This document provides information about colorectal cancer, including: - Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in Colombia. Survival rates are much lower in Colombia than the US. - Risk factors include diet high in fat and low in fiber, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, family history, and hereditary syndromes. - Hereditary syndromes associated with colorectal cancer include Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP). - Diagnosis involves screening via colonoscopy to detect polyps which can be removed to prevent cancer development. Staging determines cancer extent and guides treatment.

1. Cáncer de colon y recto
(colorectal cancer)

2. Mauricio Lema Medina MD
Clínica de Oncología Astorga / Clínica SOMA
Medellín
Inspirado en: Michael Bierut, 2013, Logo para Mohawk Fine Papers

5. Inspirado en: Saul Bass, 1955,, The Man With the Golden Arm

11. Objetivo
Obtener un conocimiento GENERAL
del enfoque y manejo USUAL de
pacientes con cáncer de colon y
recto, desde la sospecha diagnóstica,
hasta las pautas de seguimiento
post-tratamiento, pasando por los
aspectos más relevantes de
tratamientos con intención curativa.

12. Epidemiology

13. Cancer
epidemiology
(World-
Colombia)
Cancer New cases (World) Deaths (World) New cases (Colombia) Deaths (Colombia)
Breast 2’088.849 (2) 626.679 (5) 13.380 (1) 3.702 (4)
Prostate 1’276.106 (4) 358.989 (8) 12.712 (2) 3.166 (5)
Lung 2’093.876 (1) 1’761.007 (1) 5.856 (5) 5.236 (2)
Stomach 1’033.701 (5) 782.685 (3) 7.419 (4) 5.505 (1)
Colon & rectum 1’849.518 (3) 880.792 (2) 9.140 (3) 4.489 (3)
Lymphoma (NH) 509.990 (10) 248.724 (11) 4.170 (6) 1.676 (10)
Uterine cérvix 569.847 (8) 311.365 (9) 3.853 (7) 1.775 (9)
Leukemia 437.003 (12) 309.006 (10) 3.126 (8) 2.192 (7)
Ovarian 295.414 (17) 184.799 (14) 2.414 (9) 1.252 (11)
Pancreas 458.918 (11) 402.232 (7) 2.311 (10) 2.142 (8)
Liver 841.080 (6) 781.636 (4) 2.279 (11) 2.216 (6)
Multiple mieloma 159.885 (21) 106.105 1323 (14) 806 (14)
Esophagus 572.034 (7) 508.585 (6) 922 (15) 710 (15)
Hodgkin 79.999 (25) 26.167 743 (16) 216
Brain 296.851 (16) 241.037 (12) 1884 (12) 1.176 (12)
Gallbladder 219.420 (19) 165.087 (17) 1657 (13) 1.104 (13)
All 18’078.957 9’555.027 101.893 46.057
http://gco.iarc.fr/today/

14. Cancer
epidemiology
(World-
Colombia)
Cancer New cases (World) Deaths (World) New cases (Colombia) Deaths (Colombia)
Breast 2’088.849 (2) 626.679 (5) 13.380 (1) 3.702 (4)
Prostate 1’276.106 (4) 358.989 (8) 12.712 (2) 3.166 (5)
Lung 2’093.876 (1) 1’761.007 (1) 5.856 (5) 5.236 (2)
Stomach 1’033.701 (5) 782.685 (3) 7.419 (4) 5.505 (1)
Colon & rectum 1’849.518 (3) 880.792 (2) 9.140 (3) 4.489 (3)
Lymphoma (NH) 509.990 (10) 248.724 (11) 4.170 (6) 1.676 (10)
Uterine cérvix 569.847 (8) 311.365 (9) 3.853 (7) 1.775 (9)
Leukemia 437.003 (12) 309.006 (10) 3.126 (8) 2.192 (7)
Ovarian 295.414 (17) 184.799 (14) 2.414 (9) 1.252 (11)
Pancreas 458.918 (11) 402.232 (7) 2.311 (10) 2.142 (8)
Liver 841.080 (6) 781.636 (4) 2.279 (11) 2.216 (6)
Multiple mieloma 159.885 (21) 106.105 1323 (14) 806 (14)
Esophagus 572.034 (7) 508.585 (6) 922 (15) 710 (15)
Hodgkin 79.999 (25) 26.167 743 (16) 216
Brain 296.851 (16) 241.037 (12) 1884 (12) 1.176 (12)
Gallbladder 219.420 (19) 165.087 (17) 1657 (13) 1.104 (13)
All 18’078.957 9’555.027 101.893 46.057
http://gco.iarc.fr/today/

