Colorectal cancer of the young displays distinct features of aggressive tumor biology: A single-center cohort study

Table 2 Tumor characteristics and histopathological features

Tumor characteristics & histopathologic features	CRC patients < 50 yr of age, n (%)	CRC patients ≥ 50 yr of age, n (%)	P value
Tumor location
Colon	42 (60)	217 (63.6)	0.58
Rectum	28 (40)	124 (36.4)
Right sided	21 (30.4)	92 (27.1)	0.74
Left sided (incl. rectum)	47 (68.1)	233 (68.7)
Transverse colon	1 (1.5)	6 (1.8)
Multiple locations	- (-)	8 (2.36)
UICC Tumor Stage
I	12 (17.1)	75 (22.1)	0.04a
II	10 (14.3)	91 (26.8)
III	21 (30)	83 (24.4)
IV	27 (38.6)	91 (26.8)
T-Status
T1	7 (10.6)	48 (14.7)	< 0.01b
T2	11 (16.7)	45 (13.8)
T3	24 (36.4)	176 (53.8)
T4	24 (36.4)	58 (17.7)
NA	4	14
Lymph node metastasis
N0	26 (38.2)	184 (57.1)	< 0.01b
N1	20 (29.4)	86 (26.7)
N2	22 (32.4)	52 (16.2)
NA	2	19
M-Status
M0	43 (61.4)	238 (72.1)	0.08
M1	27 (38.6)	92 (27.9)
NA	-	11
Vascular invasion
V0	22 (64.7)	116 (65.9)	1
V1	12 (35.3)	60 (34.1)
NA	36	165
Lymphatic invasion
L0	14 (38.9)	116 (65.9)	0.04a
L1	22 (61.1)	60 (34.1)
NA	36	155
Histological grading
G1	2 (4.4)	10 (4.1)	0.03a
G2	25 (55.6)	181 (73.6)
G3	18 (40)	55 (22.7)
NA	25	95
Histological type
Intestinal type	53 (76.8)	276 (82.1)	0.12
Signet ring cell type	6 (8.7)	11 (3.3)
Mucinous type	10 (14.5)	49 (14.6)
NA	1	5
Stoma
Yes	30 (46.9)	163 (51.9)	0.49
No	34 (53.1)	151 (48.1)
NA	6	27
Lymph nodes removed
mean ± SD	27.5 (17.1)	20.1 (15.8)	0.03a
Median (IQR)	22 (15-33.8)	18 (14-25)
NA	8	36
Lymph nodes positive
mean ± SD	5 (10.1)	1.61 (3.2)	0.01a
Median (IQR)	2 (0-5)	0 (0-2)
NA	8	36
Lymph node ratio
mean ± SD	0.1654	0.0817	< 0.01b
Reoperation within 30 d
Yes	5 (7.5)	23 (7.2)	1
No	59 (92.5)	291 (91.8)
NA	-	3

NA: Data not available, significant difference between age groups (^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01). CRC: Colorectal cancer; UICC: Union for International Cancer Control.