On a prolonged interval between rectal cancer (chemo)radiotherapy and surgery

Adverse drug reactions and drug-related problems with supportive care medications among the oncological population

AIM

The current study emphasizes the impact of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and Drug-Related Problems (DRPs) caused by supportive care medications administered with chemotherapy.

METHOD

This is a longitudinal observational study carried out at the Ramaiah Medical College Hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, at the Department of Oncology. The data was recorded using a specifically created data collecting form. Based on the PCNE (Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe), DRPs are identified. The WHO probability scale, Modified Hartwig and Siegel for ADR severity assessment, Naranjo's algorithm for causality assessment, Rawlins and Thompson for predictability assessment, and Modified Shumock and Thornton for preventability assessment were all utilized. The OncPal guideline was considered in terms of the precision of supportive care medications regarding the reduction of ADRs in cancer patients.

RESULT

We enrolled 302 patients,166 (55%) female and 136 (45%) male (SD 14.378) (mean 49.97), patients with one comorbidity 59(19.6%) and multimorbidity (two or more) 45(14.9%), the DRPs identified were found to be 153 (50.6%); only P2 (safeties of drug therapy PCNE) were considered in this study. ADRs which are identified 175(57.9%) contributed/caused by the supportive care medications. WHO probability scale: 97 (32.1%) possible and 60 (19.9%) unlikely; Naranjo's algorithm: 97 (32.1%) unlikely and 69 (22.8%) possible; ADR severity assessment scale (Modified Hartwig and Siegel): 95 (31.5%) mild and 63 (20.9%) moderates; Rawlins and Thompson for determining predictability of an ADR: 33 (10.9%) predictable and 137 (45.5%) non-predictable; and Modified Shumock and Thornton for determining preventability of an ADR: 81 (26.8%) probably preventable and 90 (29.8%) non-preventable. The statistical comparison through preforming t-test and measuring Chi-Square between group with ADRs and without ADRs shows in some variables, significantly (Alcohol consumption status, P = .019) and Easter Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status P < 0.001.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive assessment of supportive medications in cancer patients would enhance the patient management and therapeutic outcome. The potential adverse drug reactions (ADRs) caused by supportive care medications can contribute to longer hospital stays and interact with the systemic anti-cancer treatment. The health care professionals should be informed to monitor the patients clinically administered with supportive medications.

Recent advances in rectal cancer treatment - are we on the right track?

Background

Staging and treatment of rectal cancer have evolved over several decades with considerably fewer locoregional recurrences but no marked improved survival since systemic recurrence risks remain virtually unchanged. This development will briefly be summarised followed by a thorough discussion of two recent developments.

Methods

A systematic approach towards the literature is aimed at focusing on organ preservation and the delivery of all non-surgical treatments prior to surgery or total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT).

Results

Organ preservation, that is to defer surgery if the tumour happens to disappear completely after any pre-treatment given to locally advanced tumours to decrease recurrence risks has increased in popularity and is, if not universally, widely accepted. To give neo-adjuvant treatment to intentionally obtain a clinically complete remission to avoid surgery is practised in some environments but is mostly still experimental. TNT, that is to provide both radiotherapy and chemotherapy aimed at killing microscopic disease in the pelvis or elsewhere has been subject to several trials. Collectively, they show that the chance of achieving a complete response, pathologically or clinically, has approximately doubled, increasing the chance for organ preservation, and the risk of distant metastasis has decreased at least in some trials. The best schedule remains to be established.

Conclusions

To obtain substantial progress and also improve survival, the systemic treatments need to be improved even if preoperative delivery is more effective and better tolerated than postoperative. The locoregional treatment may be further optimised through better risk prediction.

Short-course preoperative radiotherapy increases pelvic fracture risk in rectal cancer

Introduction

Pelvic insufficiency fractures (PIFs) are adverse events associated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) administered preoperatively in rectal cancer, with incidences of 0-33.6% reported in the literature. Data on PIFs after 5 × 5 Gy fractionated short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) using highly conformal radiotherapy techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is limited.

