Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38317073›Full record

ArticleBMC gastroenterology2024

Colorectal cancer pre-diagnostic symptoms are associated with anatomic cancer site.

Nicole L Briggs, Mimi Ton, Rachel C Malen, Adriana M Reedy, Stacey A Cohen, Amanda I Phipps, Andrea N Burnett-Hartman, Polly A Newcomb

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Total neoadjuvant therapy in early-onset rectal cancer: A multicentre prospective cohort study.Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Nicole L BriggsDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, UW Box #351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. nbriggs@uw.edu.
Mimi TonDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, UW Box #351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
Rachel C MalenPublic Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
Adriana M ReedyPublic Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
Stacey A CohenDivision of Oncology, University of Washington, 825 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
Amanda I PhippsDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, UW Box #351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
Andrea N Burnett-HartmanDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, UW Box #351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
Polly A NewcombDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, UW Box #351619, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.

Funding

Serrated Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Disease Subtype (Admin Supplement)R01CA196337 · NCI · FRED HUTCHINSON CANCER RESEARCH CENTER · PI PHIPPS, AMANDA IRENE · 2015 to 2020
$3.7M
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA196337NIH HHS R01 CA196337
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSigns and red flag symptoms in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who are below the recommended screening age are often overlooked, leading to delayed diagnosis and worse prognosis. This study investigates how patient pre-diagnostic symptoms are associated with anatomic site of their cancer and whether the association varies by age at CRC diagnosis.

methodsWe ascertained CRC patients' experienced symptoms and screening through medical abstractions from an ongoing population-based study of CRC patients identified through a SEER cancer registry (N = 626). We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between symptoms and CRC anatomic site. Additional analyses were stratified by age at diagnosis. Early-onset was defined as less than 50 years of age at CRC diagnosis.

resultsParticipants who experienced blood in stool were more likely (odds ratio (95% confidence interval)) to have rectal (vs. colon) cancer (4.37 (3.02, 6.33)), as were patients who experienced changes to stool (1.78 (1.21, 2.60)). Patients diagnosed with colon cancer were more likely to present with abdominal pain (0.30 (0.19, 0.47)), anemia (0.40 (0.21, 0.75)), other symptoms (0.33 (0.19, 0.55)) and no symptoms (0.68 (0.44, 1.04)). When stratifying by age at diagnosis, we found that the association between blood in stool and rectal tumor location was particularly pronounced for patients with early-onset CRC (6.48 (2.73, 15.41)).

conclusionsCommon pre-diagnostic red flag symptoms are associated with CRC anatomic site. These findings can inform best practices for gastroenterologist triage of care and early evaluation of CRC and are of key importance given the rise of early-onset (pre-screening age) CRC.

trial registrationNot applicable to this study and analysis.

Indexed as

Colonic NeoplasmsColorectal NeoplasmsRectal NeoplasmsEarly Detection of CancerHumansPrognosisRegistriesAgeColorectal cancerDiagnosisPreventionRed flag symptoms

Identifiers

PMID38317073
PMCPMC10845784

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.