PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer in non-elite cases.

METHODS

We defined patients whose clinical characteristics conformed to the criteria of the JCOG0404 trial as "elite" and those whose clinical characteristics did not conform to these criteria as "non-elite". Patients with Stage II/III colorectal cancer (n = 450) were analyzed. The elite (E) and non-elite (NE) groups were further divided into open (E-Open, NE-Open) and laparoscopic (E-Lap, NE-Lap) surgery groups. We compared the short- and long-term outcomes of these groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed when comparing the NE groups.

RESULTS

The E group included 163 patients and the NE group included 287 patients. Before and after PSM, the NE-Lap group had significantly longer operative times, lower postoperative complication rates, earlier recovery of bowel function, and shorter postoperative hospital stays than the NE-Open group. After PSM, the Clavien-Dindo classification Grade ≥ III complications and reoperation rates in the NE-Lap group were significantly lower than those in the NE-Open group. The short-term outcomes of the NE-Lap group were comparable with those of the E-Lap group. The 5-year overall survival rates were not significantly different among the groups.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer is effective and safe, even in non-elite cases.