Incidence versus treatment outcomes and survival in patients before age 40 with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) was the third most common cancer and the second cause of cancer deaths worldwide in 2020. [1]. Its incidence has increased dramatically people under 50 years of age (early-onset colorectal cancer - EOCRC) [2,3,4]. The aim of this study was to compare two age groups of patients with colorectal cancer in terms of stage, prognostic factors, survival and incidence of recurrence. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 588 patients operated on between 1995 and 2005 at the University Hospital in Krakow in the Clinical Department of General, Oncological and Gastroenterological Surgery. A method of retrospective documentation analysis was used. Patients were divided into two age groups: up to forty years of age and between 45 and 65 years of age.Results: Up to 40 years of age, stage IV colorectal cancer was diagnosed in 33.3% of patients, while between 45 and 65 years of age, it was diagnosed in 26.1%. Five-year survival differed according to tumour stage. In the two groups analysed, there was a significant difference between the survival curves (p = 0.00000). Also, comparing recurrence times in the paired group excluding cancer-independent deaths revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.006).Discussion and significance of the research for the development of the field: The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased worldwide in young people under 50 years of age, and it is therefore recommended that the research presented here be studied, and that prognostic factors be analysed and multicentre prophylactic studies combined with health education of those at risk be encouraged. Cancer occurring in younger patients is characterised by a incidence at diagnosis, has a poorer prognosis and a lower five-year survival. The availability is very important of early diagnosis to detect pre-cancerous and considered pre-cancerous conditions is important. This involves detecting lesions at a lower stage of the disease.