Methods

The Turku University Hospital colorectal cancer database was searched for patients operated on for stage I-III rectal cancer during the years 2014-2018. The hospital's routine follow-up includes a 2-year computed tomography (CT) scan, which was systemically re-evaluated to detect PIFs. Only radiotherapy delivered using VMAT and image-guided approaches was included. Baseline demographics, tumor data, and dose-volume data were collected to identify risk factors for PIFs.

Results

Median time to CT scan was 24 months. Among the 164 patients analyzed, the 2-year PIF incidence was 22.2% for SCRT (n = 12/54, OR 9.1 (CI95% 1.9-42.9), p = 0.004), 9.1% for CRT (n = 4/44, OR 3.2 (CI95% 0.6-18.3), p = 0.13) and 3.0% (n = 2/66, reference) for those operated on without radiotherapy. The PIF incidence was not explained by differences in dose-volume data in either the SCRT or CRT groups. Fracture risk was higher in women, up to 50% after SCRT.

Conclusions

Every fifth patient treated with SCRT and rectal surgery presented with a PIF. Critical bony structures to be avoided during radiotherapy contouring could not be identified. Clinicians, especially those involved with the follow-up of rectal cancer, should be aware of this potentially debilitating and surprisingly common adverse event.

Promises and Challenges of Predictive Blood Biomarkers for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) requires a multimodal approach combining neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery. Predicting tumor response to CRT can guide clinical decision making and improve patient care while avoiding unnecessary toxicity and morbidity. Circulating biomarkers offer both the advantage to be easily accessed and followed over time. In recent years, biomarkers such as proteins, blood cells, or nucleic acids have been investigated for their predictive value in oncology. We conducted a comprehensive literature review with the aim to summarize the status of circulating biomarkers predicting response to CRT in LARC. Forty-nine publications, of which forty-seven full-text articles, one review and one systematic review, were retrieved. These studies evaluated circulating markers (CEA and CA 19-9), inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, albumin, and lymphocytes), hematologic markers (hemoglobin and thrombocytes), lipids and circulating nucleic acids (cell-free DNA [cfDNA], circulating tumor DNA [ctDNA], and microRNA [miRNA]). Post-CRT CEA levels had the most consistent association with tumor response, while cfDNA integrity index, MGMT promoter methylation, ERCC-1, miRNAs, and miRNA-related SNPs were identified as potential predictive markers. Although circulating biomarkers hold great promise, inconsistent results, low statistical power, and low specificity and sensibility prevent them from reliably predicting tumor response following CRT. Validation and standardization of methods and technologies are further required to confirm results.

Effect of interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery on disease recurrence and survival in rectal cancer: long-term results of a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The optimal timing of surgery following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is controversial. This trial aimed to assess disease recurrence and survival rates between patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC) who underwent total mesorectal excision (TME) after a waiting interval of 8 weeks or less (classic interval; CI) versus more than 8 weeks (long interval; LI) following preoperative CRT.

METHODS

This was a phase III, single-centre, randomized clinical trial. Patients with LARC situated within 12 cm of the anal verge (T3-T4 or N+ disease) were randomized to undergo TME within or after 8 weeks after CRT.

RESULTS

Between January 2006 and January 2017, 350 patients were randomized, 175 to each group. As of February 2022, the median follow-up time was 80 (6-174) months. Among the 322 included patients (CI, 159; LI, 163) the cumulative incidence of locoregional recurrence at 5 years was 10.1 per cent in the CI group and 6.9 per cent in the LI group (P = 0.143). The cumulative incidence of distant metastasis at 5 years was 30.8 per cent in the CI group and 18.6 per cent in the LI group (sub-HR = 1.78; 95 per cent c.i. 1.14 to 2.78, P = 0.010). The disease-free survival (DFS) in each group was 59.7 and 69.9 per cent respectively (P = 0.157), and overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years were 73.6 versus 77.9 per cent (P = 0.476).

