Prognostic significance of additional histologic features for subclassification of pathological T3 colon cancer

BACKGROUND: Additional histologic features of T3 colon cancer, such as tumour depth invasion beyond muscularis propria and elastic lamina invasion (ELI), have taken interest for a more accurate staging. METHODS: Patients with pT3 and pT4a (control group) colon adenocarcinoma were retrospectively collected from our institutional database. The study group was divided according to depth of tumour invasion < 5 mm and ≥ 5 mm, and into ELI − and ELI + . Chi-square test was used to compare the clinicopathological characteristics. OS and DFS were estimated using Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were employed to assess the effect on OS and DFS. RESULTS: Out of 290 pT3 tumours, 168 (58%) had a depth of tumour invasion < 5 mm and 122 (42%) ≥ 5 mm. The 5-year OS and DFS were 85.2, 68.7 and 60.9%, and 81.4, 73.9 and 60.1% in pT3 < 5 mm, pT3 ≥ 5 mm, and pT4a respectively (p = 0.001, p = 0.072). Considering ELI − (n = 157, 54%) and ELI + (n = 133, 46%), the 5-year OS and DFS were 78.9, 76.7, and 60.9%, and 75.5, 81.5, and 60.1% in ELI − , ELI + and pT4a respectively (p = 0.955, p = 0.462). At multivariable analysis, the depth of invasion was found to be an independent predictive factor for OS (HR 2.04, 95%CI 1.28–3.24, p = 0.003) and DFS (HR 1.98, 95%CI 1.24–3.18, p = 0.004), while ELI did not result a prognostic factor for OS nor DFS. CONCLUSION: In pT3 colon cancer, depth of tumour invasion ≥ 5 mm is an independent risk factor for OS and DFS, whereas ELI did not result a prognostic factor affecting OS nor DFS. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10147-022-02192-y.