also completed the colorectal cancer module of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy survey (FACT-C). Information was collected on demographics, treatment, tumor variables, and complications.

RESULTS

Ninety-seven patients have undergone open resection of their colorectal cancer. All patients completed SF-36; 65 completed FACT-C. Thirty patients (31%) experienced complications, including 4 (4%) deaths. Age, race, albumin level, American Society of Anesthesia class, specialty surgical training, tumor location, and stage were not associated with complications in univariate analysis. Patients experiencing surgical complications had significantly lower HRQL scores on SF-36 Social Functioning, General Health Perception, and Mental Health Index scales as well as the Mental Health Component summary score. FACT-C Social/Family, Emotional, Functional Well-Being scores, and the Colorectal Cancer Concerns score were also significantly lower for patients sustaining complications. When these HRQL scales were examined in a multivariate model including albumin level, tumor location, and ASA class, SF-36 Social Functioning (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.98; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.97-0.99) and FACT-C Colorectal Cancer Concerns (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.79-0.99) scales retained a significant association with complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment HRQL scores as measured by several scales of SF-36 and FACT-C were significantly associated with complications. Future studies should concentrate on defining the predictive role of HRQL in determining surgical outcome for patients with colorectal cancer.

Extent of mesorectal invasion is a prognostic indicator in T3 rectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine if local recurrence (LR) rates in patients with minimally invasive and advanced T3 rectal cancer are different. This may influence the use of adjuvant therapy.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with T3 rectal cancer undergoing curative surgery were classified into minimally invasive or advanced groups. Minimally invasive T3 was defined as a tumour that had invaded beyond the muscularis propria on microscopic examination only, whereas advanced T3 tumours had invasion beyond the muscularis propria that was obvious on macroscopic examination and confirmed histologically. Local recurrence rates of the two groups were compared by construction of Kaplan-Meier curves. The log-rank test was used to determine equivalence, and Cox regression to estimate the hazard ratio. The Grambsch- Therneau test and graphical comparison of predicted and observed Kaplan-Meier curves was used to test the proportional hazards assumption.

RESULTS

There were 222 patients in total, 74 in the minimally invasive group and 148 in the advanced. The overall LR rate was 11.2%. The LR rates in the minimally invasive and advanced groups were 5.4% and 14.2%, respectively. The log-rank test gives a P value of 0.042 for equivalence, with the minimally invasive patients doing significantly better. The hazard ratio estimated by Cox regression was 0.35 (early relative to advanced), 95% confidence intervals (0.12, 1.0). There was no evidence of confounding by age at surgery, pathology type, gender or postoperative adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The extent of invasion into the mesorectum appears to be an independent prognostic variable. If oncologically sound surgical techniques are employed, the LR rate of patients with minimal invasion is low. Adjuvant therapy may not confer additional benefit in this group.

Causes and consequences of comorbidity: a review

A literature search was carried out to identify and summarize the existing information on causes and consequences of comorbidity of chronic somatic diseases. A selection of 82 articles met our inclusion criteria. Very little work has been done on the causes of comorbidity. On the other hand, much work has been done on consequences of comorbidity, although comorbidity is seldom the main subject of study. We found comorbidity in general to be associated with mortality, quality of life, and health care. The consequences of specific disease combinations, however, depended on many factors. We recommend more etiological studies on shared risk factors, especially for those comorbidities that occur at a higher rate than expected. New insights in this field can lead to better prevention strategies. Health care workers need to take comorbid diseases into account in monitoring and treating patients. Future studies on consequences of comorbidity should investigate specific disease combinations.