15. • Higher incidence in males
• Colon higher than rectum
• Europe, Australia and North America - higher
• Africa and Asia – lower
• South America
• Colon: 12.4/100.000 inhabitant/yr
• Rectum: 7.7/100.000 inhabitants/yr
Colon &
rectum cancer
epidemiology
CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Volume: 68, Issue: 6, Pages: 394-424, First published: 12 September 2018, DOI: (10.3322/caac.21492)

16. Colombia: 15.8/100.000

17. Colombia: 7.6/100.000

18. Relative frequencies of cancer diagnosis in the
World (left) and Colombia (right)

19. 10 causas de
morbilidad por
cancer en Cali
• El Ca de colon y recto compite con
el Ca gástrico por el tercer lugar en
incidencia, después de Ca de
mama y Ca de próstata
http://rpcc.univalle.edu.co/es/SitiosEspecificos/pdf-
sitiosespecificos/Sitios_Especificos.php?sitio=4

20. La incidencia
de cancer de
colon y recto
está en
aumento, en
Colombia
http://rpcc.univalle.edu.co/es/SitiosEspecificos/pdf-
sitiosespecificos/Sitios_Especificos.php?sitio=4

21. El Ca de colon y recto es la 4ta causa de muerte por cancer en
hombres y la tercera en mujeres, en Colombia

22. Supervivencia a a
5 años de ca de
colon y recto
• En Colombia: 35.4%, 35.8%, para
cancer de colon y recto,
respectivamente
• En Estados Unidos: 64.9%, 64.1%
para cancer de colon y recto,
respectivamente
• Existe una diferencia en términos
absolutos de aproximadamente
29% entre Colombia y Estados
Unidos.
• El riesgo de fallecer a los 5 años es casi
el doble en pacientes con cá de colon
o recto en Colombia al compararlo con
los Estados Unidos.
http://rpcc.univalle.edu.co/es/SitiosEspecificos/pdf-
sitiosespecificos/Sitios_Especificos.php?sitio=4

23. Risk factors

24. Risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer
Diet: animal fat Hereditary syndromes
Inflammatory bowel diseaseStreptococcus bovis bacteremia
Upper socioeconomic populations
Correlates with per capita consumption of calories,
meat protein, dietary fat and oil, high cholesterol,
high coronary artery disease
Dietary fats change in the microbiome (anaerobes),
converting bile-acids into carcinogens
High-calorie intake / inactivity cause obesity: insulin
resistance, increase in IGF-1, more polyps (and
cancer)
Fibers and vegetable intake have no been proven to
prevent CRC development
Up to 25% have a family history
Polyposis coli
MYH-associated polyposis
Nonpolyposis syndromes (Lynch)
More with ulcerative colitis
Rare during first 10 years
Thereafter: 1%/yr incidence
Prophylactic colectomy for long active IBD
For unknown reason
Consider upper and lower GI endoscopies

25. Hereditary colo-
rectal cancer

29. Diagnosis and
staging

30. Hereditary colon cancer
genes
Lynch Syndrome
Hereditary Polyposis Syndrome

31. ESMO, Essentials for Clinicians
Gastrointestinal tract tumours, 2016

32. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
DNA mismatch repair deficiency
Yes No
Lynch syndrome
CRC type X
syndrome
MUTYH associated
CRC
ESMO, Essentials for Clinicians
Gastrointestinal tract tumours, 2016

