[TNM staging of cancer of the colon]

There are several kinds of proposals for the staging of colon cancer with TNM factors in the world. By comparisons with each survival rates on these staging groups, based on 698 curative resected colon cancer at our hospital between 1962 and 1985, we have evaluated the usefulness of their staging systems. There were no significant differences of survival rates between 3rd and 4th stage groups of J.J.C. classification II and III stage groups of I.C.C. -p-TNM, and Ib and II stage groups of A.J.C. -p-TNM. As far as the resected cases, the degree of spreading of serosal involvement is more affective factor influencing to the prognosis than the one of lymph nodes involvement. Extent of the area of resection and clearance of regional lymph nodes, curative or non curative, is also important prognostic factor. There seems to be still, much room for discussion and revision on the staging of the colon cancer.