Early and late results of adjuvant treatment in colorectal cancer. The experience of the Emergency County hospital Alba Iulia-Romania.
OBJECTIVE
To present a comprehensive analysis of early and late results of adjuvant treatment in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) patients treated at the Emergency County hospital Alba Iulia during a 54-month period.


METHODS
Our analysis included all records of CRC patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy between 1 January 2001 and 30 June 2005. The Kaplan- Meier methodology was used in the analysis of survival data, while the regression Cox model and log-rank test were used in the analysis of prognostic factors.


RESULTS
68 patients were included with a median follow-up time of almost 3 years. Overall survival (OS) at 3 years was 67%, and at 5 years 42.4%, while disease-free survival (DFS) was 52% and 39%, at 3 and 5 years, respectively. These inferior results compared with those reported in western Europe and USA for patients with similar major prognostic factors and similar adjuvant chemotherapy regimens is extensively discussed. The impact of the main prognostic factors on survival data is also reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Our hospital's experience is highly representative for the present status of adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer patients in Romania. Results of our analysis can be used to design a strategy for improving quality of adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer patients.
Curca
R O
RO
Emergency County Hospital Alba Iulia, Oncology Department, Alba Iulia, Romania. razvancurca@gmail.com
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil