Post-Treatment Surveillance Questioned.

No association between intensity of post-treatment surveillance and detection of recurrence or overall survival in patients with stage I, II, or III colorectal cancer (CRC) was found in a national retrospective study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study is the largest of surveillance intensity in CRC ever conducted.

"These findings differ from historical data and argue to reconsider current guideline recommendations in the U.S." says George J. Chang, professor of surgical oncology and health services research.

According to the American Cancer Society, CRC is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and is expected to affect approximately 140,000 people in 2020. National and international consensus guidelines for post-treatment surveillance for recurrence vary considerably in frequency and reliance on groups of tests. Although many still recommend frequent testing, adherence to these guidelines is inconsistent, resulting in both over- and under-testing in clinical practice, explains Chang, the study's corresponding author.

"There is limited evidence to inform the current...