Removing Polyps Cuts Colorectal Cancer Deaths

Deaths from colorectal cancer (CC) are half as common among people who had precancerous intestinal polyps removed during colonoscopy, according to a new study.

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC; New York, NY, USA) and other institutions participating in the US National Polyp Study (NPS) evaluated the long-term effect of colonoscopic polypectomy on mortality from CC in 2,602 people who had their adenomatous polyps removed. The analysis included all patients prospectively referred for initial colonoscopy between 1980 and 1990 who were found to have polyps. The US National Death Index was used to identify deaths, and mortality from CC among patients with adenomas removed was compared with the expected incidence-based mortality from CC in the general population.

The results showed that after a median follow period of 15.8 years, 1,246 patients had died from any cause, and 12 had died from CC. Given an estimated 25.4 expected deaths from CC in the general population, the standardized incidence-based mortality ratio was 0.47 with colonoscopic polypectomy, suggesting a 53% reduction in mortality. Mortality from CC was similar among patients with adenomas and those with nonadenomatous polyps during the first 10 years after polypectomy. The study was published in February 23, 2012, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

“This is very strong evidence that provides assurance that there is a long-term benefit to removing these polyps,” said lead author biostatistician Ann Zauber, PhD, of MSKCC. “Over more than 20 years, we're getting this very consistent decrease in colon cancer deaths, so that's very exciting.”

Colonoscopic polypectomy involves the removal of any polyp--hyperplastic, adenomatous, villous adenoma, or polypoid lymphoid hyperplasia--lesion by colonoscopy.

Related Links:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
US National Death Index