[Benefit of adjuvant 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy for colon cancer: a retrospective cohort study]. / Beneficio de la quimioterapia adyuvante en pacientes con cáncer de colon: cohorte retrospectiva de un hospital clínico universitario.

BACKGROUND: Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for patients with resectable colon cancer (CC), especially in stage III. AIM: To describe the clinical characteristics of a cohort of CC patients treated at a single university hospital in Chile since 2002, and to investigate if chemotherapy had an effect on survival rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of a tumor registry of the hospital. Medical records of patients with CC treated between 2002 and 2012 were reviewed. Death certificates from the National Identification Service were used to determine mortality. Overall survival was described using the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model was also used. RESULTS: A total of 370 patients were treated during the study period (202 in stage II and 168 in stage III). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 22 and 70% of patients in stage II and III respectively. The median follow-up period was 4.6 years. The 5-year survival rate for stage II patients was 79% and there was no benefit observed with adjuvant chemotherapy. For stage III patients, the 5-year survival rate was 81% for patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, compared to 56% for those who did not receive chemotherapy (hazard ratio (HR): 0.29; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.56). The benefit of chemotherapy was found to persist after adjustment for other prognostic variables (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with colon cancer in stage III who received adjuvant chemotherapy had a better overall survival.

Beneficio de la quimioterapia adyuvante en pacientes con cáncer de colon: cohorte retrospectiva de un hospital clínico universitario / Benefit of adjuvant 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy for colon cancer: a retrospective cohort study

Background: Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for patients with resectable colon cancer (CC), especially in stage III. Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics of a cohort of CC patients treated at a single university hospital in Chile since 2002, and to investigate if chemotherapy had an effect on survival rates. Material and Methods: Review of a tumor registry of the hospital. Medical records of patients with CC treated between 2002 and 2012 were reviewed. Death certificates from the National Identification Service were used to determine mortality. Overall survival was described using the Kaplan-Meier method. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model was also used. Results: A total of 370 patients were treated during the study period (202 in stage II and 168 in stage III). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 22 and 70% of patients in stage II and III respectively. The median follow-up period was 4.6 years. The 5-year survival rate for stage II patients was 79% and there was no benefit observed with adjuvant chemotherapy. For stage III patients, the 5-year survival rate was 81% for patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, compared to 56% for those who did not receive chemotherapy (hazard ratio (HR): 0.29; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.56). The benefit of chemotherapy was found to persist after adjustment for other prognostic variables (HR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.23-0.94).Conclusions: Patients with colon cancer in stage III who received adjuvant chemotherapy had a better overall survival.

Laparoscopic total colectomy for colonic inertia: surgical and functional results.

BACKGROUND: Total colectomy is the surgery of choice for colonic inertia (CI) when medical treatment has failed. Laparoscopic total colectomy has demonstrated to be a feasible technique. OBJECTIVE: Present our experience in patients with CI who underwent laparoscopic total colectomy (TC) + ileorectoanastomosis (IRA) and evaluate the functional results and medium-term follow-up after this surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with CI were included in a prospective laparoscopic surgical protocol, from 2002 to 2007. These patients had a complete work-up for chronic constipation (clinical records, barium enema, colonic transit time, defecography, anorectal manometry, small bowel follow through). All patients were evaluated with Wexner's score for constipation pre- and postoperatively, asked if they would recommend surgery to other patients, and if they were satisfied with the procedure (on a scale from 1 to 10). Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's T-test. RESULTS: In this period 20 patients were operated with diagnosis of CI. All patients were females with an average age of 41.5 years (range 18-52 years). Mean operative time was 248 min (range 170-360 min). One (5%) patient was converted to open surgery. The medium time to flatus per anum and feeding was 2 (range 1-6) and 3 (range 2-6) days, respectively. The medium postoperative stay was 7 days. Seven patients (35%) presented surgical postoperative complications (three postoperative ileus, one portal thrombosis, one rectal hemorrhage, one anastomotic leakage, and one hemoperitoneum). There was no postoperative mortality. The average follow-up was 25 months (range 1-60 months). Preoperative Wexner's constipation score was 22.3 (range 19-29 months) pre surgery and at the end of follow-up was 1.8 (range 0-6) (p < 0.01). The medium level of satisfaction was 8 (range 2-10) and only one patient would not recommend surgery to other patients. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic access is a safe technique with satisfactory functional results after medium-term follow-up.

[Treatment of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and family screening]. / Poliposis familiar: alternativas terapéuticas y estudio de los familiares.

BACKGROUND: To reduce the mortality associated to Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), screening of close relatives of patients with the disease is crucial. AIM: To analyze the results of the surgical treatment of patients with FAP, and to evaluate the family screening. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical records of patients operated in our institution since 1977, were reviewed analyzing surgical and pathological results, and follow up. In their family members, we evaluated and analyzed the performance of screening tests, former surgeries, history of disease-related cancer and mortality, all due to FAP. RESULTS: Between January 1977 and August 2002, 15 patients were operated on. Of these, only 33% consulted on the setting of a familial screening. A proctocolectomy and terminal ileostomy was performed in 27% of patients; 20% had a proctocolectomy and ileal pouch, and 53% underwent a total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis. Morbidity and mortality were 7% and 0%, respectively. Twenty percent had a colorectal cancer. During a median of 68 months follow-up, the disease-related survival was 92%; no cancer of the rectal stump was detected. Of the 122 family members identified, only 33% with clear indication of screening underwent a colonoscopy. Twenty-nine percent had a confirmed FAP and were operated: in 61% of them a colorectal cancer was found, and 91% of these died. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the surgical treatment of FAP are satisfactory. Nevertheless, family screening should be improved to reduce the high rates of mortality revealed in the study of other family members.