[Cancer of the colon: prognostic factors]

The course of 675 patients operated on for carcinoma of the colon was analysed in relation to various prognostically relevant factors. The most important one in case of recurrence was a negative CEA (carcino-embryonal antigen) test. In this case the five-year survival rate after a second operation was 44%, compared with 6%, if the test was positive. Radical second operation was associated with a negative CEA test in 70% of cases. The five-year survival rate after second operation in stage rT1-3 N0M0 was 26%. Patients who had regular follow-ups survived the second operation with a five-year survival rate of 11%, none survived who had been without medical follow-up. Five-year survival rate of 16% was achieved by the group of patients who were symptom-free; none with symptomatic recurrence survived. Other prognostically favourable factors were: male sex; tumour localized to the ascending colon; onset in the fifth decade; long recurrence-free interval; and early stage of the tumour at first operation.