High tumor stroma proportion is a worse prognostic factor in colorectal cancer

Abstract

High stroma proportion appears to be a very important prognostic factor in esophageal and breast cancer. Previous researches have shown that it might have a similar effect on colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to determine whether tumor stroma proportion influenced patient survival. This retrospective study included 236 patients with colorectal cancer having undergone surgery in 2006 and 2007 at Osijek University Hospital Center. Location with the highest stroma proportion at the site of deepest tumor invasion was determined. Patients were divided into the groups with high stroma proportion (>50%) and low stroma proportion (≤50%). Stroma proportion showed a statistically significant correlation with tumor stage. Kaplan-Meier survival curves yielded a statistically significant difference in patient overall survival (Cox ph model p=0.016) and progressionfree survival (Cox ph model, p=0.0188) according to stroma proportion. Study results showed a statistically significantly shorter overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with high stroma proportion.