Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2013; 19(44): 8078-8084
Published online Nov 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i44.8078
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of young patients with colorectal cancer in Eastern China
Jian-Fei Fu, Yan-Qin Huang, Jiao Yang, Cheng-Hao Yi, Hai-Long Chen, Shu Zheng
Jian-Fei Fu, Yan-Qin Huang, Jiao Yang, Cheng-Hao Yi, Hai-Long Chen, Shu Zheng, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Chinese Ministry of Education, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Jian-Fei Fu, Yan-Qin Huang, Jiao Yang, Cheng-Hao Yi, Hai-Long Chen, Shu Zheng, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Jian-Fei Fu, Yan-Qin Huang, Jiao Yang, Cheng-Hao Yi, Hai-Long Chen, Shu Zheng, Cancer Institute, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China
Jian-Fei Fu, Department of Oncology, Jinhua Central Hospital (Jinhua Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine), Jinhua 321000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Zheng S, Fu JF and Huang YQ designed the research; Yi CH and Chen HL performed the research; Fu JF analyzed the data; Fu JF and Yang J wrote the paper.
Supported by The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program), No. 2012AA02A204
Correspondence to: Shu Zheng, Professor, Cancer Institute, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, Zhejiang Province, China. zhengshu@zju.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-571-87784501 Fax: +86-571-87214404
Received: June 6, 2013
Revised: September 16, 2013
Accepted: October 19, 2013
Published online: November 28, 2013
Processing time: 187 Days and 21.3 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of young patients with colorectal cancer patients in Eastern China.

METHODS: A total of 1335 patients with colorectal cancer treated from December 1985 to December 2005 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were studied retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, a younger group (aged ≤ 30 years) and an older group (aged > 30 years), and comparison was made in the clinical characteristics and prognosis between the two groups. Chi-square test was used for data analysis of all categorical variables, and overall survival (OS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox model.

RESULTS: There were 42 (3.1%) and 1293 (96.9%) cases in the younger group and older group, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the 5- and 10-year OS in the younger group were 33.9% and 26.1%, respectively, and those in the older group were 60.1% and 52.2%, respectively. Younger group had poor survival (χ2 = 14.146, P = 0.000). Multivariate analysis revealed that age was not a dependent factor for prognosis (OR = 0.866, 95%CI: 0.592-1.269, P = 0.461). Stratified analysis indicated that in stage III and IV disease, the 5- and 10-year OS were 24.6% and 14.8% in the younger group, and 40.4% and 33.3% in the older group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 5.101, P = 0.024). In the subgroup of radical surgery, the 5- and 10-year OS were 44.3% and 34.2% in the younger group, and 69.6% and 60.5% in the older group, with a difference being significant between the two groups (χ2 = 7.830, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION: Compared with older patients, the younger patients have lower survival, especially in the subgroups of stage III and IV disease and radical surgery.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Young; Clinicopathologic feature; Prognosis; Radical surgery

Core tip: We firstly described the clinical characteristics and prognosis of young patients with colorectal cancer in Eastern China. The incidence rate of colorectal cancer in young patients was higher than that in other reports. Younger patients with colorectal cancer had more poorly differentiated and advanced tumors, and worse prognosis, especially patients with stage III and IV disease.