Long-term survival and recurrence outcomes following surgery for distal rectal cancer

Longitudinal Analysis of Local Recurrence and Survival After Transanal Abdominal Transanal Radical Proctosigmoidectomy for Low Rectal Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy

BACKGROUND

The transanal abdominal transanal radical proctosigmoidectomy was developed in 1984 as a sphincter preservation surgery in patients with low rectal cancers after preoperative radiation therapy. While serving as a catalyst for disruptive sphincter preservation surgery, it continues to be used and evolve. With the controversy over safety and local recurrence in other sphincter-preserving surgery, review of transanal abdominal transanal radical proctosigmoidectomy long-term oncologic outcomes is warranted.

OBJECTIVE

To assess local recurrence and survival after transanal abdominal transanal radical proctosigmoidectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of a prospectively maintained database.

SETTINGS

Tertiary rectal cancer referral center.

PATIENTS

Patients with low adenocarcinoma (≤5 cm anorectal ring) receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and then transanal abdominal transanal radical proctosigmoidectomy for curative resection between 1998 and 2021.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Local recurrence rates and overall survival rates.

RESULTS

Of 255 included patients, 67.8% were men (n = 173); the mean age was 58.7 years (SD 11.5) and the mean BMI was 27.1 (SD 5.4), with 50.2% (n = 128) having ASA class II and 49.8% (n = 127) having ASA class III/IV. The mean tumor size was 4.8 cm (SD 1.9), the majority of patients had clinical T3 disease (81.8%; n = 184), and 52.1% had nodal disease (n = 100). The median radiation dose was 5400 cGy, with 73.7% (n = 149) achieving good response and 90.2% (n = 230) receiving minimally invasive surgery. The complete total mesorectal excision rate was 94.3%, and 100% of patients (n = 255) had negative distal margins. The mean number of examined lymph nodes were 13.9 (SD 10.7). After a median follow-up of 55.4 months, 5.1% of patients (n = 13) developed local recurrence at a median time of 29.6 months. The 5-year overall survival was 84.1% (95% CI, 78.8-89.4).

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective review with risk of bias and lack of generalizability.

CONCLUSIONS

In this longitudinal study, the transanal abdominal transanal radical proctosigmoidectomy demonstrated excellent long-term locoregional control and survival in very low rectal cancers. The superior transanal abdominal transanal radical proctosigmoidectomy outcomes are durable over time, warranting expansion of the sphincter-preserving surgery technique. See Video Abstract .

ANLISIS LONGITUDINAL DE LA RECURRENCIA LOCAL Y LA SUPERVIVENCIA DESPUS DE LA PROCTOSIGMOIDECTOMA RADICAL TRANSANAL ABDOMINAL TATA PARA EL CNCER DE RECTO BAJO TRATADO CON QUIMIORRADIACIN NEOADYUVANTE

ANTECEDENTES:La proctosigmoidectomía radical transanal abdominal se desarrolló en 1984 como una cirugía de preservación del esfínter en cánceres de recto bajo después de la radiación preoperatoria. Si bien sirve como catalizador para la cirugía disruptiva de preservación del esfínter, continúa utilizándose y evolucionando. Con la controversia sobre la seguridad y la recurrencia local en otras cirugías que preservan el esfínter, se justifica la revisión de los resultados oncológicos a largo plazo de la proctosigmoidectomía radical transanal abdominal.OBJETIVO:Evaluar localmente después de Proctosigmoidectomía Radical Transanal Abdominal Transanal después de quimiorradiación neoadyuvante.DISEÑO:Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo de una base de datos mantenida de forma prospectiva.AJUSTES:Centro terciario de referencia para el cáncer de recto.PACIENTES:Adenocarcinoma bajo (=/ Collapse

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MESH Headings

• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Female
• Retrospective Studies
• Longitudinal Studies
• Neoadjuvant Therapy
• Rectal Neoplasms/surgery
• Adenocarcinoma/therapy
• Adenocarcinoma/pathology
• Neoplasm Staging

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Affiliation(s)

John H Marks Lankenau Medical Center, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
Thais Reif de Paula
Hela Saidi
Taylor P Ikner
Henry Schoonyoung
Gerald Marks
Deborah S Keller

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A systematic review of oncosurgical and quality of life outcomes following pelvic exenteration for locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic exenteration (PE) is now the standard of care for locally advanced (LARC) and locally recurrent (LRRC) rectal cancer. Reports of the significant short-term morbidity and survival advantage conferred by R0 resection are well established. However, longer-term outcomes are rarely addressed. This systematic review focuses on long-term oncosurgical and quality of life (QoL) outcomes following PE for rectal cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review of the PubMed®, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE® and Embase® databases was conducted, in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies were included if they reported long-term outcomes following PE for LARC or LRRC. Studies with fewer than 20 patients were excluded.

