Improved Outcome of Patients with Colorectal Cancer: The Ljubljana University Medical Centre Experience

Abstract

Background/Aims: Analysis of outcome in patients undergoing resection for colorectal carcinoma. Methods: Between 1/1/1991 and 31/12/2000, 1,478 patients with a colon and rectal carcinoma underwent a potentially curative resection. The results were analyzed for two groups of patients given different treatment regimens during two consecutive 5-year periods. The 5-year survival rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Over a period of 10 years, 1,478 patients were treated by resection. The 5-year survival rate for R0 resected patients with stage I and stage III colon cancer in the period 1996–2000 was significantly higher than for patients operated on between 1991 and 1995 (stage I: 86 vs. 70%; stage III: 58 vs. 40%). Similarly, the 5-year survival rate for R0 resected patients with stage III rectal cancer between 1996 and 2000 was significantly better than that for patients operated on during the early period (58 vs. 31%). Conclusions: Patients who underwent R0 resection for colorectal cancer during the period 1995–2000 showed a significantly improved 5-year survival rate compared to those operated on between 1991 and 1995. Improved survival in these patients is to a great extent attributable to improvements in clinical practice combining surgery and adjuvant therapy.