In a nutshell
This study investigated the effects of complete mesocolic excision (CME) in patients with right-side colon cancer. Researchers suggested that CME reduces the risk of recurrences (when cancer comes back) in these patients.
Some background
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The standard treatment is surgery and chemotherapy. Recent studies found that colon cancer outcomes were worse for right-sided colon cancers than for the left-side. This study also found that CME (colon surgery that also removes the nearby lymph nodes) is associated with better survival.
CME is recommended for stage 3 and 4 tumors. However, the effects of CME in patients with early-stage colon cancer remain poorly studied.
Methods & findings
This study included information about 1069 patients with right-side colon cancer. Of these, 256 underwent CME and 813 did not (control group). Patients were followed up for 5.2 years after surgery.
The 5.2-year recurrence rate was 9.7% in the CME group and 17.9% in the control group. Patients in the CME group had a risk reduction for recurrence of 8.2% after 5.2 years.
25 (10%) patients in the CME group had a recurrence and 75 (29%) died during follow-up. In the non-CME group, 145 (18%) had a recurrence and 281 (35%) died during follow-up.
The bottom line
This study concluded CME reduces the risk of recurrence in patients with early-stage right-side colon cancer.
Published By :
The Lancet. Oncology
Date :
Sep 13, 2019