FINDINGS

A total of 25 papers reported outcomes for 5,489 patients. Of these, 4,744 underwent PE for LARC (57.5%) or LRRC (42.5%). R0 resection rates ranged from 23.2% to 98.4% and from 14.9% to 77.8% respectively. The overall morbidity rates were 17.8-87.0%. The median survival ranged from 12.5 to 140.0 months. None of these studies reported functional outcomes and only four studies reported QoL outcomes. Numerous different metrics and timepoints were utilised, with QoL scores frequently returning to baseline by 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This review demonstrates that PE is safe, with a good prospect of R0 resection and acceptable mortality rates in selected patients. Morbidity rates remain high, highlighting the importance of shared decision making with patients. Longer-term oncological outcomes as well as QoL and functional outcomes need to be addressed in future studies. Development of a core outcomes set would facilitate better reporting in this complex and challenging patient group.

Evaluation of ctDNA in the Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy and Prognosis in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients: A Prospective Study

“Watch and wait” is becoming a common treatment option for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) submitted to neoadjuvant treatment. However, currently, no clinical modality has an acceptable accuracy for predicting pathological complete response (pCR). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in predicting the response and prognosis in these patients. We prospectively enrolled a cohort of three Iberian centers between January 2020 and December 2021 and performed an analysis on the association of ctDNA with the main response outcomes and disease-free survival (DFS). The rate of pCR in the total sample was 15.3%. A total of 24 plasma samples from 18 patients were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. At baseline, mutations were detected in 38.9%, with the most common being TP53 and KRAS. Combination of either positive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) extramural venous invasion (mrEMVI) and ctDNA increased the risk of poor response (p = 0.021). Also, patients with two mutations vs. those with fewer than two mutations had a worse DFS (p = 0.005). Although these results should be read carefully due to sample size, this study suggests that baseline ctDNA combined with mrEMVI could potentially help to predict the response and baseline ctDNA number of mutations might allow the discrimination of groups with different DFS. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of ctDNA as an independent tool in the selection and management of LARC patients.

Circulating tumour DNA in the evolving treatment landscape of locally advanced rectal cancer: where does it fit in?

The management of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) requires multimodality treatment, typically with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision. However, the treatment landscape is rapidly evolving with total neoadjuvant therapy and non-operative management for selected patients emerging as other novel treatment approaches. With so many treatment options, there is a need for biomarkers to direct a more personalised treatment strategy for patients with LARC. In this review, we summarise the available data regarding the use of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in patients with LARC, as both a marker of treatment response to neoadjuvant therapy and as a marker of minimal residual disease (MRD) after patients have completed definitive local treatment. To date, the ability of ctDNA status to predict for pathologic complete response at any timepoint during multimodality treatment has been variably reported. The most consistent finding across available studies is the ability of ctDNA to detect MRD after CRT and surgery, the presence of which confers a significantly poor prognosis, with increased risk of cancer recurrence and worse overall survival. It is yet to be determined if providing additional therapies to patients with MRD improves outcomes. The available studies assessing the potential utility of ctDNA in LARC are limited by significant heterogeneity in the choice of ctDNA assay, timepoint at which ctDNA was collected, treatment that patients received and length of follow-up, leading to uncertainties about how to implement it into daily clinical practice. As the treatment landscape evolves, larger randomised trials assessing the role of ctDNA in LARC are needed.

Exploring biomarkers for prognosis and neoadjuvant chemosensitivity in rectal cancer: Multi-omics and ctDNA sequencing collaboration

Introduction

This study aimed to identified the key genes and sequencing metrics for predicting prognosis and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) in rectal cancer (RC) based on genomic DNA sequencing in samples with different origin and multi-omics association database.

Methods

We collected 16 RC patients and obtained DNA sequencing data from cancer tissues and plasma cell-free DNA before and after nCT. Various gene variations were analyzed, including single nucleotide variants (SNV), copy number variation (CNV), tumor mutation burden (TMB), copy number instability (CNI) and mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH). We also identified genes by which CNV level can differentiate the response to nCT. The Cancer Genome Atlas database and the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium database were used to further evaluate the specific role of therapeutic relevant genes and screen out the key genes in multi-omics levels. After the intersection of the screened genes from differential expression analysis, survival analysis and principal components analysis dimensionality reduction cluster analysis, the key genes were finally identified.

