Prognostic Significance of the Mucin Component in Stage Ⅲ Rectal Carcinoma Patients

Background: Although mucinous adenocarcinoma has been recognized for a long time, whether it is associatedwith a poorer prognosis in colorectal cancer patients is still controversial. Many studies put emphasis on mucinousadenocarcinoma containing mucin component ≥50%. Only a few studies have analyzed cases with a mucincomponent <50%.
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the prognostic value of different mucin componentproportions in patients with stage Ⅲ rectal cancer. Materials and
Methods: Clinical, pathological and follow-updata of 136 patients with the stage III rectal cancer were collected. Every variable was analyzed by univariateanalysis, then multivariate analysis and survival analysis were further performed.
Results: Univariate analysisshowed pathologic T stage, lymphovascular invasion, and histological subtype were statistically significant for DFS.Pathologic T stage was significant for OS. Histological subtype and lymphovascular invasion were independentprognostic factors in multivariate analysis for DFS, and histological subtype was the only independent prognosticfactor for OS. Survival curves showed the survival time of mucinous adenocarcinoma (MUC) was shorter thannon-MUC (adenocarcinomas with a mucin component <50% and without mucin component).
Conclusions:Histological subtype (tumor with different mucin component) was an independent prognostic factor for bothDFS and OS. Patients with MUC had a worse prognosis than their non-MUC counterparts with stage Ⅲ rectalcarcinoma.