Logo image
Oncology Biomarkers, Clinical Characteristics, and Survival Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Spinal Metastases Undergoing Spinal Surgery: Insights from a Retrospective Cohort Study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Oncology Biomarkers, Clinical Characteristics, and Survival Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Spinal Metastases Undergoing Spinal Surgery: Insights from a Retrospective Cohort Study

Abdel-Hameed Al-Mistarehi, Taha Khalilullah, Abdul Karim Ghaith, Mahnoor Shafi, Jawad M. Khalifeh, Yuanxuan Xia, Khaled J. Zaitoun, Ahmad A. Alnasser, Joseph Rajasekaran, Avi N. Albert, …
Cancers, v 17(11), 1739
22 May 2025
PMID: 40507221
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111739View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Oncology
Objectives: This study aims to identify clinical characteristics and biomarkers influencing survival outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with spinal metastases. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 27 patients treated for CRC-derived spinal metastases at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Data on demographics, biomarker profiles of the primary colorectal tumor site, surgical outcomes, and survival were collected. Neurological function was assessed pre- and postoperatively using Frankel scores. Survival outcomes included overall survival (OS) and post-metastasis survival. Results: The median age of the patients was 58 years, with 63% being women. The sacral spine was the most frequently involved site (59.3%), followed by the thoracic and lumbar regions. Most patients (89%) already had extraspinal metastases, predominantly in the lungs. Biomarker analysis showed microsatellite stability in 63% of patients and CDX2 (Caudal-type homeobox 2) expression in 37%. Laminectomy was performed in 85% of cases and sacrectomy in 55.6%, leading to postoperative improvements in ambulatory function and neurological status. The main indications included local recurrence of the tumor and neurological deficits attributed to the impinging tumor. The median overall survival was 4.9 years, while the median post-metastasis survival was 3.0 years. Univariable analysis revealed that CK20 expression (p = 0.041) and spinal tumor recurrence (p = 0.045) were significantly associated with shorter post-metastasis survival. Conclusions: This study highlights the prognostic importance of CK20 expression and spinal tumor recurrence in CRC patients diagnosed with spinal metastases. Surgical intervention significantly improved neurological outcomes, enhancing patient quality of life. Further research with larger cohorts is needed to confirm these findings and optimize treatment strategies for this challenging patient population.

Metrics

1 Record Views

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: SDGs in the Output

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Oncology
Logo image