Results

The genes CNV level of principal component genes in baseline blood and cancer tissues could significantly distinguish the two groups of patients. The CNV of HSP90AA1, EGFR, SRC, MTOR, etc. were relatively gained in the better group compared with the poor group in baseline blood. The CNI and TMB was significantly different between the two groups. The increased expression of HSP90AA1, EGFR, and SRC was associated with increased sensitivity to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs. The nCT predictive score obtained by therapeutic relevant genes could be a potential prognostic indicator, and the combination with TMB could further refine prognostic prediction for patients. After a series of analysis in multi-omics association database, EGFR and HSP90AA1 with significant differences in multiple aspects were identified as the key predictive genes related to prognosis and the sensitivity of nCT.

Discussion

This work revealed that effective combined application and analysis in multi-omics data are critical to search for predictive biomarkers. The key genes EGFR and HSP90AA1 could serve as an effective biomarker to predict prognose and neoadjuvant chemosensitivity.

The Impact of Narrow and Infiltrated Distal Margin After Proctectomy for Rectal Cancer on Patients' Outcomes: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Rectal cancer is a common tumor within a difficult anatomic constraint. Total mesorectal excision with longitudinal and circumferential free margins is considered imperative for good prognosis. In this article, the authors systematically reviewed all published literature with specific Mesh terms until the end of year 2019. Thereafter, retrieved articles were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and meta-analysis was conducted comparing local recurrence among 1-cm, 5-mm, and narrow (< 1-mm)/infiltrated margins. Thirty-nine articles were included in the study. Macroscopic distal margin < 1 cm carried a higher incidence of recurrence for those who did not receive neoadjuvant radiation, without affecting neither estimated overall nor disease-free survival. Less than 5-mm margin after radiation therapy is accepted oncologically. Infiltrated margins and narrow margins (< 1 mm) microscopically are associated with higher incidence of local recurrence and shorter overall and disease-free survival. Surgeons should aim at 1-cm safety margin in radiotherapy-naïve patients and microscopic free margin > 1 mm for those who received neoadjuvant therapy. The cost/benefit of reoperation for patients with infiltrated margins is still inadequately studied.

Comparison of oncological outcomes between low anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer: A retrospective cohort study using a multicenter database in Japan

BACKGROUND

It remains controversial whether the abdominoperineal resection (APR) procedure itself has a negative impact on prognosis compared with sphincter-saving surgery (SSS). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the operation type affects the prognostic outcome in rectal cancer using a multicenter database in Japan.

METHODS

The study involved 2533 patients who underwent APR or SSS and were registered in the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum database, which includes data from 74 centers, between 2003 and 2007. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The secondary endpoints were local recurrence rate (LRR) and pathological radial margin (pRM) status.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis identified pathological tumor depth, lymph node status, and pRM status to be associated with oncological outcomes (OS, RFS, LRR). Although the oncological outcomes were worse after APR than after SSS in univariate analysis, there was no significant difference in OS (hazard ratio 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85-1.37) or RFS (hazard ratio 1.06; 95% CI 0.87-1.30) between APR and SSS. There was also no significant difference in LRR (odds ratio 1.11, 95% CI 0.70-1.77). Multivariate analysis showed that operation type was associated with positive pRM (odds ratio 3.13, 95% CI 0.18-0.56).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in oncological outcomes between APR and SSS for rectal cancer. The risk of positive pRM was higher for APR and performing radial margin-negative surgery is an important factor in improving the oncological outcomes of APR.

Is a Distal Resection Margin of ≤ 1 cm Safe in Patients with Intermediate- to Low-Lying Rectal Cancer? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

It is generally accepted that the distal resection margin of intermediate- to low-lying rectal cancer should be greater than 2 cm and at least 1 cm in special cases. This study intends to investigate whether a distal resection margin ≤ 1 cm affects tumor outcomes for patients with intermediate- to low-lying rectal cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Sixteen studies included data for distal resection margins ≤ 1 cm (1684 cases) and > 1 cm (5877 cases), and 5 studies included survival data. Meta-analysis was used to compare the local recurrence rate and long-term survival of patients with distal resection margins > or ≤ 1 cm.

RESULTS

The local recurrence rate in the ≤ 1-cm margin group (9.5%) was 2.3% higher than that in the > 1-cm margin group (7.2%) according to a fixed-effects model (RR [95% CI] 1.42 [1.18, 1.70], P < 0.001). The overall survival results of the five 1-cm margin studies showed an HR (95% CI) of 0.96 (0.75, 1.24) (P = 0.78). Subgroup analysis showed that the local recurrence rate in the subgroup with perioperative treatment was 1.2% lower in the ≤ 1-cm margin group (8.3%) than in the > 1-cm margin group (9.5%) (RR [95% CI] 0.97 [0.63, 1.49], P = 0.90). In the surgery alone subgroup, the local recurrence rate was 4.7% higher in the ≤ 1-cm margin group (12.4%) than in the > 1-cm group (7.7%) (RR [95% CI] 1.76 [1.09, 2.83], P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with intermediate- to low-lying rectal cancer undergoing surgery alone, a distal resection margin ≤ 1 cm may be not safe.

