title: A multivariate analysis of prognostic determinants for stages II and III colorectal cancer in 141 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous prognosis analyses of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with stage II and III disease were done as separate categories. The purpose of this study was to analyze prognostic factors associated with survival in a group of patients who underwent radical resection of stages II and III CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed for 141 consecutive stages II and III patients who had undergone radical resection of colorectal adenocarcinoma between May 2003 and November 2003. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effect of record variables on disease free survival and overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up time was 59 months, and the 3- and 5-year survival rates were 76% and 68%, respectively. Four factors were independently associated with a worse disease-free survival: diabetes (hazard ratio (HR) 2.338; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.011 - 5.407), expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) (HR 0.335; 95%CI 0.126 - 0.888), expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) (HR 0.233; 95%CI 0.101 - 0.541), expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (HR 0.295; 95%CI 0.088 - 0.996). Four factors were independently associated with a worse overall survival: lymph nodes metastasis (HR 1.67; 95%CI 1.29 - 2.14), Cox-2 positive (HR 0.056; 95%CI 0.247 - 0.731), MMP-2 positive (HR 0.398; 95%CI 0.190 - 0.836), VEGF (HR 0.364; 95%CI 0.090 - 0.716).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetes, expression of Cox-2, MMP-2 and VEGF were independently associated with a worse disease- free survival. Lymph nodes metastasis, expression of Cox-2, MMP-2 and high level of VEGF predicted a poor overall survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Zhong-guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiao-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li-ren
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-heng
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Pei-rong
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ruo-jing
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2