Does the prognosis of colorectal cancer vary with tumor site?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare prognostic factors between colon and rectal cancers.


BACKGROUND
Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) may depend on the anatomical site.


METHODS
A total of 1219 patients with CRC diagnosis according to the pathology report of RCGLD cancer registry, from 1 January 2002 to 1 October 2007, were entered into the study. Demographic and clinico-pathological factors were analyzed using survival analysis.


RESULTS
From age at diagnosis, colon cancer had significantly better survival than rectal cancer (Multivariate Hazard Ratio (MVHR)=0.24; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) =(0.074-0.77)). Other factors, including marital status (MVHR =1.78; 95% CI =(0.33-9.62)), body mass index (BMI) (MVHR =1.21 and 1.54; 95% CI =(.30-4.85) and (.44-5.4) respectively for < 18.5 and >30 BMI groups), pathologic stage (MVHR =.64; 95% CI =(.21-1.98)) and alcohol history (MVHR =4.86; 95% CI =(.67-35.14)) were not significantly different between the two patient group but suggested a possible effect upon prognosis. Overall survival in rectum was better than that of colon.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support this hypothesis that prognosis of CRC varies with tumor site.
National Public Health Management Center(NPMC) and Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Health and Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mohamad Asghari
MA
Jafarabadi
Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Seyede Momeneh
SM
Mohammadi
Department of Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran.
Ebrahim
E
Hajizadeh
Department of Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran.
Anoshirvan
A
Kazemnejad
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Reza
SR
Fatemi
Colorectal cancer; Prognostic factors; Survival analysis