Demographics and patterns of care for veterans with colorectal cancer.

Abstract

e14124 Background: This study is to analyze demographics and patterns of care for veterans with colorectal cancer. Methods: In an IRB approved protocol, we reviewed the records of pts diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma at a VA Medical Center from 1/1/2003 to 12/31/2007. Demographics including age, sex, ECOG PS, stage, grade, site, CEA, hemoglobin (HGB), liver function tests at diagnosis, treatments and cause of death were reviewed. Results: There were 176 pts with colorectal ca with 112 colon (C) and 64 rectal ca (R) pts. One was a woman and the rest were men. The median age at diagnosis was 71 years (range 45-90). Median survival was 1157 days (5-3256). 95 (54%) pts were dead at this analysis. Median ECOG PS is 0. 160 pts had ECOG PS 0-2, 16pts ECOG 3-4. 4 (2.4%). 4 (2.4%) pts has stage 0, 51 (30.7%) stage 1, 42 (25.3%) stage 2, 35 (21.1%) stage 3, and 34 (20.5%) stage 4. 6 (3.7%) has grade 1, 111 (68.1%) grade 2, and 46 (28.2%) grade 3. Median CEA at diagnosis was 2.9 (0-3117), HGB 12.4 g/dl (6.6-16.7), albumin g/dl 3.98(1.7-4.7), AST 23 units/L (4-107), ALT 20 units/L (8-107), ALKP 77 units/L (37-352), Total bilirubin 0.7 mg/dl (0.1-4.5). 29 pts has liver metastasis at diagnosis. 147 pts (85.4%) received surgical resection. Total 43 pts had adjuvant treatment. 17 pts with rectal cancer had neoadjuvant chemoradiation . 7 pts had down staging and 3 pts had no residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiatoion. Total 14 pts had recurrence. 23 pts received palliative chemotherapy when metastatic. 54 of 95 pts (57%) died from cancer progression. Conclusions: This study provides a basis for understanding the epidemiology of colorectal cancer patient in a VA medical center.