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Primary Surgical Therapy
Source: Colon Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
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Context: Treatment Option Overview for Colon Cancer
Standard treatment for patients with colon cancer has been open surgical resection of the primary and regional lymph nodes for localized disease.
The role of laparoscopic techniques [1-4] in the treatment of colon cancer has been examined in two studies.
Evidence (laparoscopic techniques):
A multicenter, prospective, randomized, noninferiority trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) compared laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy in 872 patients.
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A multicenter, prospective, randomized, noninferiority trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) compared laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy in 872 patients.
At a median follow-up of 4.4 years, 3-year recurrence rates (16% LAC vs. 18% open colectomy; hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence, 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–1.17; P = .32) and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates (86% LAC vs. 85% open colectomy; HRdeath in LAC, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.68–1.21; P = .51) were similar in both groups for all stages of disease evaluated. Tumor recurrence in surgical incisions was less than 1% for both groups.[5][Level of evidence A1]
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A multicenter, prospective, randomized, noninferiority trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) compared laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy in 872 patients.
Decreased hospital stay (5 days LAC vs. 6 days open colectomy, P < .001) and decreased use of analgesics were reported in the LAC group. A 21% conversion rate from LAC to open procedure was shown.
A multicenter, prospective, randomized, noninferiority trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) compared laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy in 872 patients.
This study excluded patients with locally advanced disease, transverse colon and rectal tumor locations, and perforated lesions. Each of the 66 surgeons participating in the trial had performed at least 20 LACs and were accredited for study participation after independent videotape review assured appropriate oncologic and surgical principles were maintained.[5] The quality-of-life component of this trial was published separately and minimal short-term quality-of-life benefits with LAC were reported.[6][Level of evidence A3]
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One small, single-institution randomized study of 219 patients showed that the LAC procedure was independently associated with reduced tumor recurrence on multivariate analysis.[7][Level of evidence A1]
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Surgery is curative in 25% to 40% of highly selected patients who develop resectable metastases in the liver and lung. Improved surgical techniques and advances in preoperative imaging have allowed for better patient selection for resection.
Studies cited in this source section
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Publication references
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice