This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of colon cancer.

Separate PDQ summaries on Screening for Colorectal Cancer; Prevention of Colorectal Cancer; and Genetics of Colorectal Cancer are also available. Information about colon cancer in children is available in the PDQ summary on Unusual Cancers of Childhood Treatme

Histologic types of colon cancer include the following: Adenocarcinoma (most colon cancers). Mucinous (colloid) adenocarcinoma. Signet ring adenocarcinoma. Scirrhous tumors. Neuroendocrine.

Treatment decisions should be made with reference to the TNM classification rather than to the older Dukes or the Modified Astler-Coller classification schema.

Some citations in the text of this section are followed by a level of evidence. The PDQ editorial boards use a formal ranking system to help the reader judge the strength of evidence linked to the reported results of a therapeutic strategy.

Stage 0 colon cancer is the most superficial of all the lesions and is limited to the mucosa without invasion of the lamina propria. Because of its superficial nature, the surgical procedure may be limited.

Wide surgical resection and anastomosis. The role of laparoscopic techniques in the treatment of colon cancer is under evaluation in a multicenter prospective randomized trial comparing laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy.

The potential value of adjuvant therapy for patients with stage II colon cancer remains controversial. Although subgroups of patients with stage II colon cancer may be at higher-than-average risk for recurrence.

Stage III colon cancer denotes lymph node involvement. Studies have indicated that the number of lymph nodes involved affects prognosis; patients with one to three involved nodes have a significantly better survival than those with four or more involved nodes.

Stage IV colon cancer denotes distant metastatic disease. Treatment of recurrent colon cancer depends on the sites of recurrent disease demonstrable by physical examination and/or radiographic studies.

A list of changes made to this topic. The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

ABOUT PDQ PDQ? - NCIs Comprehensive Cancer Database. Full description of the NCI PDQ database. ADDITIONAL PDQ SUMMARIES PDQ? Cancer Information Summaries: Adult Treatment Treatment options for adult cancers. PDQ? Cancer Information Summaries: Pediatric Trea

Colon cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the colon. The colon is part of the bodys digestive system.

After colon cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the colon or to other parts of the body.

Recurrent colon cancer is cancer that has recurred (come back) after it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the colon or in other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or both.

There are different types of treatment for patients with colon cancer. Different types of treatment are available for patients with colon cancer. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials.

Stage 0 Colon Cancer (Carcinoma in Situ) Treatment of stage 0 (carcinoma in situ) may include the following types of surgery: Local excision or simple polypectomy. Resection/anastomosis. This is done when the cancerous tissue is too large to remove by local

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

Sources of further information about Colon Cancer Treatment.

PDQ is the National Cancer Institutes (NCIs) comprehensive cancer information database. Most of the information contained in PDQ is available online at NCIs Web site. PDQ is provided as a service of the NCI.