Intensive Versus Minimal Surveillance of Patients With Resected Dukes B2-C Colorectal Carcinoma

Minimal program for colon cancer: Office visit and CEA at 4,8,12,16,20,24,30,36,42,48, and 60 months. Colonoscopy at 12, and 48 months. Liver echography* at 8, and 20 months.

Intensive program for colon cancer: Office visit, CBC, CEA+CA 19.9 at 4,8,12,16,20,24,30,36,42,48, and 60 months. Colonoscopy at 12, 24, 36, 48,and 60 months. Liver echography* at 4,8,12,16,24,36,48, and 60 months. Chest X-ray at 12,24,36,48,and 60 months.

• Abdominal-pelvis C.T., as an alternative to echography, was a 2° level exam only (doubtful results of physical examination or echography; increasing levels of CEA; predictable poor sensitivity of echography due to obesity or other anatomic-clinical conditions)

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum with Dukes Astler-Coller modification stage B2-C who had been treated with curative intent (radical excision ± adjuvant radio-chemotherapy) .
• Eligible patients had to be free of known cancer prior to study entry as attested by negative results of endoscopy, liver ultrasonography, chest roentgenography and serum CEA level performed < 4 months before randomization

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to undergo testing (disability, allergy to contrast agents, etc.) and patients geographically not amenable to full follow-up.
• Patients enrolled onto any other research protocol that requires strict adherence to any specific follow-up practice.
• A history of any previous malignancy in the last 10 years (other than carcinoma in situ of the cervix or non-melanoma skin cancer).
• No informed consent to participate in the trial according to local regulatory guidelines.