title: Age aspects of demography, pathology and survival assessment in colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess how age is related to differences in stage, tumour differentiation and treatment in colorectal cancer.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska Academy/Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, 41685 Gothenburg, Sweden. kristoffer.derwinger@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Derwinger
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodeda
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerjy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult