Abstract: Background and purpose: The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer increased gradually in China, cancer survival rate plays an important role in guiding cancer prevention and treatment. Methods: Data of colorectal cancer cases diagnosed during 2002-2006, follow-up information and death report were from Shanghai Cancer Registry, Life Table and Ederer Ⅱ were used to calculate observed survival (OS) and relative survival (RS), the related demographic characteristics and status were also analyzed to reflect the survival situations of the colorectal cancer survivors in major areas in Shanghai. Results: In this study, 16 682 colon cancer cases and 11 906 rectum cancer cases were included in analysis, 5-year OS rates for colon cancer and rectum cancer were 48.84% and 51.65%, RS rates were 70.50% and 71.31%. Significant difference in survival had been found among the various diagnostic stages, the survival rate in stageⅠ was much higher than those in stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅳ. The survival of colorectal cancer patients with different gender, age, tumor histological and residential areas were also found with differences, female was higher than male, age ranged from >44-54 years had the highest survival rates than other age groups. The survival of epithelial tumors was higher than other histologic types in colon cancer, and the survival of non-epithelial tumors was higher than other histologic types in rectum cancer. Over the past 3 decades, the 5-year OS increased dramatically in Shanghai. Conclusion: The level of survival of colorectal cancer in Shanghai is similar with it in developed counties. Colorectal cancer survival rate with different population characteristics may provide suggestions and evidence for further improvement of early screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Key words: Colorectal cancer, Survival rate, Relative survival