Total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: the fuse is lit

Personalized medicine for locally advanced rectal cancer: five years of complete clinical response after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy-a case report with a literature review

We present a case report of a 73-year-old male patient with a complete clinical response following neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy of mid-rectal adenocarcinoma. The patient was initially diagnosed with stage IIIB microsatellite stable mid-rectal adenocarcinoma in February 2017. During restaging in June 2017, which included rectoscopy, endosonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, a complete clinical response was observed. After appropriate consultation, a watch-and-wait strategy was chosen. During stringent follow-up every 3 months for the first 3 years and thereafter every 6 months, no recurrence or regrowth was observed. After the fifth year of complete clinical response, we recommended an annual follow-up. As of November 2023, the patient has no signs of recurrence or late toxicity after radiochemotherapy. The omission of resection in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and the establishment of a watch-and-wait strategy are currently under discussion as possible treatment courses in patients with complete clinical response. Long-term data on watch-and-wait strategies for patients with a complete clinical response in locally advanced rectal cancer are rare. A clear national and international accepted standardization of follow-up programs for patients managed by a watch-and-wait strategy in the long-term is missing. Here, we report the case of a patient who had undergone a follow-up program for more than five years and discuss the current literature. Our case report and literature review highlights that a watch-and-wait strategy does not seem to increase the risk of systemic disease or compromise survival outcomes in selected locally advanced rectal cancer patients. Thus, our case contributes to the growing body of knowledge on personalized and precision medicine for rectal cancer.

An International Multicenter Prospective Study Evaluating the Long-term Oncological Impact of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in ypN+ Rectal Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To assess the oncological benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in node positive (ypN+) rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical surgery.

BACKGROUND

The evidence for AC after total mesorectal excision for locally advanced rectal cancer is conflicting and the net survival benefit is debated.

METHODS

An international multicenter comparative cohort study was performed comparing oncological outcomes in tertiary rectal cancer centers from the Netherlands and France. Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision surgery and with positive lymph nodes on histologic examination (ypN+) were included for analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to compare disease-free (DFS) and overall survival in AC and non-AC groups.

RESULTS

Of 1265 patients screened, a total of 239 rectal cancer patients with ypN+ disease were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in both groups. Higher systemic recurrence rates were observed in the non-AC group compared with those who received AC [32.0% (n=40) vs 17.5% (n=11), respectively, P =0.034]. DFS at 1 and 5 years postoperatively were significantly better in the AC group (92% vs 80% at 1 year; 72% vs 51% at 5 years, P =0.024), whereas no difference in overall survival was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this multicenter comparative cohort study, we identified an oncological benefit of AC in both systemic recurrence and DFS in ypN+ rectal cancer patients. From this data, systemic chemotherapy continues to confer oncological benefit in locally advanced ypN+ rectal cancer.

A fundamental change emerging in locally advanced rectal cancer management: a case report

Treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer remains a challenge in colorectal surgery. It has had an evolving landscape over the past three decades. Implementation of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) as a novel approach to management has begun globally but long-term outcomes and data analysis to identify optimal schedules are eagerly awaited. We report a case of locally advanced rectal cancer management in a young male with a complete pathological response to TNT.

Microsatellite instability in young patients with rectal cancer: molecular findings and treatment response

In this study of 400 patients with early-onset rectal cancer, 12.5 per cent demonstrated microsatellite instability (MSI). MSI was associated with a reduced likelihood of nodal positivity, an increased rate of pathological complete response, and improved disease-specific survival.

Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis of Oncological and Operative Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer refers to the administration of chemoradiotherapy plus chemotherapy before surgery. Recent studies have shown improved pathological complete response and disease-free survival with this approach. However, survival benefits remain unproven. Our objective is to present a metaanalysis of oncological outcomes of total neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholars. Studies comparing total neoadjuvant therapy with standard neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were included. Data extracted from the individual studies were pooled and a metaanalysis performed. The outcomes of interest are the rate of complete pathological response, nodal response, resection margin, anal preservation, anastomotic leak, local recurrence, distant recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival.

RESULTS

There were 15 comparative studies with 2437 patients in the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group and 2284 in the total neoadjuvant therapy group. The pooled complete pathological response was 22.3% in the total neoadjuvant therapy group, compared with 14.2% in the standard neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group (p < 0.001). Even though there was no difference in local recurrence rate, there was a significantly lower rate of distant recurrence (OR 0.81, p = 0.02), and better 3-year disease-free survival (70.6% vs. 65.3%, respectively, p < 0.001) and overall survival (84.9% vs. 82.3%, respectively, p = 0.006), favoring the total neoadjuvant therapy group. Due to significant heterogeneity in the study protocols, there remains uncertainty on the ideal chemotherapy/radiotherapy sequence.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides supporting evidence on the favorable immediate and intermediate oncological outcomes with the use of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Positive lateral pelvic lymph nodes in low rectal cancer: should we change our practice now?

BACKGROUND

The role of lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) in the treatment of patients with low rectal cancer with enlarged lateral lymph nodes (LLN+) is under investigation. Enthusiasm for LLND stems from a perceived reduction in local recurrence (LR). We aimed to compare the LR rate for LLN+ patients with LLN- patients, treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and surgery, in a hospital that does not perform LLND.

METHODS

A retrospective study of all patients with clinical stage 3 low rectal cancer who completed nCRT and surgery between 2008 and 2017 at Western Health was performed. Outcomes for LLN+ patients were compared with LLN- patients. The primary outcome was LR. Secondary outcomes included distant metastases, disease-free survival and overall survival.

RESULTS

There were 110 patients treated for stage 3 low rectal cancer over 10 years. There was no significant difference in the LR rate, with one LR from 28 LLN+ patients and one LR from 82 LLN- patients (4% versus 1.2%, P = 0.44). There were no significant differences in median disease-free survival (41 versus 52 months, P = 0.19) or mean overall survival (62 versus 60 months, P = 0.80). Of all patients studied, 21% developed distant metastases.

CONCLUSION

LR after nCRT and surgery in patients with stage 3 rectal cancer is rare, irrespective of lateral pelvic node status. These data, along with the uncertain benefit and known risks of LLND, supports the continued use of standard therapy in these patients. Strategies to address distant failure in these patients should be explored.