[Prognostic value of invasive growth pattern in sporadic colorectal cancer]

Invasive growth pattern refers to the type of growth of the tumoral margins, whether infiltrating or noninfiltrating. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the invasive growth pattern (infiltrating/noninfiltrating) in colorectal cancer as a prognostic factor related to tumoral recurrence and survival.

We studied 105 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery in the General Surgery Department of the Hospital Universitario Médico-Quirúrgico of Jaen between 1991 and 1997. The mean length of follow-up was 54 months. Regarding invasive growth pattern, 2 types of growth have been described: infiltrating and noninfiltrating.

Tumoral invasion was infiltrating in 65 patients (62%). Tumoral recurrence: in 14 patients (13.3%) distant metastases were diagnosed. In the univariate analysis, infiltrative pattern was a statistically significant risk factor for distant metastases; however, this factor did not retain statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. Survival: 30 patients (28.5%) died from causes directly related to the neoplastic disease. The mean survival was 55 months. Infiltrating growth pattern was a statistically significant independent risk factor for death (HR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.05-5.88).

Infiltrating growth pattern was significantly related with the disease-free interval before metastases. Infiltrating growth was an independent prognostic factor of survival in colorectal cancer.