Surgical Techniques for Abdominoperineal Resection for Rectal Cancer: One Size Does Not Fit All

Abdominoperineal resection (APR) of rectal cancer is associated with poorer oncological outcomes than anterior resection. This may be due to higher rates of intra-operative perforation (IOP) and circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement causing higher recurrence rates and surgical complications. To address these concerns, several centers advocated a change in technique from a standard APR to a more radical extra-levator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE). Initial reports showed that ELAPE reduced IOP rates and CRM involvement but increased wound complications and longer surgical duration. However, many of these studies had unacceptable rates of IOP and CRM before retraining in ELAPE. This may indicate that it was a sub-optimal surgical technique, which improved upon training, that had influenced the high CRM and IOP rates rather than the technique itself. Subsequent studies demonstrated that the CRM involvement rate for ELAPE was not always lower than for standard APR and, in some cases, significantly higher. The morbidity of ELAPE can be high, with studies reporting higher adverse events than APR, especially in terms of wound complications from the larger perineal incision required in ELAPE. Whether ELAPE improves short- or long-term oncological outcomes for patients has not been clearly demonstrated. The authors propose that all centers performing rectal cancer surgery audit surgical outcomes of patients undergoing APR or ELAPE and examine CRM involvement, IOP rates, and local recurrence rates, preferably through a national body. If rates of adverse technical or oncological outcomes exceed acceptable levels, then retraining in the appropriate surgical techniques may be indicated.

3D printed drug-loaded implantable devices for intraoperative treatment of cancer

Surgery is an important treatment for cancer; however, local recurrence following macroscopically-complete resection is common and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Systemic chemotherapy is often employed as an adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrence of residual disease, but has limited efficacy due to poor penetration and dose-limiting off-target toxicities. Selective delivery of chemotherapeutics to the surgical bed may eliminate residual tumor cells while avoiding systemic toxicity. While this is challenging for traditional drug delivery technologies, we utilized advances in 3D printing and drug delivery science to engineer a drug-loaded arrowhead array device (AAD) to overcome these challenges. We demonstrated that such a device can be designed, fabricated, and implanted intraoperatively and provide extended release of chemotherapeutics directly to the resection area. Using paclitaxel and cisplatin as model drugs and murine models of cancer, we showed AADs significantly decreased local recurrence post-surgery and improved survival. We further demonstrated the potential for fabricating personalized AADs for intraoperative application in the clinical setting.

Efficacy of endoscopic surveillance in the detection of local recurrence after radical rectal cancer surgery is limited? A retrospective study

Background

Rectal cancer, one of most common neoplasms, is characterized by an overall survival rate exceeding 60%. Nonetheless, local recurrence (LR) following surgery for rectal cancer remains a formidable clinical problem. The aim of this study was to assess the value of postoperative endoscopic surveillance (PES) for the early detection of LR in rectal cancer after radical anterior resection with sigmoid-rectal anastomosis.

Methods

We performed an anterior resection in 228 patients with stages I‑III rectal cancer who had undergone surgery from 2001 to 2008 in the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Of these patients, 169 had perioperative radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. All patients underwent PES with abdominal and pelvic imaging (abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance) and clinical examination. Sensitivities, specificities, positive likelihood ratios, negative likelihood ratios, and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to compare the value of colonoscopy versus imaging techniques for the diagnosis of LR.

Results

During the 5-year follow-up, recurrences occurred in 49 (21%) patients; of these, 15 (6%) had LR, which was most often located outside the intestinal lumen (n = 10, 4%). Anastomotic LR occurred in 5 (2%) patients. The mean time to anastomotic LR was 30 months after initial surgery, similar to that of other locations (29 months). Both imaging and endoscopy were shown to be efficient techniques for the diagnosis of LR in anastomotic sites. In the study group, endoscopy did not provide any additional benefit in patients who were receiving radiation therapy.

Conclusions

The benefit of PES for the detection of LR after curative treatment of rectal cancer is limited and not superior to imaging techniques. It remains a useful method, however, for the histopathological confirmation of suspected or confirmed recurrence.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-021-02413-0.

