In a nutshell
This study investigated the outcomes of stage 4 colorectal cancer patients who received surgery. Researchers suggested that surgery in these patients is associated with an improved 5-year survival rate.
Some background
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US. A significant number of patients presents have stage 4 disease at diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate in patients with metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) cancer is only 14%.
Treatment for advanced colorectal cancer has greatly improved over the past years. These new treatments such as targeted therapy, turn inoperable tumors into operable. This is due to improved tumor shrinkage.
These treatments are also associated with improved outcomes in patients with spread cancer. However, the outcomes of patients who have surgery for synchronous metastasis (SM; metastases diagnosed within 3-month after the diagnosis of the primary cancer) are still not clear.
Methods & findings
This study included information about 330 patients with colorectal cancer. All patients had SM and received surgery for both the primary tumor and the metastases. Patients were followed up for 63.3 months.
101 (30.6%) patients were free of tumor after surgery. These included 12 (11.9%) patients with more that one metastasis. The 5-year overall survival (time from treatment to death by any cause) for these patients was 53%. Complex procedures were necessary for 45 (44.6%) patients.
The bottom line
This study concluded that surgery improves survival of patients with colorectal cancer and SM.
The fine print
This study included a limited number of participants. Also, the data analyzed was from medical records. Further studies are needed for stronger evidence.
Published By :
Surgical oncology
Date :
Jun 05, 2019
