[Blood transfusion worsens the prognosis in colorectal cancer. Preliminary study in a series of 717 cases].

We have conducted an investigation on the relationship between blood transfusion and recurrence of resected colorectal cancer and survival of the patients. During the past ten years 717 patients have been surgically treated of colorectal cancer in our hospital; 442 of the cases were Duke's stages B or C, and the resection had been considered radical. In both groups, recurrences were most frequent in patients who received blood transfusions; survival was also lower in this group of patients.