33. ESMO, Essentials for Clinicians
Gastrointestinal tract tumours, 2016

34. ESMO, Essentials for Clinicians
Gastrointestinal tract tumours, 2016

35. MMR germline
mutations
Colonoscopy every 1-2 years
Colon
TV US and biopsy / consider
prophylactic surgery
Endometrial / ovary
Brain
UGI endoscopy every 1-2years
H. pylori erradication
Stomach
Skin
Small bowel
Pancreas
Urinary tract
Biliary tract
Surveillance usually not recommended

36. Cuántos cánceres de colon (CCR)
/endometrio ha tenido (EC)?
≥21
Evidencia de dMMR / Histología
sugestiva de MSI-H en CCR
Sí
Edad del primer cáncer de CCR/EC
No
<50≥50
Cuántos familiares de primer o segundo
grado han tenido CCR/EC
≥210
Edad del familar más joven con CCR/EC
<50≥50
0
Ver siguiente
algoritmo
Criterios para investigación de
sindrome de Lynch
-- NCCN 2019
Investigar sindrome de Lynch
No investigar sindrome de Lynch

37. Cuántos familiares con de colon (CCR)
/endometrio ha tenido (EC)?
≥31-2
Edad del familiar más joven con CCR/EC
<50
Algún familiar con más de un CCR/EC
≥50
SíNo
0
Criterios para investigación de
sindrome de Lynch
-- NCCN 2019
Investigar sindrome de Lynch
No investigar sindrome de Lynch
No historia personal de cáncer de colon
(CCR) o cáncer de endometrio (EC)

38. Hereditary polyposis colorectal cancer
Adenomatous polyps
>100 20-100
Classic FAP Attenuated FAP
ESMO, Essentiasls for Clinicians
Gastrointestinal tract tumours, 2016FAP: Familial adenomatous polyposis
1/2

39. Attenuated
FAP
Attenuated FAP
Intermediate
FAP
Attenuated FAP
Profuse
AFP
APC gene
Intermediate FAP
1250-1464

40. APC-FAP
Colonoscopy every 1-2 years until
colectomy
Colon
Cervical ultrsonography annually
Thyroid
TC/RM or magnetic imaging if family
history
Desmoid tumors
UGI endoscopy based on Spigelman
stage
Gastroduodenal polyps
Endoscopy every 6-12 months
Pouch/rectum
Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigmented epithelium
Medulloblastoma
Hepatoblastoma

41. MUTYH
Associated
polyposis
Colonoscopy every year
Colon
UGI endoscopy based on Spiegelman
criteria
Gastrodoudenal polyps
Endoscopy every 6-12 months
Pouch/rectum

42. Hereditary polyposis colorectal cancer
Hamartomatous polyps
Peutz-Jeghers Juvenile polyposis Cowden syndrome
ESMO, Essentiasls for Clinicians
Gastrointestinal tract tumours, 2016FAP: Familial adenomatous polyposis
2/2
Serrated polyps
Serrated polyposis

43. Adenomatous polyposis (≥10)
Patterns of inheritance
Dominant or de novo with
classic phenotype
Mutation
APC germline
analysis
APC-related FAP
ESMO, Essentiasls for Clinicians
Gastrointestinal tract tumours, 2016FAP: Familial adenomatous polyposis
No mutation
MUTYH germline
analysis
Recessive or de novo with
attenuated phenotype
Mutation
MUTYH germline
analysis
MAP
No mutation
APC germline
analysis

44. Second cause of cancer death in the US, third in Colombia
The incidence has decreased recently (in the US) due to screening. In Colombia it is increasing
Mortality has decreased by about 25% in the US. Wide survival gap US-Colombia
POLYPS
Grossly visible protrusion fro the mucosal surface
Nonneoplastic hamartoma
Hyperplastic mucosal proliferation (hyperplastic polyp)
Adenomatous polyps
Clearly preneoplastic
Only a minority of polyps progress to cancer
High prevalence: 30% and 50% in middle-aged and elderly adults
Only 1% become malignant
Multistep molecular evolution through cancer
Colon cancer is thought to arise from sequential DNA derrangements in a polyp
These may include: Point mutations in the K-ras (KRAS) oncogene
Hypermethylation of DNA
Allelic loss of a TSG like 5q (APC), 18q (DCC), 17p (p53)
Oncogene activation
Loss of tumor suppression activity