One to Two Cycles of Consolidation Chemotherapy With Capecitabine After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Does Not Benefit Low-Risk Patients With Locally Advanced Middle-Low Rectal Cancer

Background and Objective

Organ preservation can enable locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients with clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant treatment to maintain quality of life. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether one or two cycles of capecitabine after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) without extending the interval between the end of NCRT and surgery could increase the complete response (CR) rate in low-risk middle-low LARC patients.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively evaluated middle-low LARC patients with low risk defined as clinical T2-3b, mesorectal fascia-clear, and extramural vascular invasion-negative by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), treated between January 2015 and July 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether consolidation chemotherapy was administered after NCRT. Patients in the consolidation chemotherapy group received one or two cycles of capecitabine (1000 mg/m² twice daily from days 1 to 14). The main outcome was the CR rate, including pathological CR (pCR) and cCR.

Results

A total of 169 patients, 105 in the consolidation chemotherapy group and 64 in the non-consolidation chemotherapy group, were included in the study, and the median follow-up was 37.2 months (range, 0.4–71.2 months). Seventeen patients achieved cCR and the remaining 152 underwent surgery after neoadjuvant treatment. There was no significant difference in the CR rate (39.0% vs. 35.9%, p=0.686), ypT0-2N0 rate (65.2% vs. 63.3%, p=0.812), or ypN0 rate (83.7% vs. 88.3%, p=0.503) between the consolidation chemotherapy and non-consolidation chemotherapy groups. Among the patients achieved cCR, 3 (17.6%) experienced regrowth in the rectum and 2 (11.8%) experienced distant metastasis. There was also no significant difference in the 3-year disease-free survival (87.4% vs 85.9%, p=0.971) in patients who underwent surgery between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that normal Carcinoma Embryonic Antigen (CEA) levels (p = 0.001) were associated with a higher CR rate. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the incidences of grade ≥2 acute toxicities during neoadjuvant treatment.

Conclusion

Although there was no increase in treatment-related toxicities between the two groups, simply adding one or two cycles of capecitabine after NCRT might be insufficient to benefit low-risk middle-low LARC patients.

Histopathological, Radiological, and Demographic Factors Predicting the Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy for Rectal Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

While the treatment for early stage rectal cancer is surgery, when a diagnosis is made at a locally advanced stage, it is recommended to start treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, it is important to determine which patients will respond best to neoadjuvant treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate which hematological, histopathological, and radiological parameters can predict the response to chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

A retrospective examination was made of 43 patients who underwent surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy because of locally advanced stage rectal cancer. Demographic data were collected from the patient files, and the radiological, histopathological, and laboratory findings before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were compared with the findings after treatment.

RESULTS

In the postoperative evaluation, a pathological complete response was determined in 25.50% of the patients. Lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and absence of necrosisis were seen to be statistically related to major response (p < 0.05), and in patients where the tumor was closer than 6 cm to the anal verge, the response was better CONCLUSION: When the findings were examined, histopathological lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, the presence of necrosis, and the anal verge distance were evaluated as parameters predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer.

Individualized conditional survival nomograms for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical surgery

BACKGROUND

Conditional survival (CS) considers the time already survived after surgery when estimating the survival probability, which may provide further useful prognostic information.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate CS in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and to create CS nomograms predicting the conditional probability of survival after proctectomy.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with LARC who received nCRT followed by radical resection between 2011 and 2016 were identified. CS was defined as the probability of surviving y years after already surviving for x years. The formula used for CS was CS(x|y) = S(x + y)/S(x), where S(x) represents the survival at x years. Nomograms were constructed to predict the 5-year conditional overall survival (cOS) and conditional recurrence-free survival (cRFS).

RESULTS

A total of 785 patients were included. The median follow-up time was 65.5 months. The probability of achieving 5-year survival after surgery for cancer increases with additional survival time. Maximum tumor diameter, distance from the anal verge, preoperative CA19-9 level, ypTNM stage and perineural invasion were independent predictors of OS, while maximum tumor diameter, distance from the anal verge, ypTNM stage and perineural invasion were independent risk factors for RFS. The nomograms predicted 5-year cOS and cRFS using these predictors and the time already survived. The online calculator can be accessed at http://www.rectalcancer.top/webcalculator.

CONCLUSION

The proposed nomograms predict survival in patients after surgery, taking the time already survived into account.

Widespread anorectal lymphovascular networks and tissue drainage: analyses from submucosal India ink injection and indocyanine green fluorescence imaging

AIM

Abdominoperineal resection is associated with poor prognosis in patients with advanced lower rectal cancer. This study aimed to analyse the functional lymphovascular network and tissue drainage in the anorectal region.

METHODS

In this descriptive study, we performed microanatomical evaluations and intra-operative imaging analysis in a cadaver and patients with rectal cancer. Specimens with India ink injection were collected from a cadaver and from six patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection. Intra-operative indocyanine green fluorescence imaging was performed on four patients who underwent surgery for lower rectal cancer. India ink was injected into the submucosa at the dentate line of specimens. Tissue sections were examined by immunohistochemistry for D2-40 and CD31. Intra-operative indocyanine green was injected into the submucosa at the dentate line. Lymph flow was traced using a near-infrared camera system.

