title: [Prognostic factors in metastatic colorectal cancer in Tunisia: A retrospective study of 130 patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The survival of patients with a metastatic colon cancer has improved with palliative chemotherapy, targeted therapies and surgery. Several prognostic factors influencing the survival of these patients were identified in the literature represented mainly by clinical factors: general condition, number and site of metastases, rate of white blood cells, initial carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) rate, hemoglobin level, and therapeutic factors mainly represented by resection of metastases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate within a Tunisian retrospective study the significant prognostic factors on survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected retrospectively 130 patients with MCRC treated in Sfax from january 2000 to December 2007. Uni and multivariate analysis were performed according to cox model for the following factors : Age or > 40 years, gender, synchronous vs metachronous metastases, disease-free survival (DFI) 1 > 1year, tumor site(colon vs rectum), performance status or PS ( 0-1or 2-3), white blood cells count (< or > 103/ml3 , haemoglobin rate (Hb) or > 11g/dl, seric carcinoembryonic antigen rate (CEA) < vs > 10 ng/ml, number of metastatic sites (single vs multiple), site of metastatic site (liver vs extrahepatic) and resection or not of the metastatic localizations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis showed for univariate analysis the positive impact of : PS 1, (Hb) rate > 11 g/dl, CEA) < 10 ng/ml and resection of metastases, while in in multivariate analysis, they were : a good PS and Hb > 11 g/dl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our retrospective study confirmed the known prognostic impact of simple clinical tools like a good performance Status and Hb > 11 g/dl, a (CEA) rate lower than 10 ng/ml and resection of metastases which were identified by several other series such as predictive factors of a better survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
authors.forename: Afef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khanfir
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zidi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masmoudi
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Bayrouti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frikha