Comparative analysis of tumor biology and prognosis in mucinous and signet-ring cell colon cancers versus classical adenocarcinoma

Yang Liu; Wenxin Yin; Xiaoxia Li; Bowen Li; Fang Liu; Pengcheng Kang

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1199211

Comparative analysis of tumor biology and prognosis in mucinous and signet-ring cell colon cancers versus classical adenocarcinoma

Front Physiol. 2023 Jul 31:14:1199211. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1199211. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yang Liu¹, Wenxin Yin², Xiaoxia Li¹, Bowen Li¹, Fang Liu¹, Pengcheng Kang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 4th Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
² Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

Abstract

Background: Limited information is currently available on the natural history and prognosis of two distinct histological subtypes of adenocarcinoma (AC) in the colon: mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) and signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the clinicopathological characteristics of colon MAC and SRCC, comparing them to classical AC, using a large cohort of cases from the United States. Methods: Patients diagnosed with colon AC, MAC, or SRCC from the SEER database between 2000 and 2018 were included in our study. Incidence trends, patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment, and survival were analyzed. Results: In our study, we analyzed a total of 310,813 patients with colon cancers, including 271,382 cases of classical AC, 34,750 cases of MAC, and 4,681 cases of SRCC. Over the study period, we observed a decline in the age-adjusted incidence rates of colon AC, MAC, and SRCC. Notably, the MAC and SRCC cohorts differed significantly from AC in terms of patient characteristics, tumor locations, and treatment patterns. Patients with MAC and SRCC had poorer survival outcomes compared to those with AC. Factors associated with worse survival included older age, male sex, poorly differentiated tumors, advanced stage, and the presence of MAC or SRCC histology. On the other hand, surgical intervention was associated with improved survival. Conclusion: Our study underscores the significance of recognizing the distinct features and outcomes associated with different histological subtypes of colon cancer. Further research is warranted to delve into the underlying biological traits that contribute to these differences and to develop more tailored treatment strategies.

Keywords: AC; MAC; SRCC; characteristics; colon cancers; incidence; survival.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2019M651299) and Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund (Grant No. LBHZ18133).