Korean J Med.  2003 Mar;64(3):268-274.

A multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in colorectal cancer

• Kim DW
• Ryu MH
• Kim TY
• Heo DS
• Bang YJ
• Park JG
• Kim NK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is the aim of this study to find out the prognostic factors in Korean colorectal cancer patients.
METHODS
The analysis was performed on 406 patients diagnosed as colorectal cancer between Jan. 1990 and Dec. 1992. Survival rate was calculated by the life table method. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model was performed to determine the independent prognostic factors.
RESULTS
Overall 5 year survival rates were 58.1% and 58.0% for colon and rectal cancer, respectively. By multivariate analysis, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM stage group was the prognostic factor with the highest hazard ratio. Histologic grade and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level also were significant prognostic factors. However, age at diagnosis, sex, location of the primary tumor, primary tumor size, and microscopic lymphatic invasion did not have independent prognostic value.
CONCLUSION
Our study has confirmed that the AJCC TNM stage represents the most important prognostic variable, but further improvements are needed with the introduction of other variables, such as the histologic grade and serum CEA level.

Keyword

Colorectal neoplasms; Survival; Prognosis; Multivariate analysis

MeSH Terms

Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Colon
Colorectal Neoplasms*
Diagnosis
Humans
Joints
Life Tables
Multivariate Analysis*
Prognosis
Proportional Hazards Models
Rectal Neoplasms
Survival Rate
Carcinoembryonic Antigen