Evaluating the value of tumor length times width in colorectal adenocarcinoma with different tumor locations.

The T classification, which reflects the vertical growth pattern of the tumor, is one of the most important prognostic factors in colorectal cancer. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of tumor length and width in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 259 patients with stage I-III CRC who underwent curative resection were reevaluated according to tumor location. One-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the tumor length times width (TLTW) and clinical parameters. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to analyze the potential prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) of patients with stage I-III CRC. In the entire cohort, the TLTW was analyzed as a continuous variable. The results suggested that TLTW (P = .003) and tumor location (P = .04) could be independent prognostic factors for patients with CRC. In addition, TLTW had an intimate relationship with tumor location (P < 0.001) and differentiation (P = .003). The mean TLTW of the right colon was significantly larger than mean TLTW of the left colon and rectal cancers. However, the mean TLTW of the left colon cancer was similar to that of the rectal cancer TLTW (P > 0.05, not shown). Subgroup analysis of TLTW according to tumor location suggested that TLTW was an independent prognostic factor for patients with right colon cancer (RCC) (P = .007) rather than left colon cancer (LCC) (P = .49) or rectal cancer (P = .16). Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysis based on tumor location suggested that the survival rate of RCC patients had a distinctly higher trend rate than LCC patients and RECC patients in the long-term rather than in the short-term. TLTW is closely associated with tumor location in CRC. In addition, TLTW may be an independent prognostic factor for patients with RCC.