Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer in the North East of Scotland: Survival, Clinico-Pathological Features and Genetics

Abstract

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients aged under 55 years is on the rise, constituting approximately 10% of cases. Our aim was to determine the survival and clinico-pathological details of young-onset CRC (yCRC), as well as audit the referral rate to genetic services and thus establish the incidence of inherited cancer syndromes. Methods A retrospective case note review was conducted for patients aged under 55 years who were diagnosed with CRC between 2005-2015 in the North East of Scotland. Cases were identified by pathology records and data was obtained from patient notes then crosschecked with the NHS Grampian genetics electronic case records. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 (IBM, New York, USA) to produce Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, descriptive statistics and markers predictive for genetic referral. Results Data from 345 patients (age range 22-54 years) were identified. The one year, five year and overall survival rates were found to be 89%, 63% and 55%, respectively. Most patients (61%) presented with advanced disease. Of 201 patients that met criteria for genetic referral, only 93 (46%) were referred to genetics services. Microsatellites instability (MSI) was identified in 14% of those referred. Conclusions Survival in yCRC was found to be better than that in later onset disease, despite higher rates of advanced disease. Patients were under-referred to genetic services, where a significant proportion were found to be MSI positive and investigated for Lynch syndrome.

Possible applications of salvianolic acid B against different cancers

“…Colorectal cancer is the third most death causing cancer worldwide [104,105]. In colorectal cancer patients, 5-year survival rate generally after diagnosis is around 50-55% [106]. Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer is the ideal choice of intervention but drug resistance often hampers the success of therapy.…”