Prognostic Factor and Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Stage IIA Colon Cancer

Abstract

Purpose There is no clear evidence of the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in stage IIA colon cancer. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors and survival benefit of AC in this disease.Methods A retrospective data collection for patients who underwent radical surgery for colon cancer between January 2008 and December 2015 was undertaken. The cohort was divided into the no-AC and AC groups.Results We included 227 patients with stage IIA colon cancer in our study cohort, including 67 and 160 patients in the no-AC and AC groups, respectively. The number of retrieved lymph nodes and the presence of tumor complications as obstruction or perforation were independent risk factors for survival. In the no-AC group, there was a significant difference in survival according to the number of retrieved lymph nodes. In the AC group, there were significant differences in survival according to sidedness and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). There was no significant difference in survival between the no-AC and the AC groups.Conclusion The number of retrieved lymph nodes and the presence of tumor complications were prognostic factors for stage IIA colon cancer but lymphovascular and perineural invasion were not. Sidedness and preoperative CEA could be used as factors to predict the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy. Currently, it is believed that there is no benefit of AC for stage IIA colon cancer. Further studies are needed to determine the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IIA colon cancer.