46. Multi-stage carcinogenesis in colon cancer
Inspired on: Vogelstein B, 1990

47. MAPK pathway (activating) mutations occur in about 60% CRC
KRAS: 40-50%
NRAS: 10%
BRAF: 8%

48. POLYPS
Pedunculated
Flat-based: sessile Higher risk of cancer development
Tubular
Villous
Tubulovillous
Higher risk of cancer development (3x)
Small (1.5 cm, or less)
Intermediate (1.5-2.5 cm)
Substantial (2.5 cm, or more)
(2-10% cancer risk)
(10% cancer risk or more)
The entire bowel should be visualized (1-3 risk of synchronous polyps).
Follow-up with colonoscopies: 30-50% risk of another adenoma
Adenomas become cancer in about 5 years
Colonoscopy need not be more frequent than every 3 years
Once a poly is found

49. Hereditary syndromes
Polyposis coli
Thousands of adenomatous polyps through the large bowel
Autosomal dominant
Deletion of 5q
Loss of the APC gene (a TSG)
Gardner’s syndrome
Soft-tissue and bony tumors
Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal epithelium
Mesenteric desmoid tumors
Ampullary carcinomas
Polyposis coli
Turcot’s syndrome
Malignant tumors of the Central Nervous system
Polyposis coli
Polyps are rare before puberty
But are detectable in most by age 25
Cancer will develop in (almost) all by 40
Once multiple polyps develop, total colectomy must be performed
Offspring of affected patients have 50% risk of disease
Flexible sigmoidoscopy until 35 should be performed
Germ-line APC mutation detection should be considered

50. Hereditary syndromes
Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) - Lynch’s syndrome
Three or more relatives with documented colorectal cancer;
one who is a first-degree relative of the other two;
CRC before 50 in at least one;
Spanning at least 2 generations.
Autosomal dominant
Median-age at CRC diagnosis: less than 50
Screening colonoscopy starting on age 25 (q1 to 2 years),
with pelvic US/endometrial biopsy for women
Poorly-differentiated
Mucinous histologies
Right-sided preference
BETER PROGNOSIS
Association with other malignancies (in the family)
Ovarian or endometrial carcinomas in women
Gastric, small-bowel, pancreaticobiliary, genitourinary cancers
sebaceus skin tumors
Lynch’s syndrome is associated with mutations of several genes
hMSH2 (chromosome 2)
hMLH1 (chromosome 3), and others
Unable to repair DNA mismatches (MMR)
High frequency of microsatellite instability

51. Screening

52. FOBT q1yr
CRC screening options
FOBT q1yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
DNAmt q3yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
Sigm. q5yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
+/-
BE/VC q5yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
Colonoscopy
q10yr
FOBT: Fecal Occult Blood Test (immunochemical)
DNAmt: fecal DNA “multitarget”
Sigm: Sigmoidoscopy
BE: Contrast-enhanced (barium) enema
VC: Virtual colonography

53. FOBT q1yr
CRC screening options
FOBT q1yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
DNAmt q3yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
Sigm. q5yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
+/-
BE/VC q5yr
Colonoscopy
If positive
Colonoscopy
q10yr
FOBT: Fecal Occult Blood Test (immunochemical)
DNAmt: fecal DNA “multitarget”
Sigm: Sigmoidoscopy
BE: Contrast-enhanced (barium) enema
VC: Virtual colonography