CONCLUSION

Incidence of distant metastasis decreased with an interval between CRT and surgery exceeding 8 weeks, but this did not impact on DFS or OS.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03287843 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Efficacy and Safety of Preoperative Radiotherapy Versus Chemoradiotherapy in Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) combined with surgery and preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) combined with surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched to collect published randomized controlled trials of preoperative radiotherapy or preoperative CRT combined with surgery for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer. Studies were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality was evaluated; RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 7 related studies involving 3100 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were evaluated. The pathological complete response rate, negative lymph node rate, R0 resection rate, and incidence of grade III/IV adverse reactions were lower in the RT group than in the CRT group. In the absence of postoperative chemotherapy, the 5-year local recurrence rate of RT was higher than that of CRT, but there was no significant difference between the groups among those who underwent postoperative chemotherapy. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the groups with regard to the 5-year survival rate, anal-preserving rate, or incidence of anastomotic leakage.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative CRT is better than preoperative RT for the treatment of advanced rectal cancer, though the adverse reaction rate is higher.

Radiotherapy regimens for rectal cancer: long-term outcomes and health-related quality of life in the Stockholm III trial

BACKGROUND

The Stockholm III trial randomly assigned 840 patients to short-course radiotherapy of 5 × 5 Gy with surgery within 1 week (SRT), short-course radiotherapy of 5 × 5 Gy with surgery after 4-8 weeks (SRT-delay), or long-course radiotherapy of 25 × 2 Gy with surgery after 4-8 weeks (LRT-delay). This study details the long-term oncological outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

Patients with biopsy-proven resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum were included. Primary outcome was time to local recurrence (LR), and secondary endpoints were distant metastases (DMs), overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and HRQoL. Patients were analysed in a three-arm randomization and a short-course radiotherapy comparison.

RESULTS

From 1998 to 2013, 357, 355, and 128 patients were randomized to the SRT, SRT-delay, and LRT-delay groups respectively. Median follow-up time was 5.7 (range 5.3-7.6) years. Comparing patients in the three-arm randomization, the incidence of LR was three of 129 patients, four of 128, and seven of 128, and DM 31 of 129 patients, 38 of 128, and 38 of 128 in the SRT, SRT-delay, and LRT-delay groups respectively. In the short-course radiotherapy comparison, the incidence of LR was 11 of 357 patients and 13 of 355, and DM 88 of 357 patients and 82 of 355 in the SRT and SRT-delay groups respectively. No comparisons showed statistically significant differences. Median OS was 8.1 (range 6.9-11.2), 10.3 (range 8.2-12.8), and 10.5 (range 7.0-11.3) years after SRT, SRT-delay, and LRT-delay respectively. Median OS was 8.1 (range 7.2-10.0) years after SRT and 10.2 (range 8.5-11.7) years after SRT-delay. There were no statistically significant differences in HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

After a follow-up of 5 years, delaying surgery for 4-8 weeks after radiotherapy treatment with 5 × 5 Gy was oncologically safe. Long-term HRQoL was similar among the treatment arms.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NTC00904813.

Evaluation and Predictive Factors of Complete Response in Rectal Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy

The response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy is an important prognostic factor for locally advanced rectal cancer. Although the majority of the patients after neoadjuvant therapy are referred to following surgery, the clinical data show that complete clinical or pathological response is found in a significant proportion of the patients. Diagnostic accuracy of confirming the complete response has a crucial role in further management of a rectal cancer patient. As the rate of clinical complete response, unfortunately, is not always consistent with pathological complete response, accurate diagnostic parameters and predictive markers of tumor response may help to guide more personalized treatment strategies and identify potential candidates for nonoperative management more safely. The management of complete response demands interdisciplinary collaboration including oncologists, radiotherapists, radiologists, pathologists, endoscopists and surgeons, because the absence of a multidisciplinary approach may compromise the oncological outcome. Prediction and improvement of rectal cancer response to neoadjuvant therapy is still an active and challenging field of further research. This literature review is summarizing the main, currently known clinical information about the complete response that could be useful in case if encountering such condition in rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy, using as a source PubMed publications from 2010–2021 matching the search terms “rectal cancer”, “neoadjuvant therapy” and “response”.

Is Metformin Associated With Improved Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer?

Efforts to determine whether metformin can increase the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer have increased in recent years. However, retrospective studies have yielded inconclusive results.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare oncological outcomes and survival after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer taking metformin versus in those not taking metformin.

METHODS

This study analyzed 423 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and curative surgery between January 2010 and May 2020; of these, 59 were taking metformin and 364 were not taking metformin.

RESULTS

Patients taking metformin had a lower proportion of tumor regression (6.8% versus 22.0%, P = 0.012) as well as a lower proportion of patients achieving a pathological complete response (6.8% versus 20.6%, P = 0.011). In the multivariate analysis, independent predictors of pathologic complete response were not taking metformin (OR: 5.26, 95% CI: 1.12-24.85, P= 0.035) and cT2 stage (OR: 3.49, 95% CI: 1.10-11.07, P= 0.034); the interval was also an independent predictor of tumor regression (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.06-2.96, P= 0.028). No differences were observed in survival between groups.

CONCLUSION

Metformin was not associated with better tumor responses or survival after neoadjuvant treatment.

Timing to achieve the best recurrence-free survival after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: experience in a large-volume center in China

AIM

To identify the optimal interval from the end of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy to surgery (CRT-surgery interval) based on long-term oncological outcome of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

METHODS

Retrospective data analysis is reported from patients diagnosed with cT3 or T4 or TxN+ rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant treatment and curative-intent surgery between January 2010 and December 2018. With a priority focus on the effect of interval on oncological prognosis, we used recurrence-free survival (RFS) as the primary endpoint to determine the best cutoff point of time intervals. Then, the short-term and long-term outcomes of patients from longer and shorter interval groups were compared.

RESULTS

Data from 910 patients were analyzed, with 185 patients who achieved pCR (20.3%). The trend for increased rates of pCR for groups with a prolonged time interval was not observed (P = 0.808). X-tile determined a cutoff value of 10.5 weeks, and the population was divided into longer (> 10 weeks) and shorter (≤ 10 weeks) interval groups. The shorter interval was associated with a higher wound infection rate (4.7% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.031), but other postoperative complications did not differ between the groups. The 5-year RFS rate was significantly higher in patients in a longer group than those in the shorter weeks group (86.8% vs. 77.8%, P = 0.016). The 5-year OS rates between groups were similar (84.1% vs. 82.5%, P = 0.257). Local recurrence and lung metastases rates were higher in shorter interval group than those of longer group (local recurrence rate: 1.7% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.049; lung metastases rate: 5.7% vs. 10.7%, P = 0.047). Cox multivariate regression analysis confirmed the CRT-surgery interval (HR = 0.599, P = 0.045) to be an independent prognostic factor of RFS.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to define the optimal CRT-surgery interval based on RFS as the primary endpoint. Prolonging the waiting period to 10 weeks after the completion of CRT with additional chemotherapy cycles during the interval period might be a promising option to improve oncological survival in LARC patients treated with CRT and TME without compromising the surgical safety. Further randomized controlled trials investigating this are warranted to prove a clearly causality.

Adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer: state of the art and future perspectives

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer is controversial with opinions varying from 'not be used' since randomized trials have not shown significant gains to 'be used as in colon cancer' as the need is the same and colon and rectal cancers are quite similar. This review will look upon data critically and with open eyes.

RECENT FINDINGS

With the exception of one randomized phase II trial (ADORE) revealing a significant gain in disease-free survival using one more effective regimen (mFOLFOX) than bolus 5-fluorouracil leucovorin, no new data have been presented. However, bringing up aspects in previous trials, either considered irrelevant for the present situation or overall negative, of what adjuvant treatment can achieve, a small reduction (hazard ratio about 0.8) in the risk of recurrence is present. This reduction is not fundamentally different from that in colon cancer considering that adjuvant treatment for rectal cancer cannot be initiated as rapidly as it can after a colon cancer diagnosis.

