Failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with adverse survival in stage III colon cancer patients

M. Morris, Cameron Platell, Lin Fritschi, Barry Iacopetta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two recent North American studies have shown that completion of 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based adjuvant chemotherapy is a major prognostic factor for the survival of elderly stage III colon cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to confirm this finding in a population-based series from Australia. The study cohort comprised 851 stage III colon cancer patients treated by surgery alone and 461 who initiated the Mayo chemotherapy regime. One-third of patients who initiated chemotherapy failed to complete more than three cycles of treatment. Independent predictors for failure to complete were treatment in district or rural hospitals, low socioeconomic index and treatment by a low-volume surgeon. Patients who failed to complete chemotherapy showed worse cancer-specific survival compared not only to those who completed treatment (HR = 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.66 - 3.03), P < 0.001) but also to those treated by surgery alone ( HR = 1.37; 95% CI ( 1.09 - 1.72), P = 0.008). The current and previous studies demonstrate the importance of completing adjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy for colon cancer. Further prospective studies are required to identify better the physiological and socioeconomic factors responsible for failure to complete chemotherapy so that appropriate improvements in health service delivery can be made.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)701-707
JournalBritish Journal of Cancer
Volume96
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Failure to complete adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with adverse survival in stage III colon cancer patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this