Relationship Between Immunologic Changes and Recovery-related Factors in the Recovery Process of Elderly Colon Cancer Patients

In prospective study, total 75 patients who received radical resection for colon cancer between September 2023 and February 2024 at Asan Medical Center was involved. Investigators included colon cancer patients treated with surgery, diagnosed with adenocarcinoma histologically and having information regarding preoperative status with abdominopelvic CT. Routine blood sampling and Immunologic tests including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and natural killer cell (NK cell) were performed at preoperative day, post operative 3rd day (POD#3), and outpatient clinic day (about postoperative 21th day (POD#21)). Investigators attempted to assess the patients' subjective health level using a simple questionnaire, EuroQol group- 5 dimension- 3 level (EQ-5D-3L). The sarcopenia was evaluated by the artificial intelligence software system and defined as an SMI < 41cm2/m2 in women and SMI < 43 cm2/m2 in men with a body mass index (BMI) < 25kg/m2, and < 53 cm2/m2 in men with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2.

In this study, primary end point was recovery represented by hospital stay defined as the day from operation to discharge and readmission within 30days after discharge. Secondary end point was EQ-5D-3L (only in prospective cohort). 'Recovery' was evaluated by hospital stay and readmission within 30 days after discharge. Analyses of clinicopathological characteristics of categorical variables and continuous variables were conducted using the chi-square test and t-test, respectively. A multivariable analysis with Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare risk factors associated with postoperative hospital day including NLR, AGR, albumin, BMI and sarcopenia. Investigators conducted an analysis including variables that have been proven to be related to the immune system or recovery in previous studies or that are suspected to be clinically relevant.