Prognostic factors in colorectal cancer

Prognosis of patients after colorectal cancer resection is predominantly in fluenced by the extent of local tumour growth and the presence or absence o f nodal or distant metastasis. However, many factors have been used to gene rate numerous classification systems, leading to some debate and confusion. The effects on survival of 7 clinical and pathological parameters were rev iewed in 801 consecutive patients operated upon with locally curative inten t for colorectal cancer over a ten-year period. Age less than 50 or more th an 70 years, poor cellular differentiation, high mucous secretion by tumour cells and Dukes' staging were the parameters significantly correlated to p oor overall survival (p<0.001 for each). The Cox's regression analysis iden tified the same parameters as independent prognostic factors. The value of age as a prognostic factor remains debatable, but the other three parameter s must be considered when evaluating prognosis after curative surgery for c olorectal cancer and when considering adjuvant therapy.