RESULTS

Fascia branching from the rectal longitudinal muscle layer extended to the posterior hiatal ligament and lateral endopelvic fascia connective tissue lamina on the surface of the levator ani muscle. The fascia contained veins labelled with ink in their lumina and initial lymphatics. Intra-operative indocyanine green fluorescence imaging revealed extensive lymph flow from the muscle layer of the anal canal to the hiatal ligament and endopelvic fascia along the longitudinal muscle layer fibres.

CONCLUSIONS

The anorectal region contained widespread venous and lymphatic networks in proportion to its specific connective tissue framework around the longitudinal-muscle-layer-extending muscle bundles, which provides extensive networks for tissue fluid and cells.

Pathology reporting of pelvic exenteration specimens for locally recurrent rectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Reporting of pelvic exenteration specimens for locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) can be challenging for structured pathological analysis and currently, there is a lack of specific guidelines. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of pathology reporting in a cohort of patients who underwent pelvic exenteration for LRRC in a high-volume tertiary unit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a retrospective analysis of histopathology reports of consecutive patients who underwent pelvic exenteration for LRRC from 1996 to 2018, the quality of pathology reporting was assessed using the Structure Reporting Protocol for Colorectal Cancer. The primary endpoint was the completeness of pathology reporting, secondary endpoints were the association between the reporting style (narrative versus synoptic), reporting period (the first half versus the second half), as well as the activity of the pathologists with the completeness of pathology reporting.

RESULTS

221 patients who underwent pelvic exenteration for LRRC were included into the study. There was a high variability in completeness of pathology reporting within the cohort, ranging from 9.5% to 100%. Notably, microscopic clearance was reported in only 92.4% of the reports. Overall, a significantly higher rate of completeness was observed in synoptic reports when compared to narrative reports and in more recent compared to earlier reports. There was no significant association between the activity of pathologists and the completeness of reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a significant variability in the quality of reporting in pelvic exenteration for LRRC. The use of synoptic reporting clearly resulted in more complete reports.

Transanal total mesorectal excision for stage II or III rectal cancer: pattern of local recurrence in a tertiary referral center

BACKGROUND

For mid and low rectal cancer, transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) has been established as an alternative approach to laparoscopic surgery. However, there are concerns about an unexpected pattern of local recurrence. This study aimed to analyze the pattern of local recurrence for patients treated with TaTME in a tertiary referral center.

METHODS

A retrospective single-center analysis was performed. Since 2011, all patients with rectal cancer undergoing TaTME with curative intent were prospectively included in a standardized database. Patients with tumors within 12 cm, clinical stage II or III were included. The primary endpoint of the study was the overall local recurrence rate, together with a critical analysis of the patterns of local failures.

RESULTS

Two hundred and five patients were included in this analysis. At the time of surgery, patients had a mean age of 67.1 years (SD 12.3), and 66.8% were male. Neoadjuvant therapy was administered in 73.7%. Mesorectal specimen quality was complete or near-complete in 98.5%, while circumferential resection margin was ≤ 1 mm (including T4 tumors) in 11.8%. After a median follow-up of 34.3 months (95% CI 30.1-38.5), 3.4% (n = 7) presented with local recurrent disease. Six out of the seven patients were also diagnosed with hematogenous metastases. Of the seven patients, three presented with at least one of the following risk factors: T4 tumor, N2 disease, incomplete mesorectal specimen, or positive CRM. Local failure was noted posteriorly (n = 3), laterally (n = 2), anteriorly (n = 1), and in the axial compartment (n = 1). Median time to relapse was 31.5 months (10.3-40.9). The median follow-up after local recurrence was 7.9 (95% CI 6.7-9.1) months, with an overall survival of 85.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

TaTME provided satisfactory local recurrence outcomes, and the most common patterns of failure were in the central pelvis.

Feasibility and safety of laparoscopic lateral pelvic lymph node dissection for locally recurrent rectal cancer and risk factors for re-recurrence

INTRODUCTION

Lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastasis is considered a distant metastasis. It is often treated by systemic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, but complete radical resection of LPLN metastasis can sometimes achieve cure. However, the safety and efficacy of radical resection for recurrent LPLN after curative rectal surgery have not been well elucidated. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of laparoscopic radical surgery for recurrent LPLN compared with the conventional open approach and assessed oncological outcomes between patients with and without re-recurrence.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 17 cases (4 open, 13 laparoscopic) who underwent radical resection for LPLN metastasis after curative rectal surgery between July 2012 and August 2016 at the National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital. Operative factors and short-term outcomes were compared. Oncological outcome was evaluated based on the pathologic response to preoperative adjuvant therapy.

