BACKGROUND: To investigate age-related differences in clinicopathological features, molecular alterations and patient survival in a large, population-based series of CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 5,971 cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2003 representing over 90% of the CRCs diagnosed in the state of Western Australia. RESULTS: Patients aged < or =30, < or =40, < or =50 and < or =60 years comprised 0.9%, 3.1%, 10.6% and 27.8% of all cases, respectively. The proportion of rectal cancers and tumors with poor differentiation was higher in < or =30-year-old patients and decreased progressively with age. The incidence of tumors with microsatellite instability was significantly higher in patients aged 540 years (18.3%) compared to those aged 41-60 years (6.6%; p<0.0001). TP53 mutations were also more frequent (p=0.002), however K-ras mutations were less common (p =0.0001) when comparing the same age groups. CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence for major age-related differences in the clinical and molecular features of CRC.
BACKGROUND: To investigate age-related differences in clinicopathological features, molecular alterations and patient survival in a large, population-based series of CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 5,971 cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2003 representing over 90% of the CRCs diagnosed in the state of Western Australia. RESULTS:Patients aged < or =30, < or =40, < or =50 and < or =60 years comprised 0.9%, 3.1%, 10.6% and 27.8% of all cases, respectively. The proportion of rectal cancers and tumors with poor differentiation was higher in < or =30-year-old patients and decreased progressively with age. The incidence of tumors with microsatellite instability was significantly higher in patients aged 540 years (18.3%) compared to those aged 41-60 years (6.6%; p<0.0001). TP53 mutations were also more frequent (p=0.002), however K-ras mutations were less common (p =0.0001) when comparing the same age groups. CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence for major age-related differences in the clinical and molecular features of CRC.
Authors: A Fariña-Sarasqueta; M J E M Gosens; E Moerland; I van Lijnschoten; V E P P Lemmens; G D Slooter; H J T Rutten; Adriaan J C van den Brule Journal: Cell Oncol (Dordr) Date: 2011-06-01 Impact factor: 6.730