Outcomes of resection and non-resection strategies in management of patients with advanced colorectal cancer
Open Access
- 10 March 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in World Journal of Surgical Oncology
- Vol. 7 (1), 28
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7819-7-28
Abstract
Background The management of patients with surgically incurable bowel cancer at presentation is controversial. The aims of treatment are to optimise quality of life and prolong survival. It has been believed that the most effective palliation is achieved by resection of the primary cancer in order to pre-empt future complications. This study reviews and compares the outcomes of patients with incurable bowel cancer managed by resection and non-resection strategies over a 7-year period in a single District General Hospital. Patients and methods All patients with surgically incurable bowel cancer at presentation were identified from the prospectively collected local ACPGBI database. Survival, using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, was compared between patients managed by resection of the primary, non-resectional intervention (surgery, stent & oncological treatments) and those managed with supportive care only. The primary endpoint of the study was survival on an intention to treat basis, compared using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests. Results Of 646 consecutive newly diagnosed bowel cancer patients over a 7 year period 154 cases (24%) were deemed surgically incurable at presentation. Of these surgical resection was carried out in 45 patients (29%), non-resectional intervention was followed in 52 patients (34%) and supportive treatment alone in 57 patients (37%). Median survival of each group was as follows: resected patients 11 months (I.Q range 3–18 months), non-resectional intervention 7 months (I.Q range 2–15 months) and supportive care alone 2 months (I.Q range 1–8 months). Only one patient (2%) managed by non-resectional intervention required later surgery to treat primary tumour related complications. Survival was not significantly different between resection and non-resection treatments. The overall operative mortality for the resection group was 16% (7/45 cases), with an elective mortality of 14% (4/28 cases) and emergency mortality 18% (3/17 cases). Conclusion In an unselected bowel cancer population surgical resection of the primary tumour in patients presenting with incurable disease does not improve survival and is associated with a high risk of post-operative mortality.Keywords
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- The role of primary tumour resection in patients with stage IV colorectal cancerColorectal Disease, 2007
- Asymptomatic Colorectal Cancer with Un-Resectable Liver Metastases: Immediate Colorectal Resection or Up-Front Systemic Chemotherapy?Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2006
- Treatment strategy for patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous irresectable liver metastasesBritish Journal of Surgery, 2005
- Surgical Resection of Primary Tumors in Patients Who Present With Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: An Analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Data, 1988 to 2000Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2005
- Elective Bowel Resection for Incurable Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Prognostic Variables for Asymptomatic PatientsJournal of the American College of Surgeons, 2003
- Non-operative management of the primary tumour in patients with incurable stage IV colorectal cancerBritish Journal of Surgery, 2001
- Rectal adenocarcinoma with liver metastases: management of the primary tumourBritish Journal of Surgery, 2001
- Management of advanced rectal cancerBritish Journal of Surgery, 1994
- Colorectal cancerDiseases of the Colon & Rectum, 1988
- The rationale of palliative resection for primary cancer of the colon and rectum complicated by liver and lung metastasisDiseases of the Colon & Rectum, 1964