Tumor stage in the proximal colon under conditions of a proximal shift of colorectal cancer with age

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the incidence of proximal colon cancer is known to increase with age, the prognosis of proximal colon cancer remains unclear. METHODOLOGY: One thousand two hundred and five patients with colorectal cancer were analyzed with regard to tumor location, age and Duke's stage. RESULTS: When Duke's stage was compared with tumor location, an advanced Duke's stage was found more frequently in the proximal colon than in the distal colorectum (p < 0.01). In Duke's A colorectal cancer, the incidence of tumors limited to within the submucosal layer decreased from 73.1% in patients under 65 years of age to 60.9% in patients over 65 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Since advanced stage cancer was more frequently found in the proximal colon than in the distal colorectum, careful examination for the early detection of proximal colon cancer, particularly in the elderly, is called for.