Prognostic Factors for Post-Recurrence Survival in Stage II and III Colorectal Carcinoma Patients.

: This study aimed to evaluate prognostic factors for post-recurrence survival in local and locally advanced colorectal cancer patients. A total of 273 patients with stage III and high-risk stage II colorectal cancer were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent operative treatment of the primary tumor and adjuvant fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Over the three-year period (2008-2010), a cohort of 273 patients with stage III and high-risk stage II colorectal cancer had been screened. During follow up, 105 (38.5%) patients had disease recurrence. Survival rates 1-, 3- and 5-year after recurrence were 53.9, 18.2 and 6.5%, respectively, and the median post-recurrence survival time was 13 months. Survival analysis showed that age at diagnosis ( < 0.01), gender ( < 0.05), elevated postoperative Ca19-9 ( < 0.01), tumor histology (adenocarcinoma vs. mucinous vs. signet ring tumors, < 0.01) and tumor stage (II vs. III, < 0.05) had a significant influence on post-recurrence survival. Recurrence interval and metastatic site were not related to survival following recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that older age (HR 2.43), mucinous tumors (HR 1.51) and tumors expressing Ca19-9 at baseline (HR 3.51) were independently associated with survival following recurrence. Baseline patient and tumor characteristics largely predicted patient outcomes after disease recurrence. Recurrence intervals in local and locally advanced colorectal cancer were not found to be prognostic factors for post-recurrence survival. Older age, male gender, stage III and mucinous histology were poor prognostic factors after the disease had recurred. Stage II patients had remarkable post-recurrence survival compared to stage III patients.