OBJECTIVES:
* Identify the prognostic factors in patients with curatively resected stage II colon cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with tegafur-uracil.
* Identify predictive factors of chemosensitivity to this regimen in these patients.
OUTLINE: Available tumor tissue samples are analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR for TS, DPD, TP, OPRT, VEGF, cyclooxygenase-2, and FPGS; by PCR for microsatellite instability and genomic deletions on chromosome arm 18q; and pathologically for tumor budding, Crohn's-like lymphoid reaction, category of extent of poor differentiation, and fibrotic cancer stroma. The candidate prognostic and predictive markers are analyzed for correlation with disease-free survival, relapse-free survival, and overall survival of patients.
