CRC as First of Multiple Primary Malignancies Tied to Better Outcomes Than CRC as Only Malignancy
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, June 26, 2025 -- Compared with colorectal cancer (CRC) presenting as an isolated primary or second primary malignancy, CRC presenting as the first of multiple primary malignancies less often presents at advanced stage and is associated with improved survival, according to a study published online June 17 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Anjelli Wignakumar, M.B.B.S., from Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, and colleagues examined features and outcomes of isolated primary CRC compared to CRC presenting in a sequence of multiple primary cancers in a retrospective cohort study. Patients were classified as CRC as the only malignancy (Group A, 424,920 patients), CRC as the first of multiple primary malignancies (Group B, 70,432 patients), and CRC as the second of multiple primary malignancies (Group C, 96,711 patients; 71.8, 11.9, and 16.3 percent, respectively).
The researchers found that patients in Group A were younger, had elevated pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen, more frequent liver metastases, more frequent lung metastases, and systemic adjuvant treatments. More T4 tumors were included in Group A (14.5 percent versus 10.4 and 12.4 percent, respectively), and the group had less surgical treatments than Groups B and C (86.4 percent versus 94.8 and 88.1 percent, respectively). More men were included in Group B, and the group also had more left-sided CRC. Group C had more right-sided CRC. The longest overall survival and cancer-specific survival were seen for Group B (50.4 and 51.3 months, respectively).
"We expected isolated CRC patients to fare best, but patients with CRC diagnosed first, followed by another cancer had the best survival rates," Wignakumar said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2025
Read this next
Acute Ischemic Stroke Up in Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander People
FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2025 -- The incidence of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is higher among Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (NHOPI) individuals than among other racial and ethnic...
Meal Timing May Shift With Aging, Is Linked to Health Changes
FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2025 -- Meal timing changes with age and may reflect health changes in older adults, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Communications...
Industry Payments Common Among Neurologists Prescribing MS Drugs
FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2025 -- Nearly 80 percent of neurologists prescribing multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs receive payments from industry, according to a study published online Aug. 26...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.