RESULTS

The laparoscopic group's median blood loss and C-reactive protein elevation were lower than that of the open group on postoperative day 3. The laparoscopic group also had a shorter postoperative hospital stay. The median operative time, R0 resection rate, and morbidity rate were similar between the two groups. Local re-recurrence after LPLN resection occurred more frequently in pathologic non-responders than responders.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery for LPLN metastasis is feasible and less invasive than open surgery. Laparoscopic radical resection of LPLN may be justified for curative intent. Patients with incomplete pathologic response to neoadjuvant therapy have a greater risk of re-recurrence.

Prognostic Significance of Neoadjuvant Rectal Scores in Preoperative Short-Course Radiotherapy and Long-Course Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors and the utility of the neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score for patients who have locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with preoperative short-course radiotherapy (SRT) or long-course concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

METHODS

Of 314 consecutive stage 2 or 3 rectal cancer patients enrolled from January 2006 to December 2017, 205 underwent preoperative SRT (2500 cGy/5 fractions), and 109 underwent preoperative CRT (4200-5080 cGy/21-28 fractions) after total mesorectal excision (TME). The study calculated NAR scores using the following equation: [5 pN - 3(cT - pT) + 12]²/9.61.

RESULTS

The multivariate analysis showed that age above 65 years, pT4, pN2, NAR scores higher than 16, and distance from anal verges (< 8 cm) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), whereas, pN2, NAR scores lower than 16, and distance from anal verges (< 8 cm) were significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS) and distant metastasis (DM). The patients with an NAR score higher than 16, had a 5-year OS rate of 67.6%, a DFS rate of 56.9%, a locoregional recurrence (LRR) rate of 7.7%, and a DM rate of 35% compared with corresponding rates of 87.6%, 76.7%, 5.4%, and 7.2% for the patients with an NAR score of 16 or lower (p < 0.001 for OS, < 0.001 for DFS, 0.25 for LRR, and < 0.001 for DM).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients who undergo SRT or CRT for LARC, a higher NAR score is associated with worse OS and DFS and higher DM rates at 5 years. The NAR score could be used as a short-term surrogate end point after neoadjuvant therapy for LARC.

Oncologic Risk of Rectal Preservation Against Medical Advice After Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer: A Multicenter Comparative Cross-Sectional Study with Rectal Preservation as Supported by Surgeon

BACKGROUND

Rectal preservation against medical advice after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer may increase oncologic uncertainty. This study aimed to compare the oncologic outcomes of patients undergoing rectal preservation as intended by the surgeon, and the outcomes of patients refusing rectal resection against medical advice.

METHODS

The study population consisted of patients in whom the rectum was preserved after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for clinical stage I-III mid or low rectal cancer between May 2003 and August 2017 (n = 2883); these patients were divided into those in whom rectal preservation was intended by their surgeon (intended rectal preservation, group A, n = 41) and those in whom the rectum was not resected against medical advice (unintended rectal preservation, group B, n = 101), defined as non-operative management or local excision.

RESULTS

The tumor distance, age, and performance status of patients were not significantly different between the groups, while the clinical T stage before chemoradiotherapy was lower in group A than in group B (P < 0.001). During the median follow-up period of 34 months (interquartile range 18.0-72.0 months), the 3-year overall survival in group B (59.7%) was worse than that in group A (90.1%; P < 0.001), and 80.2% of group B patients had residual or unknown disease status.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that unintended rectal preservation increases oncologic risk after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer regardless of short-term follow-up. Therefore, these findings could be shared with rectal cancer patients who choose to ignore medical advice after chemoradiotherapy to preserve their rectum.

Serial circulating tumour DNA analysis for locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative therapy: prediction of pathological response and postoperative recurrence

BACKGROUND

The "watch-and-wait" approach is a common treatment option amongst patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, the diagnostic sensitivity of clinical modalities, such as colonoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging to determine pathological response, is not high. We analysed the clinical utility of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) of patients with LARC to predict response to preoperative therapy and postoperative recurrence.

METHODS

A serial ctDNA analysis of 222 plasma samples from 85 patients with LARC was performed using amplicon-based deep sequencing on a cell-free DNA panel covering 14 genes with over 240 hotspots.

RESULTS

ctDNA was detected in 57.6% and 22.3% of samples at baseline and after preoperative treatment, respectively, which was significantly different (P = 0.0003). Change in ctDNA was an independent predictor of complete response to preoperative therapy (P = 0.0276). In addition, postoperative ctDNA and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were independent prognostic markers for risk of recurrence after surgery (ctDNA, P = 0.0127 and CEA, P = 0.0105), with a combined analysis having cumulative effects on recurrence-free survival (P = 1.0 × 10^-16).

