China leads new guidelines on fighting colorectal cancer
The world’s first guidelines for preventing colorectal cancer spreading to the liver were announced at the Shanghai International Colorectal Cancer Symposium on Saturday.
The guidelines, drafted after discussions by 195 top experts from 29 countries, aim to guide clinical treatment and prolong survival rates through multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment.
Colorectal cancer has become the top digestive system ailment in urban areas in China due to a more Western-style diet and lifestyle. And the rate is growing.
In about half of all cases, it spreads to the liver and is a major cause of death. Only about 20 percent of such patients can have surgery. Average life expectancy for the rest is 9.6 months.
“Spreading to the liver is a big problem in China," said Dr Qin Xinyu from Zhongshan Hospital, which led the drafting of the guidelines.
"Most patients are not diagnosed with colorectal cancer until the terminal stages and about 25 percent of cases it has already spread to the liver by the first out-patient service.
“The multidisciplinary team approach is considered as the most effective measure for colorectal cancer treatment.”
Zhongshan Hospital is China's first hospital to implement MDT.
So far, the hospital has used MDT to give about 5,000 services for terminal colorectal cancer patients. With the treatment, the survival rate of patients where the cancer had spread to the liver and who were able to receive surgery increased from 19 percent to 35.
The five-year survival rate for such patients is 46 percent and life expectancy for those unable to receive surgery has also been prolonged to up to 30 months.
Dr Graeme Poston, former president of the European Society of Surgical Oncology, said the best way to prevent colorectal cancer spreading to the liver is early diagnosis and treatment.
“Screening is important for colorectal cancer prevention and control. A stool test is a widely available tool for early detection,” he said.
Experts from home and abroad unveil the world’s first guidelines for preventing colorectal cancer spreading to the liver in Shanghai on Saturday.
