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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2011; 17(29): 3465-3466
Published online Aug 7, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i29.3465
Published online Aug 7, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i29.3465
Is rectal cancer prone to metastasize to lymph nodes than colon cancer?
Takashi Akiyoshi, Masashi Ueno, Tetsuichiro Muto, Gastroenterological Center, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
Toshiaki Watanabe, Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
Author contributions: Akiyoshi T, Watanabe T, Ueno M and Muto T contributed equally to the conception, writing and editing of the letter.
Correspondence to: Takashi Akiyoshi, MD, PhD, Gastroenterological Center, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan. takashi.akiyoshi@jfcr.or.jp
Telephone: +81-3-35200111 Fax: +81-3-35200141
Received: December 22, 2010
Revised: March 9, 2011
Accepted: March 16, 2011
Published online: August 7, 2011
Revised: March 9, 2011
Accepted: March 16, 2011
Published online: August 7, 2011
Abstract
The biology of colorectal cancer differs according to its location within the large intestine. A report published in a previous issue of World Journal of Gastroenterology (November 2010) evaluated the importance of tumor location as a risk factor for lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer, and showed that rectal cancer is prone to metastasize to lymph nodes as compared with colon cancer. However, in order to conclude that the tumor location is independently associated with the occurrence of lymph node metastasis, it is necessary to consider a selection bias or other patient- and tumor-related factors carefully.
Keywords: Rectum, Colon, Lymph node, Metastasis, Cancer