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

Aim: After cancer treatment, patients and clinicians expect accurate prediction of long-term prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine 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 in respect 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 male patients. After retrospective evaluation of the database, the mean duration of disease-free survival was 54 (±50) months and the mean 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 and CEA were statistically correlated with survival time. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that grade, lymph node status and CEA are associated with long-term survival. These clinical factors are suitable to provide a good clinical guide to prognosis.