Colorectal Cancer Demographics and Survival in a London Cancer Network

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a relationship exists between age, ethnicity, gender and survival of patients within a London Cancer Network. All patients with non metastatic colorectal cancer diagnosed and treated within the South West London Cancer Network between January 2001 and January 2006 were included for analysis. Consent was gained from all hospitals within the London Cancer Network, and data was subsequently requested from the Thames Cancer Registry. In total, 3151 patients were analysed. The results demonstrated that from 2003 there was a yearly increase in new cancer diagnosis. The ratio of male to female patients was approximately equal over the time period (51.5% male, 48.5% female). The overall mean patient age at diagnosis was 70.76 years. Asian, black and mixed race patients had better survival rates than white European patients (hazard ratios 0.96, 0.87, 0.96 respectively). Patients in the age cohort ‘50-59 years’ had a 5 year survival rate of 57.8 months (hazard ratio 1.63), whilst the ‘under 40 years’ age cohort had the longest 5 year survival rate of 67.4 months. When comparing tumour sites, patients with rectosigmoid tumours had the lowest 5 year survival rate (hazard ratio 1.12), and those with rectal tumours (n=816, hazard ratio 0.88) had the longest 5 year survival rate. Median and overall survival for all patients was 38.84 months and 42.3% respectively. Surgery with neoadjuvant therapy resulted in the longest 5 year survival rate at 62.8%. Surgery alone had a 5 year survival rate of 43%. The results could be used to help design a prognostic indicator tool as a means by which to assist clinicians in providing patients with information on survival outcomes.