Regression analyses of prognostic factors in colorectal cancer.

In a follow-up study of 110 patients with colorectal cancer, age, sex, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin (Hb), leukocyte count, emergency operation, tumor site, Dukes' stage, and histologic grade were tested in survival analyses. Dukes' stage was a highly superior prognostic discriminator. In multivariate survival analysis (Cox model) elevated ESR and leukocytosis were significant prognostic factors in addition to the Dukes' stage, indicating high-risk patients with shorter survival.