Ozturk SK, Martinez CG, Mens D, Verhoef C, Tosetto M, Sheahan K, de Wilt JHW, Hospers GAP, van de Velde CJH, Marijnen CAM, van der Post RS, Nagtegaal ID. Lymph node regression after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer.
Histopathology 2024;
84:935-946. [PMID:
38192084 DOI:
10.1111/his.15134]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
AIMS
Lymph node metastases (LNM) are one of the most important prognostic indicators in solid tumours and a major component of cancer staging. Neoadjuvant therapy might influence nodal status by induction of regression. Our aim is to determine the prevalence and role of regression of LNM on outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Four independent study populations of rectal cancer patients treated with similar regimens of chemoradiotherapy were pooled together to obtain a total cohort of 469 patients. Post-treatment nodal status (ypN) and signs of tumour regression (Reg) were incorporated to form three-tiered (ypN- Reg+, ypN- Reg- and ypN+) and four-tiered (ypN- Reg+, ypN- Reg-, ypN+ Reg+ and ypN+ Reg-) classifications. In our cohort, 31% of patients presented with ypN+ rectal cancer. As expected, we found significantly worse overall survival (OS) in ypN+ patients compared to ypN- patients (P = 0.002). The percentage of ypN- patients with lymph nodes with complete regression was 20% in our cohort. While node-negative patients with and without regression had similar OS (P = 0.09), disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly better in node-negative patients with regression (P = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS
Regression in lymph nodes is frequent, and node-negative patients with evidence of lymph node regression have better DFS compared to node-negative patients without such evidence.
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