Effect of perioperative blood transfusion on recurrence of colorectal cancer

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the outcome of 517 patients undergoing curative surgery for colonic and rectal cancer, and to compare the recurrence and mortality rates in transfused and non-transfused groups of patients. The two groups were evenly matched for age, sex, Dukes' stage and histological differentiation. There were significantly more rectal tumours in the transfused group (P < 0·01), but the distribution of colonic lesions did not differ. Life table analysis revealed that the transfused patients had a 20 per cent greater probability of recurrence at 5 years (P < 0·005) and there were 16 per cent more cancer related deaths (P < 0·01). Even when all rectal cancers were excluded, a similar trend was seen for the colonic lesions: a 24 per cent greater probability of recurrence at 5 years (P < 0·025) and 15 per cent more cancer related deaths (P < 0·02). We conclude that blood transfusion may be associated with increased mortality and recurrence in patients undergoing curative surgery for colorectal cancer.