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Differences between right and left colon cancer among Albanian patients
Background
Colon cancer (CC) is among the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the Western world. It is considered as a two entity cancer: right-sided colon cancer (RCC) and left-sided colon cancer (LCC); where RCC is characterized by a high grade tumor and a higher tumor stage at diagnosis, thus a worst prognosis. Albania, a developing country, has a relatively low incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), 9.3 per 100 000 inhabitants; CC encompasses about 50% of all CRC cases. 1 The aim of this study is to find out whether these differences are present in our CC patients. 1 Sina M, Akshija I, Prifti S, Koçollari A, Osmanaj D, A. H. Epidemiological Data on Colorectal Cancer in Albania. Albanian Journal of Medical and Health Sciences. 2018;49(1):10-17.
Methods
This is a single center study, conducted at the University Clinic of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Tirana, Albania, during 2014-2017. Only patients ≥18 years old, with no familial or hereditary cancer history and no synchronous neither metachronous CC were included. Based on their pTNM stage they were divided in two groups: localized CC group (TNM I+TNM II) and advanced CC (TNM III+TNM IV). They were further divided into low tumor grade (G1+G2) and high tumor grade (G3+G4) according to tumor differentiation. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS statistical package version 23.0.
Results
A total number of 126 patients were included; 75 (59.6%) male and 51 (40.4%) female. There were 44 (35%) RCC, and 82 (65%) LCC. No statistical differences were found regarding age (62.59±11.13 vs 62.87± 11.73 respectively; p=0.890) and gender M:F (1:0.51 vs 1:0.79 respectively). G3+G4 was diagnosed more frequently in RCC than in LCC patients (38.6 vs 20.7%, OR 2.41, P=0.031). RCC was diagnosed more frequently at advanced TNM stage when compared to LCC, (65.9% vs 59.7%), but this finding wasn’t statistically significant (p=0.498, OR 0.768).
Conclusions
In our cohort, RCC patients were more prone to have high tumor grade than LCC patients. This finding was not accompanied by a higher stage of the disease at the moment of diagnosis. We consider it an important data, in order to predict surgical techniques and other oncologic modalities.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosures
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
