Differences in the epidemiology and survival of patients with colorectal cancer between China and the United States: a large cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Studying the epidemiological and management characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) between China and the US has important implications. The present cross-sectional study included patients from SEER and Southwest China Colorectal (SCC) databases. Incidence, treatment and survival information were compared between two countries. 86859 patients in the SEER database and 5838 patients in the SCC database were included. The estimated incidence of CRC in the US was greater than that in China from 2006 to 2019. The most common tumor sites of CRC patients in China were the RSC (66.5%), RCC (20.2%) and LCC (13.3%), while those in the US were the RCC (44.4%), RSC (29.8%) and LCC (25.8%). Chinese CRC patients were more likely to be male (58.9% vs 52.4%, p < 0.001), have a greater stage II CRC rate (49.8% vs 27.8%, p < 0.001), younger age at diagnosis (median 64 vs 66 years, p < 0.001). Radical surgery rates were lower in Chinese RCC (92.3% vs 93.9%, p < 0.001) and LCC (88.9% vs 92.0%, p < 0.001) patients. The adjuvant therapy rates were lower in Chinese CRC patients. The 5-year overall survival rates were 71.8% and 78.2% for Chinese and US CRC patients, respectively (p < 0.001). China is undergoing an increasing incidence of CRC. The treatment and mortality of CRC differ in China and US populations. China had a lower adjuvant therapy rate and a lower 5-year OS rate compared with the US.