54. Cribado:
Cáncer de
colon y recto
(ACS)
Se recomienda iniciar pruebas de cribado a los 50 años de edad. Las opciones son varias.
• Pruebas de sangre oculta en heces con tests basados en guaiaco o inmunoquímica disponibles.
• Se puede realizar el cribado anual con cualquiera de las dos técnicas siempre y cuando la
seleccionada tenga una sensibilidad mayor del 50% para el cáncer.
• Se debe obtener la muestra de un movimiento intestinal usual.
• En caso de que sea positivo para sangre oculta en heces se debe completar el test con una
colonoscopia.
• Otra opción es la detección de ADN “multitarget” en heces cada 3 años.
• También se acepta practicar sigmoidoscopia flexible cada 5 años
• Sóla o en combinación con alguno de los tests para la detección de sangre oculta en heces
cada año.
• Otra opción es la práctica de enema baritado con doble contraste cada 5 años.
• Colonoscopia cada 10 años.
• Colonografía computada (colonoscopia virtual) cada 5 años, complementada con colonoscopia
si se detectan anormalidades.
Smith, R. A., Andrews, K., Brooks, D., DeSantis, C. E., Fedewa, S. A., Lortet-Tieulent, J., … Wender, R. C. (2016). Cancer screening in the
United States, 2016: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and current issues in cancer screening. CA: A Cancer Journal
for Clinicians, 66(2), 95–114. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21336

55. Cribado:
Cáncer de
colon y recto
• Ministerio de Salud de Colombia
• En la guía de práctica clínica del ministerio
de saludo colombiano se sugiere que la
estrategia óptima de tamización para cáncer
colorrectal en la población colombiana a
riesgo promedio sea sangre oculta en
materia fecal inmunoquímica cada dos años
o colonoscopia cada diez años, cuando ésta
se encuentre disponible.
http://gpc.minsalud.gov.co/

56. • Colorectal cancer
screening decreases
colorectal cancer
mortality by about 20%

57. Colorectal cancer: presenting symptoms
Right-sided colon tumors
May be very large without symptoms
Iron-deficiency anemia is characteristic
Left-sided tumors
Abdominal cramping
Intestinal obstruction
Intestinal perforation
Rectosigmoid tumors
Hematochezia
tenesmus
narrowing of the caliber of stool
(similar to hemorrhoids)
Anemia is rare

58. Dissemination
pattern

59. TNM & Staging
Colorectal cancer

60. TNM
T – Primary tumor
N – Node
M – Metastasis

61. T of the TNM
T Depth
T1 Invades submucosa
T2 Invades muscularis propria
T3 Invades through the muscularis
propria into the pericolorectal
tissues
T4a Invades the visceral peritoneum
T4b Invades directly into adjacent
organs
AJCC TNM, 8th Ed, 2017

62. N of the
TNM
N PATHOLOGY (OR IMAGING)
N0 0
N1 1-3
N1a 1 LNs
N1b 2-3 LNs
N1c Tumor deposits (up to 1-3 LNs)
N2 More than 3 LNs
N2a 4-6 LNs
N2b 7, or more LNs
AJCC TNM, 8th Ed, 2017

63. Depósitos tumorales
Agregados tumorales
discretos,
conformando
nódulos, sin
contenido linfoide
ubicados alrededor
del tumor primario
AJCC TNM, 8th Ed, 2017

64. M of the TNM
N PATHOLOGY
M0 No metastasis
M1 Metastasis
M1a Metastasis confined to one organ or site
M1b Metastasis in more than one organ or site, or
metastasis to the peritoneum.
AJCC TNM, 8th Ed, 2017

65. Principio 1
Los estadíos I y II
son N-

66. Stage I
T1N0M0, T2N0M0

67. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage I: T1-2N0M0

68. Stage IIa
T3N0M0

69. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IIa: T3N0M0

70. Stage IIb
T4aN0M0

71. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IIb: T4aN0M0

72. Stage IIc
T4bN0M0

73. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IIc: T4cN0M0

74. Principio 2
Los N+M0 son
estadío III

75. Stage IIIa
T1-2N1a-cM0, T1N2aM0

76. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IIIa: T1-2N1a-cM0, T1N2aM0

77. Stage IIIb
T3-4aN1M0, T2N2aM0, T1-2N2bM0

78. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IIIb:
T3-4aN1M0,
T2-3N2aM0,
T1-2N2bM0

79. Stage IIIc
T4aN2aM0, T3-4aN2bM0, T4bN1-2M0

80. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IIIc:
T4aN2aM0,
T3-4aN2bM0,
T4bN1-2M0

