OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term outcomes and 5-year recurrence, overall survival, and disease-free survival of laparoscopic assisted surgery for colon cancer.

METHODSThe clinical and pathologic data were compared between the patients who underwent colectomy during March 2003 to July 2008 and assigned in laparoscopic group (n = 92) and open group (n = 285) according the surgical approach. The 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and recurrence rate were analyzed for all patients who were followed-up for more than 36 months in either of the groups.

RESULTSThe laparoscopic colectomy was associated with manifested less blood loss (50(50) ml) (Z = -8.292, P < 0.01), early return of bowel function (the evacuation time was (3.0 ± 1.0) days, and the meal time after operation was (4.0 ± 1.3) days) (t = -6.475 and -4.871, P < 0.01), and longer length (cm) of distal resection margin ((10 ± 4) cm vs. (9 ± 4) cm, t = 3.527, P = 0.000). The 5-year overall survival of the laparoscopic group and the open group were 63.6% and 61.8% respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival of the I-III stage patients in the laparoscopic group and the open group were 69.5% and 65.5% respectively, and the local recurrence were 8.7% and 13.6% (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer is safe in short-term clinical results and non-inferior to the open colectomy in long-term oncological outcomes.