Rectum cancer: The effects of perioperative outcomes of patients as long-term prognostic factor

Abstract

Aim: After cancer treatment, patients and clinicians expect accurate prediction of long-term prognosis. The aim of this study was todetermine which perioperative factors that may also be useful in determining long-term prognosis.Material and Methods: The data of rectum cancer patients operated on between 1998 and 2006 were retrospectively compared inrespect of clinicopathological and operative results, and long-term survival. Survival was calculated using a Kaplan-Meier method.Data thought to be associated with survival were subjected to univariate analysis followed by Cox proportion regression.Results: A total of 348 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 56 (±12) years in patients and 195 (56%) were malepatients. After retrospective evaluation of the database, the mean duration of disease-free survival was 54 (±50) months and themean duration of life was 60 (±48) months. There was no statistically significant correlation between gender, surgical procedure,histopathologic type of tumor, T level of the tumor, stage of the patient, ca 19-9 and mean life span. Grade, lymph node status andCEA were statistically correlated with survival time.Conclusion: We have demonstrated that grade, lymph node status and CEA are associated with long-term survival. These clinicalfactors are suitable to provide a good clinical guide to prognosis.