ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Part of colorectal cancer cases occurs due to modifications in the DNA mismatch repair system, which are responsible for microsatellite instability. This alteration results in an unconventional phenotypic pattern of colorectal cancer.

AIMS:

To describe the epidemiological, histopathological and molecular profiles of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical treatment in a reference hospital.

METHODS:

This is a cross-sectional, retrospective study with a quantitative approach, that included a review of patients’ medical records who underwent oncological surgery for colorectal cancer.

RESULTS:

A total of 122 colorectal cancer cases were identified, with microsatellite instability detected in 8.2% of the sample. The gender distribution was similar, with 52.46% males, and the weighted average age was 63 years (standard deviation±11.65). However, in the microsatellite instability group, the predominant age was below 60 years. Regarding the histological type, adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified accounted for 80.33% of the cases, being the most prevalent in both groups, with the mucinous type being more frequent among the instability cases. The pT3 pathological staging (46.72%) was the most predominant. The topography was more prevalent on the left (60.66%), but there was a significant difference when compared to the group with microsatellite instability, in which 80% of the neoplasms were located on the right (p=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS:

Differences in age and neoplastic topography found in microsatellite instability samples highlight the distinctive presentation pattern of the disease. Recognizing these characteristics is essential for developing prevention strategies, in addition to early and accurate diagnosis of colorectal cancer.