SUMMARY

Adjuvant chemotherapy after rectal cancer surgery reduces recurrence risks but the benefit is limited and for most patients not clinically relevant. Neoadjuvant therapy can be more effective but results from randomized trials are not yet available.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Elderly Colorectal Cancer Patients

The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients has been the subject of many overviews, with opinions varying from “not effective”, since randomized trials have not been performed, to “as effective as in young individuals”, based upon many retrospective analyses of randomized trials that have included patients of all ages. In the absence of randomized trials performed specifically with elderly patients, retrospective analyses demonstrate that the influence on the time to tumour recurrence (TTR) may be the same as in young individuals, but that endpoints that include death for any reason, such as recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS), are poorer in the elderly. This is particularly true if oxaliplatin has been part of the treatment. The need for adjuvant chemotherapy after colorectal cancer surgery in elderly patients is basically the same as that in younger patients. The reduction in recurrence risks may be similar, provided the chosen treatment is tolerated but survival gains are less. Adding oxaliplatin to a fluoropyrimidine is probably not beneficial in individuals above a biological age of approximately 70 years. If an oxaliplatin combination is administered to elderly patients, three months of therapy is in all probability the most realistic goal.

Prognostic significance of early complete response in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy: Multicentric study of Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology Group (TROD)

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To assess the effect of various parameters on the oncologic outcomes, including the time interval between therapy and surgery (S) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of 914 LARC patients who received preoperative CRT between 1994 and 2015 were collected retrospectively. Patients received 45-50.4 Gy RT with 5FU based chemotherapy (CT). They all underwent radical resection followed by maintenance CT. Clinical and pathologic variables were compared between the pCR and no-pCR groups. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model was used in multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

After median follow-up of 60.5 (range=12-297.6) months, median overall survival (OS) was 58.75 months and disease-free survival (DFS) 53.32 months. pCR was observed in 18.9% of all cases. pCR, lymphovascular invasion and metastatic lymph node ratio (mLNR) were significantly associated with OS and DFS on multivariate analysis. The 5-year OS and DFS rates were better in pCR group (95.3% vs 80.7% for OS, p<0.0001 and 87.4% vs 71% for DFS, p<0.0001). pCR patients with 4-8 weeks interval had lower rates of distant metastasis (9% vs 20%, p=0.01) and any recurrences (13.6% vs 29.6%, p=0.001) than the remaining. Both OS and DFS were better in favor of pCR achieved at 4-8 week interval time (p<0.0001 for each).

CONCLUSION

pCR after preoperative CRT in LARC correlated with better oncologic outcome. The best OS and DFS durations were achieved in patients who experienced pCR after 4-8-weeks interval before surgery.

Delaying surgery by more than 10 weeks after long-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer patients improves pathologic complete response

BACKGROUND

We currently do not know the optimal time interval between the end of chemoradiotherapy and surgery. Longer intervals have been associated with a higher pathological response rate, worse pathological outcomes and more morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and safety of the current trend of increasing time interval between the end of chemoradiotherapy and surgery (< 10 weeks vs. ≥ 10 weeks) on postoperative morbidity and pathological outcomes. This study analyzed 232 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy from January 2012 to August 2018. 125 patients underwent surgery before 10 weeks from the end of chemoradiotherapy (Group 1) and 107 patients underwent surgery after 10 or more weeks after the end of chemoradiotherapy (Group 2). Results have shown that wait for ≥ 10 weeks did not compromise surgical safety. Pathological complete response and tumor stage was statistically significant among groups. The effect of wait for ≥ 10 weeks before surgery shown higher tumor regression than the first group (Group 1, 12.8% vs Group 2, 31.8%; p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, wait for ≥ 10 weeks was associated with pathological compete response. Patients from the second group were four time more likely to achieve pathologic complete response than patients from the first group (OR, 4.27 95%CI 1.60-11.40; p = 0.004). Patients who undergo surgery after ≥ 10 weeks of the end of chemoradiotherapy are four time more likely to achieve complete tumor remission without compromise surgical safety or postoperative morbidity.