81. Principio 3
M1a: Metástasis a un
solo órgano o sitio
M1b: Todas las otras
metastasis, y metastasis
al peritoneo.

82. Stage IVa
Any T, Any N, M1a

83. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IVa: Any T, Any N, M1a

84. Stage IVb
Any T, Any N, M1b

85. T1 T2 T3 T4a T4b
N0 N1a N1b N1c N2a N2b
M0 M1a M1b
Stage IVb: Any T, Any N, M1b

86. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

87. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

88. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

89. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

90. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

91. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

92. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

93. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

94. N0 N1 N2a N2b M1a M1b M1c
T1 I IIIa IIIa IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T2 I IIIa IIIb IIIb IVa IVb IVc
T3 IIa IIIb IIIb IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4a IIb IIIb IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc
T4b IIc IIIc IIIc IIIc IVa IVb IVc

95. CRC Staging in a
nutshell
• Stage I is T1-2N0M0
• Stage II is T3-T4N0M0
• Stage III is N+M0
• Stage IVa is M1a
• Stage IVb is M1b
• Stage IVc is M1c

96. Stage
distribution at
presentation:
Colon
Colon
I II III IV

97. Stage
distribution at
presentation:
rectum
Rectum
I II III IV

98. CRC: Staging, prognostic factors, and pattern of spread
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Adenocarcinoma

99. CRC: Staging, prognostic factors, and pattern of spread
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Predictors of poor outcome following total surgical resection in CRC
Tumor spread to regional lymph nodes
Number of lymph nodes involved
Tumor penetration to through the bowel wall
Poorly differentiated histology
Perforation
Tumor adherence to adjacent organs
Venous invasion
Preoperative CEA elevation
Aneuploidy
Specific chromosomal deletion (BRAF mutation, absence of MSI)

100. CRC: Staging, prognostic factors, and pattern of spread
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
High-risk stage II
T4
Perforation
Obstruction
Lymphovascular invasion
non-R0 resection
Less than 12 lymph nodes evaluated
High-risk recurrence score (in MSS)

101. CRC: pattern of spread
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Most recurrences occur within 4 years of surgery
At least 12 lymph nodes need to be evaluated to establish prognosis
TNM/Stage is prognostic
Regional
lymph nodes
Supraclavicular
lymph nodes
Liver metastases
Initial site of spread in 1/3
Involved at death in 2/3
Median survival of metastatic CRC is
improving: about 2-3 years (2020)

102. CRC: Treatment
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Pre-surgical work-up
H&P
Basic labs, including LFTs, CEA
Thorax, abdomen and pelvis contrast-enhanced CT
Full-length colonoscopy
Surgery
Colectomy with regional lymph-node dissection
Total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer with regional lymph-node dissection
At least 12 lymph-nodes need to be assessed
Surgery in symptomatic patients, regardless of metastases
Adequate surgical margins needed to avoid recurrence in the anastomotic site

103. CRC: Treatment
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Colon cancer (non-rectal)
Surgery
Stage I
Follow-up
Low-Risk
Stage II
Follow-up
High-Risk
Stage II/Stage III
Stage IVa
Resectable
Stage IVa
Convertible
Stage IVb
Surgery
ChemoT PalliativeCT
Follow-up Follow-up Follow-up
AdjChemoT
Surgery
AdjChemoT
Surgery Surgery

104. CRC: Treatment
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer
Ideally, start within 1 month of surgery, for 6 months
Improves survival by 30% in stage III CRC patients
May improve survival in high-risk stage II colon cancer patients
Based on Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Infusional 5-FU both more effective, and less toxic, than bolus
Modulation with Folinate (Leucovorin, LV) improves outcomes
Addition of Oxaliplatin improves DFS and OS in stage III patients (ie, FOLFOX)
Unclear benefit of Oxaliplatin in stage II and older than 70
No benefit of adjuvant 5-FU alone in stage II patients with microsatellite instability

105. Stage II / III rectal cancer: Treatment
RT x 5 weeks
Concurrent Fluoropyrimidines (FP) 4-12 weeks
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat
FP +/-
Oxalip
lat

