Long-Term Outcomes of Colon Cancer Patients Undergoing Standardized Technique Operation With Curative Intent

Abstract

There is no defined standard surgical technique accepted worldwide for colon cancer, especially on the extent of resection and lymphadenectomy, resulting in technical variations among surgeons. Nearly all analyses employ more than one surgeon, thus giving heterogeneous results on surgical treatment. This study aims to evaluate long-term follow-up results of colon cancer patients who were operated on by a single senior colorectal surgeon using a standardized technique with curative intent, and to compare these results with the literature. A total of 269 consecutive patients who were operated on with standardized technique between January 2003 and June 2013 were enrolled in this study. Standardized technique means separation of the mesocolic fascia from the parietal plane with sharp dissection and ligation of the supplying vessels closely to their roots. Patients were assessed in terms of postoperative morbidity, mortality, disease recurrence, and survival. Operations were carried out with a 99.3% R0 resection rate and mean lymph node count of 17.7 nodes per patient. Surviving patients were followed up for a mean period of 57.8 months, and a total of 19.7% disease recurrence was recorded. Mean survival was 113.9 months. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 78% and 75.8% for disease-free survival, 82.6% and 72.9% for overall survival, and 87.5% and 82.9% for cancer-specific survival, respectively. R1 resection and pathologic characteristics of the tumor were found to be the most important prognostic factors according to univariate and Cox regression analyses. Standardization of surgical therapy and a dedicated team are thought to make significant contributions to the improvement of prognosis.