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The Worse Prognosis of Right-Sided Compared with Left-Sided Colon Cancers: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

Right-sided colon cancers (RCC) and left-sided colon cancers (LCC) are of different embryological origins, and various differences exist between them. However, the survival difference has not been assessed. The aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the prognostic differences between RCC and LCC.

Methods

Fifteen studies that compared the prognosis of colon cancer according to tumor location were identified. The effects of tumor location on survival outcome were assessed.

Results

Patients with RCC had a significantly worse prognosis than did those with LCC in overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.14, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.22, p < 0.01). Our subgroup analyses demonstrated significant prognostic differences in Western countries (HR = 1.15, 95 % CI 1.08–1.23, p < 0.01), a nationwide database (HR = 1.15, 95 % CI 1.05–1.27, p = 0.01), and a stage-adjusted analysis (HR = 1.14, 95 % CI 1.05–1.24, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that tumor location is associated with prognosis in colorectal cancer patients, and those with RCC have a significantly worse prognosis than those with LCC in terms of OS. RCC should be treated distinctively from LCC, and the establishment of standardized management for colon cancer by tumor location is needed.

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Acknowledgments

The English in this document has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English. For a certificate, please see: http://www.textcheck.com/certificate/8kSKfz

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Masashi Yahagi, Koji Okabayashi, Hirotoshi Hasegawa, Masashi Tsuruta & Yuko Kitagawa

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  1. Masashi Yahagi
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  2. Koji Okabayashi
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Correspondence to Koji Okabayashi.

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Yahagi, M., Okabayashi, K., Hasegawa, H. et al. The Worse Prognosis of Right-Sided Compared with Left-Sided Colon Cancers: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Gastrointest Surg 20, 648–655 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-015-3026-6

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