106. Stage II / III rectal cancer: Treatment

107. CRC: Treatment
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Rectal cancer
Surgery
Stage I
Follow-up
Low-Risk
Stage II
Follow-up
High-Risk
Stage II/Stage III
Stage IVa
Resectable
Stage IVa
Convertible
Stage IVb
Surgery
ChemoT PalliativeCT
Follow-up Follow-up Follow-up
AdjChemoT
Surgery
AdjChemoT
Surgery Surgery
ChemoRT ChemoRT
ChemoRT
ChemoRT
Pelvic radiation (with radiosensitizing chemotherapy) decreases local-
recurrence, but has no impact in overall survival in rectal cancer
AdjChemoT

108. CRC: Treatment
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer
Ideally, start within 1 month of surgery, for 6 months
Improves survival in stage II-III CRC patients
Based on Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Infusional 5-FU both more effective, and less toxic, than bolus
Modulation with Folinate (Leucovorin, LV) improves outcomes
Unclear benefit of Oxaliplatin in stage II and older than 70
Oxaliplatin reasonable in high-risk stage II rectal cancer (ie, FOLFOX)
No benefit of adjuvant 5-FU alone in stage II patients with microsatellite instability

109. CRC: Treatment
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Systemic therapy for metastatic CRC
5-FU-based (or Capecitabine)
Each, oxaliplatin and irinotecan improve overall survival
Bevacizumab increases overall survival in first- and second-line always with CT
Other antiangiogenic agents can be used in second-line (aflibercept, ramicirumab)
Anti-EGFR agents are active as single-agents and combination in unmutated RAS
Left-sided colon cancer appear to derive greater benefit from anti-EGFR therapy
Multikinase inhibitors may afford benefit after all other agents have been used
With current therapies, median overall survival for metastatic CRC is abotu 39 mo

110. CRC: Clinical pathway - stage III colon cancer
Screening
Symptoms
Colonoscopy / Biopsy
Staging
CT/CEA/labs
Surgery
6 months adjuvant CT
(ie, FOLFOX)

111. CRC: Clinical pathway - stage III colon cancer
Screening
Symptoms
Colonoscopy / Biopsy
Staging
CT/CEA/labs
Surgery
6 months adjuvant CT
(ie, FOLFOX)
CRC: Clinical pathway - Stage II/III rectal cancer
Surgery
4-6 months adjuvant CT
(ie, 5-FULV/FOLFOX)
ChemoRT
(ie, 5FU/LV)

112. CRC: Clinical pathway - stage III colon cancer
Screening
Symptoms
Colonoscopy / Biopsy
Staging
CT/CEA/labs
Surgery
6 months adjuvant CT
(ie, FOLFOX)
CRC: Clinical pathway - Stage II/III rectal cancer
Surgery
4-6 months adjuvant CT
(ie, 5-FULV/FOLFOX)
ChemoRT
(ie, 5FU/LV)
CRC: Clinical pathway - Stage IVb CRC mutated RAS
Bevacizumab
FOLFIRI
Bevacizumab
FOLFOX
Regorafenib

113. CRC: Clinical pathway - stage III colon cancer
Screening
Symptoms
Colonoscopy / Biopsy
Staging
CT/CEA/labs
Surgery
6 months adjuvant CT
(ie, FOLFOX)
CRC: Clinical pathway - Stage II/III rectal cancer
Surgery
4-6 months adjuvant CT
(ie, 5-FULV/FOLFOX)
ChemoRT
(ie, 5FU/LV)
CRC: Clinical pathway - Stage IVb CRC mutated RAS
Bevacizumab
FOLFIRI
Bevacizumab
FOLFOX
Regorafenib
CRC: Clinical pathway - Stage IVb CRC mutated RAS
Cetuximab
FOLFIRI
Bevacizumab
FOLFOX
Regorafenib

114. CRC: Follow-up
Harrison’s, 19th Ed.
Post-treatment follow-up
3-5% life-time risk of a second CRC, 15% risk of
polyps
5-year follow-up
H&P q12w x2-3 years. Thereafter, semi-annually until
year 5
Triennial colonoscopy
CEA q12w x2-3 years. Thereafter, semi-annually until
year 5
Contrast-enhanced thorax, abdomen and pelvis CT
q1yr until year 3

115. CRC: Prognosis