Clinicopathological analysis of colorectal cancers in the elderly

The average life expectancy of Japanese is 78 years for males and 85 years for females, being the longest in the world. In this study, elderly patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgery and their non-elderly counterparts were compared to characterize the elderly patients. Of 387 colorectal cancer patients, 98 were over 75 years old, and 106 were between 45 and 60 years of age. These two groups of patients were analyzed for clinicopathological parameters, prognosis, and the expression of matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) and E-cadherin molecules as indicators of the invasive and metastatic ability of colorectal cancer. The elderly and non-elderly groups did not significantly differ in the clinicopathological findings. Molecular genetic analysis showed that the rates of MMP-9 or E-cadherin protein expression in the elderly and non-elderly groups were not significantly different. Considering that colorectal cancers in the elderly do not significantly differ from those in the non-elderly in tumor stage or malignancy grade, treatment policies should be comprehensively based on individual coexisting diseases and the general condition including physiological age.