[Colorectal cancer in the Department of Côte-d'Or]

The present study is based on the data of the digestive tract cancer registry set up for the French department of Cote d'Or (population 455,727). During 1976-1980, 581 colon cancers and 489 rectal cancers were diagnosed. They represent 47 per cent of all recorded gastro intestinal cancers. The annual adjusted incidence rates for colon cancers, adjusted to the world population were 17.5 for males, 13.3 for females. The corresponding rates for rectal cancers were 18.2 for males, 9.7 for females. These rates rank among the high rates found in North America and Western Europe. They are particularly high for rectal cancers. There was an urban predominance for colon cancer in males. Among colorectal cancers, 75 per cent were located in the rectum or sigmoid. Sixty-one per cent of the cases of large bowel cancer underwent curative surgery. The overall 5-year survival rate was 30.0 per cent for colon cancer, 27.4 per cent for rectal cancer. After curative surgery the 5 year survival rates were respectively 53.7 per cent and 47.8 per cent. The most important determinant of survival was the pathological stage of the tumour. These results underline the fact that by its frequency and its severity, colorectal cancer represents a major cancer problem.