Role of Family History and Tumor Location on Prognosis of Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Synchronous Metastases

Background/aims: Family history of colorectal cancer and tumor location along colon-rectum have been reported as prognostic factors. The aim of the current study is to analyze the role of both on overall survival in a series of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with synchronous metastases.

Methods: A retrospective mono-institutional analysis has been performed on patients, who received chemotherapy from 2004 to 2008. A Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) for death, after adjustment for other variables (tumor metastasectomy, number of organs involved with metastases, number of anti-neoplastic drugs, age, sex, tumor grade, baseline CEA).

Results: Two hundred and seven patients were included in the study. Only tumor metastasectomy was related with a better overall survival (HR 4.995; P < 0.001), whereas a positive family history was associated with a poor prognosis (HR 0.386; P = 0.021). After exclusion of rectal tumors, the negative prognostic effect of a positive family history appeared limited to patients with a left-sided colon cancer (HR 0.183; P = 0.036).

Conclusion: Family history for colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative, and not tumor location, has a significant relationship with the prognosis of patients with a colorectal cancer and synchronous metastases.