Low rate of local recurrence detection by rectoscopy in follow-up of rectal cancer

Quality of life and symptom burden after rectal cancer surgery: a randomised controlled trial comparing patient-led versus standard follow-up

PURPOSE

After curatively intended rectal cancer (RC) surgery, new follow-up strategies are warranted, seeking more individualised care and targeting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional outcomes. The FURCA trial aimed to investigate the effect of patient-led follow-up on HRQoL and symptom burden 3 years after surgery.

METHODS

RC patients from four Danish centres were randomised 1:1 to intervention (patient-led follow-up with patient education and self-referral to a specialist nurse) or control (standard follow-up with five routine doctor visits). Patients in both groups had a computed tomography (CT) at 1 and 3 years. The primary outcome (HRQoL) was assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - colorectal (FACT-C) score (Ward et al. in Qual Life Res. 8(3):181-95, 18). Secondary outcomes were functional measures, patient involvement and satisfaction and cancer recurrence at 3 years.

RESULTS

From Feb 2016 to Aug 2018, 336 patients were included of whom 248 completed 3 years of follow-up. Between-group differences were found neither for the primary endpoint, nor for functional outcomes. The recurrence rate did not differ between the groups. Patient involvement and satisfaction were higher in the intervention group with statistical significance in almost half of the items.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no effect on HRQoL and symptom burden from patient-led follow-up, although it may improve patient-perceived involvement and satisfaction.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

The findings in this study suggest that patient-led follow-up is a more tailored approach to meet cancer survivors' needs and might improve their ability to cope with survivorship.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV IDENTIFIER

R97-A6511-14-S23.

Lateral pelvic sentinel lymph node biopsy using indocyanine green fluorescence navigation: can it be a powerful supplement tool for predicting the status of lateral pelvic lymph nodes in advanced lower rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

An innovative instrument for laparoscopy using indocyanine green (ICG) allows easy detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLNs). Here, we investigated the safety and efficacy of lateral pelvic SLN biopsy (SLNB) using ICG fluorescence navigation in advanced lower rectal cancer and evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of this technique to predict the status of LPLN.

METHODS

From April 1, 2017 to December 1, 2020, we conducted lateral pelvic SLNB using ICG fluorescence navigation during laparoscopic total mesorectal excision and lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LLND) in 23 patients with advanced low rectal cancer who presented with LPLN but without LPLN enlargement. Data regarding clinical characteristics, surgical and pathological outcomes, lymph node findings, and postoperative complications were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

We successfully performed the surgery using fluorescence navigation. One patient underwent bilateral LLND and 22 patients underwent unilateral LLND. The lateral pelvic SLN were clearly fluorescent before dissection in 21 patients. Lateral pelvic SLN metastasis was diagnosed in 3 patients and negative in 18 patients by frozen pathological examination. Among the 21 patients in whom lateral pelvic SLN was detected, the dissected lateral pelvic non-SLNs were all negative. All dissected LPLNs were negative in two patients without fluorescent lateral pelvic SLN.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that lateral pelvic SLNB using ICG fluorescence navigation shows promise as a safe and feasible procedure for advanced lower rectal cancer with good accuracy, and no false-negative cases were found. No metastasis in SLNB seemed to reflect all negative LPLN metastases, and this technique can replace preventive LLND for advanced lower rectal cancer.