Objective: Although its incidence has been increasing, colorectal cancer is rare in young patients. There are conflicting reports on its prognosis in young patients with colorectal cancers. The goal of this study is to investigate the prognostic factors in young patients with colorectal cancer. An observational, population-based, retrospective study.
Materials and Methods: The clinicopathological characteristics, treatment approaches, and survival data of patients with colorectal cancers aged 30 years and younger were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: A total of 32 patients were identified. Hematochezia and abdominal pain were the major signs of colorectal cancer. Left-sided tumors (rectum 53.1%, and left colon 25%) were found to be more common than right-sided (18.8%) and transverse colon tumors (3.1%). Curative surgery was performed in 81.3% of patients. Histologically, 43.8% of cancers found were poorly differentiated. According to the subtype, 21.9% were signet ring cell, and 25% were mucinous (colloid) tumors. Patients were evaluated as Stage III in 46.9% and Stage IV in 31.3% of cases. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 38.7%, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) was 53.2%. Stage IV disease and disease without curative surgery were poor prognostic factors, both for the OS and PFS.
Conclusion: Prognosis was poor in young patients with colorectal cancer. In this institutional study, an advanced stage, left-sided localization, and poor histological feature were frequently detected. The stage and complete surgery were predictive factors for the long-term survival. In this respect, it is important for physicians to heighten their awareness of the increased incidence of colon cancer in younger patients.