Laparoscopic Ultra Low Anterior Resection: Single Center, 6-Year Study

Background: This study represents a prospective analysis of a series of laparoscopic ultra low anterior resection (ULAR) done at a laparoscopic surgical center to assess the surgical outcome, oncological efficacy, and quality of life after surgery. Methods: Over a period of 6 years (2013-2018), 43 patients aged between 40 and 68 years, with very low rectal cancers (3-6 cm from the anal verge), within T3N1M0 stage, assessed by positron emission tomography-computed tomography and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by laparoscopic ULAR and simultaneous diversion ileostomy. Results: The overall complication rate was low and there was an overall leak rate of 9.3% with a radiological leak (Grade A) in 3 of the 43 patients (7%), but only 1 (2.3%) patient required a local lavage and a resuturing for secondary hemorrhage. Recurrence was seen in 2/43 (4.7%), one of whom had a conversion to abdominoperineal resection. The other had distant metastasis and refused further treatment. The functional outcome is assessed in 41 (95.3%) patients by low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score and a reasonable quality of life with major LARS was seen in only 7.3% of the patients at a follow-up ranging from 1 to 6 years. Conclusion: The nCRT followed by laparoscopic ULAR is a feasible option for operable very low rectal cancers and is associated with minimal postoperative events, a low local recurrence and less incidence of LARS.

Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Completion on Oncologic Outcomes in ypTNMstage 2 Rectal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE

Adjuvant chemotherapy (aCT) in rectal cancer patients who have undergone curative resection after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the benefits of using aCT and the clinical impact of completing aCT in ypstage 2 rectal cancer patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinicopathological data from patients who had undergone radical resection after nCRT between January 2006 and December 2012. In total, 152 patients with ypT3/4N0M0 rectal cancer were included. Of these patients, 139 initiated aCT, while 13 did not receive aCT (no-aCT). Among those who received aCT, 132 patients completed their planned cycles (aCT-completion) whereas 7 did not (aCT-incompletion). All patients received longcourse chemoradiation; a 5-fluorouracil-based regimen was used for nCRT in most patients. The prognostic factors affecting disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 41 months. Demographic data did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. In multivariate analysis, open surgery, a tumor size >2 cm, retrieval of <12 lymph nodes, circumferential resection margin (CRM) positivity and aCT incompletion were independent prognostic factors for poor DFS. Old age (≥60 years), open surgery, CRM positivity, aCT incompletion, and lack of aCT initiation compared to aCT completion were independent prognostic factors for poor OS.

CONCLUSION

In ypstage 2 rectal cancer patients, aCT after nCRT and total mesorectal excision affected both DFS and OS; however, only patients who completed planned aCT exhibited survival benefits. Therefore, improving patients' compliance with the completion of aCT is desirable.

Postoperative complications in relation to overall treatment time in patients with rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant radiotherapy

Background

The optimal timing of surgery for rectal cancer after radiotherapy (RT) is disputed. The Stockholm III trial concluded that it was oncologically safe to delay surgery for 4–8 weeks after short-course RT (SRT), with fewer postoperative complications compared with SRT with surgery within a week. Other studies have indicated that an even shorter interval between RT and surgery (0–3 days) might be beneficial. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal interval to surgery after RT.

Methods

Patients were analysed as treated, in terms of overall treatment time (OTT), the interval from the start of RT until the day of surgery. Patients receiving SRT (5 × 5 Gy) were categorized according to OTT: 7 days (group A), 8–13 days (group B), 5–7 weeks (group C) and 8–13 weeks (group D). Patients receiving long-course RT (25 × 2 Gy) were grouped into those with an OTT of 9–11 weeks (group E) or 12–14 weeks (group F). Outcomes assessed were postoperative complications and early mortality.

Results

A total of 810 patients were analysed (group A, 100; group B, 247; group C, 192; group D, 160; group E, 52; group F, 59). Baseline patient characteristics were similar. There were significantly more overall complications in group B than in groups C and D. Adjusted odds ratios, with B as the reference group, were: 0·72 (95 per cent c.i. 0·40 to 1·32; P = 0·289), 0·50 (0·30 to 0·84; P = 0·009) and 0·39 (0·23 to 0·65; P &lt; 0·001) for groups A, C and D respectively. Early mortality was similar in all groups. There were no significant differences between long-course RT groups.

Conclusion

These results suggest that surgery should optimally be delayed for 4–12 weeks (OTT 5–13 weeks) after SRT.

Preoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer - Is survival improved? An update of the "Nordic" LARC study in non-resectable cancers

The randomized "Nordic" LARC study compared preoperative long-course radiotherapy alone (RT) or with chemotherapy (CRT) in the most locally advanced/ugly rectal cancers. Despite significantly better local control in the CRT group, no overall survival benefit was seen after 10 years follow-up. The relations between local control and survival are discussed.