Metabolic syndrome is a predictor of all-site and liver-specific recurrence after primary resection of colorectal cancer (CRC), suggest the findings of a new study published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology.
The study prospectively recruited consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for stage I-III CRC at Southampton General Hospital.
A total of 1006 patients were recruited and followed up for a median of 50 (interquartile range, 30-67) months. The distribution of primary tumours between right colon (proximal to splenic flexure), left colon (splenic flexure, descending and sigmoid colon) and rectum was 36.6, 28.6 and 34.8 per cent, respectively.
Of the 1006 participants, 177 (17.6%) met the criteria for metabolic syndrome.
Approximately 25 per cent of patients (n=245) developed recurrence, of whom 16 per cent (n=161) had liver recurrence.
The presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with a reduction in disease-free survival from 69 to 58 months (P<.001) and overall survival from 74 to 61 months (P<.001). Metabolic syndrome was an independent predictor of all-site (HR, 1.76; P<.001) and liver-specific (HR, 1.74; P=.01) recurrence.
The findings are in keeping with the general consensus that metabolic syndrome has a negative influence on CRC progression.
The authors say the findings support the consideration of metabolic parameters in multidisciplinary decision-making, as part of ongoing efforts to personalise treatment in patients with CRC.
