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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2017; 38(04): 466-470
DOI: 10.4103/ijmpo.ijmpo_187_16
Original Article

Is Colorectal Cancer in Young (<40 Years) Different from those in the Elderly (>40 Years): Experience from a Regional Care Center

Rudresha A Haleshappa
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Suparna Ajit Rao
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Sunny Garg
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
,
C Lakshmaiah Kuntegowdanahalli
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Govinda Babu Kanakasetty
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
,
Lokanatha Dasappa
Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations Financial support and sponsorship Nil.
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Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered a disease of elderly. There has been a steady decrease in the incidence in those aged >50 years, with an alarming increase noted in adults aged <50 years. Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 89 patients diagnosed with CRC aged <40 years between the years 2010 and 2014. Their clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes were studied. Results: The median age was 33 years with a male preponderance (56.2%). Mostcommon symptoms were lower gastrointestinal bleed (48.3%) followed by abdominal pain (46.1%). Mostcommon sites were rectum (50.6%) followed by colon. Histology in all was adenocarcinoma. Most tumors were moderately differentiated (54%) and were stage 4 (36%). Mostcommon sites of metastases were liver (46.9%) followed by peritoneum and ovaries. Majority underwent surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy, with/without radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was administered in 70 patients, majority receiving FOLFOX-4 regimen (88.6%). Median survival was 23 months. Survival in early stage[1],[2] was significantly higher than in advanced stages (3 and above), 34 and 19 months (P = 0.0287), in those aged >40 yearscompared to <40–35 versus 23 months (P = 0.0029), nonmetastaticcompared to metastatic disease – 26 versus 14 months (P = 0.00196), and femalescompared to males – 26 and 18 months (P = 0.0242). There was no significant difference in survival with respect to tumor grade or site of metastases (hepatic versus extrahepatic). Conclusions: Colorectal carcinoma in young seems to be an emerging problem in India. Any young patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of a colonic malignancy should be evaluated promptly and treated aggressively.

Keywords

Colorectal cancer - young patients - age <40


Publication History

Article published online:
04 July 2021

© 2017. Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used forcommercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)

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