Clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer patients under 30 years of age.

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer death in the world and is estimated to have been responsible for almost 935,000 deaths during 2020.

OBJECTIVE

Describe clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in CRC patients under 30 years.

METHOD: This is a retrospective cohort study in patients under 30 years diagnosed with CRC.

RESULTS

From 2017 to 2021, 1823 patients were diagnosed with CRC, of which 54 (2.96%) were under 30 years. The OS, during 4 years, was 41.5%. The clinical stage found IV (hazard ratio [HR]: 6.212; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.504-15.414; p < 0.001), giving neoadjuvant therapy (HR: 0.705; 95% CI: 0.499-0.996; p = 0.047) and no medical history of Lynch syndrome (HR: 3.925; 95% CI: 1.355-11.364; p = 0.012) are independent predictors of mortality. The PFS, during 4 years, was 21.3%. Clinical stage IV (HR: 2.418; 95% CI: 1.000-5.850; p < 0.050), and no diagnosis of Lynch syndrome (HR: 3.800; 95% CI: 1.398-10.326; p = 0.009) are independent predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger patients are usually diagnosed with CRC in advanced stages. Early symptoms and evaluation, irrespective of age, are crucial.