T1 colorectal cancer: poor histological grading is predictive of lymph-node metastases.

INTRODUCTION

After complete local excision of pT1 colorectal cancers, prediction of the absence of lymph-node involvement represents an interesting perspective in order to avoid unnecessary additional radical surgery, reducing morbidity, mortality and costs of care. We aimed to identify independent risk factors predictive of nodal involvement in pT1 colorectal cancer patients.

METHODS

Data regarding depth of submucosal invasion, histological grading, tumour budding and lymphovascular invasion in a consecutive series of 48 pT1 surgically resected colorectal cancers have been retrospectively collected and related to the nodal status.

RESULTS

A 12.5% rate of nodal involvement has been found. The poor differentiation was found as the only independent predictor of nodal metastases in pT1 colorectal cancer (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor differentiation was the only independent significant predictor of nodal involvement in pT1 colorectal tumours. Our and literature's data confirm that risk factors must be prospectively collected and reported; further genetic and epigenetic predictive factors have to be investigated in order to carefully evaluate the needing of major surgery for pT1 colorectal cancer.