title: Epidemiology of colorectal cancer in Turkey: A cross-sectional disease registry study (A Turkish Oncology Group trial).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the epidemiological characteristics of colorectal cancer in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this multicenter, prospective, and cross-sectional registry study, data for 968 patients with colorectal cancer from 21 centers in 7 geographic regions were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diagnosis was colon cancer in 662 (68.4%) and rectum cancer in 306 (31.6%) patients. In total, 60.9% of patients was male; mean age was 58.9±12.6 years. Among patients, 15.0% was drinking alcohol, 17.5% was smoking, 1.5% had familial history of polyposis, 15.0% had diabetes mellitus, 1.0% had inflammatory bowel disease. Fruit and vegetable consumption was low (<3 times/week) in 35.5% and red meat consumption was high (≥3 times/week) in 47.4% of the patients. Median time-to diagnosis was 3.0 months and 4.0 months for patients with colon and rectum cancer, respectively. Mean body mass index was >25 in all group of patients. Distal rectum (61.3%) and sigmoid colon (36.8%) were the most common locations of cancer, for rectum and colon respectively. In total, 85.6% of patients were operated; 25.8% had emergency surgery. Low anterior resection rate was 64.2% in rectum cancer. In majority (89.8%) of the patients with rectum cancer who received preoperative treatment, conventional chemo-radiotherapy regimen was given. pTNM staging at diagnosis showed that stage III and IV patients were in majority (35.9% and 29.7%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colon cancer is more frequent than rectum cancer in Turkey. Colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed at later stages. Most of the cases were operated. Interregional differences for risk factors are worthwhile for evaluation in future trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, İstanbul University Institute of Oncology, İstanbul, Turkey. nfaruk@mac.com.
authors.forename: Nuri Faruk
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Aykan
authors.forename: Suayib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalçın
authors.forename: N Serdar
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Turhal
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özdoğan
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özkan
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaren
authors.forename: Celalettin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camcı
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akbulut
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artaç
authors.forename: Nezih
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meydan
authors.forename: Kazim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uygun
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Işıkdoğan
authors.forename: Diclehan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ünsal
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Özyılkan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arıcan
authors.forename: Ertuğrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seyrek
authors.forename: Salim Başol
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Manavoğlu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Özet
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elkıran
authors.forename: Rian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dişçi
mesh_terms: D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology