Identification of the Risk Factors for Recurrence of Stage III Colorectal Cancer

Background/Aim: This study aimed to identify risk factors for recurrence of patients with stage III colorectal cancer by assessing clinicopathological features. Patients and Methods: The study included 231 patients with stage III colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection between 2006 and 2012 at the Department of Surgery of the Jikei University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Clinicopathological data of the patients were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The recurrence rate was 27.7% (64/231) in the study group. The univariate analysis for recurrence identified five risk factors: site of primary tumor (rectal cancer), surgical procedure (open surgery), preoperative serum CEA level (>5 ng/ml), preoperative serum CA19-9 level (>37 U/ml), and number of metastatic lymph nodes (over three metastases). The multivariate analysis for recurrence identified three risk factors: rectal cancer, preoperative serum CEA level >5.0 ng/ml 95%, and more than three metastatic lymph nodes. Conclusion: The risk factors for stage III colorectal cancer recurrence seem to be rectal cancer, preoperative serum CEA level >5.0 ng/ml, and more than three metastatic lymph nodes.