CONCLUSIONS

Serial ctDNA analysis may offer clinically useful predictive and prognostic markers for response to preoperative therapy and postoperative recurrence in patients with LARC.

Re-irradiation for recurrent rectal cancer - a single-center experience

Background: There is no clear consensus on the use of re-irradiation (reRT) in the management of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). The aim of the present study was to investigate all reRT administered for rectal cancer at a large referral institution and to evaluate patient outcomes and toxicity.Material and methods: All patients with rectal cancer were identified who had received previous pelvic radiotherapy (RT) and underwent reRT during 2006-2016. Medical records and RT details of the primary tumor treatments and rectal cancer recurrence treatments were registered, including details on reRT, chemotherapy, surgery, adverse events, and long-term outcomes.Results: Of 77 patients who received ReRT, 67 had previously received pelvic RT for rectal cancer and were administered reRT for LRRC. Re-irradiation doses were 30.0-45.0 Gy, most often given as hyperfractionated RT in 1.2-1.5 Gy fractions twice daily with concomitant capecitabine. The median time since initial RT was 29 months (range, 13-174 months). Of 36 patients considered as potentially resectable, 20 underwent surgery for LRRC within 3 months after reRT. Operated patients had better 3-year overall survival (OS) (62%) compared to those who were not operated (16%; HR 0.32, p = .001). The median gross tumor volume (GTV) was 107 cm³, and 3-year OS was significantly better in patients with GTV <107 cm³ (44%) compared to patients with GTV ≥107 cm³ (21%; HR 0.52, p = .03).Conclusion: Three-year survival was significantly better for patients who underwent surgery after reRT or who had small tumor volume. Prospective clinical trials are recommended for further improvements in patient selection, outcomes, and toxicity assessment.

The Impact of the Preoperative Status on the Short-term Outcomes After Exenteration and Pelvic Reconstruction

BACKGROUND/AIM

The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of the preoperative status on the perioperative outcomes of patients submitted to pelvic reconstructions after exenteration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2017 and December 2018, pelvic exenteration was performed in 86 cases; patients were classified according to their age, nutritional status and association of reconstructive surgery.

RESULTS

The median age was 56 years, while the median level of serum albumin was 3.6 g/dl. Reconstructive surgery was more frequently performed in younger patients, while the rate of postoperative complications was similar between the two groups, while the rate of postoperative complications was significantly higher among cases with lower serum albumin levels.

CONCLUSION

Reconstructive surgery should be performed in selected patients. Elderly cases as well as those presenting a poorer nutritional status are at higher risk of developing postoperative complications.

Clinical, pathological, and oncologic outcomes of robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic proctectomy for rectal cancer: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

Although several meta-analyses regarding robot-assisted proctectomy (RP) and laparoscopic proctectomy (LP) in patients with rectal cancer are constantly being published, meta-analyses considering randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are still rare. It is therefore necessary to conduct an appropriate meta-analysis to provide reliable evidence for clinical decision-making. Databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCTR) and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) were used to collect RCTs assessing the effectiveness and safety of RP and LP. Article search was performed until August 2019. Data were extracted and the quality was evaluated by two reviewers independently, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using R software. Eight RCTs were included involving 999 patients, 495 of them underwent RP and 504 underwent LP. The results showed that the RP group had a longer operative time (P < 0.01), a lower conversion rate (P = 0.03), a longer distance to the distal margin (DDM) (P = 0.001), and a lower incidence of erectile dysfunction (P = 0.02). No significant differences were found in perioperative mortality, complication rates, PRM, number of harvested lymph nodes, length of hospital stay and time to first bowel movement between the two groups. Current evidence suggests that RP is superior to LP in short-term clinical outcomes, which is similar to LP regarding pathological outcomes and has better DDM outcomes. However, the comparison between RP and LP regarding long-term oncology outcomes still require further multi-center and large RCT samples to confirm our evidences.

Clinical impact of additional therapy for residual pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the prognostic significance of the resection margin (R) status of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) or adjuvant chemotherapy (AC).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 427 consecutive patients, and the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed based on the R status by a propensity score analysis (PSA).

RESULTS

The R0 ratio of the NAT (+) group was significantly higher than that of the NAT (-) group (97.2% vs. 69.6%, P < 0.0001). Local recurrence was well controlled in the NAT (+) group compared to the NAT (-) group (15.3% vs. 34.1%, P = 0.0013). The PSA revealed no significant survival difference between R0 and R1 resection among those treated with AC (median survival time [MST]: 43.0 vs. 33.3 months, matching hazard ratio [HR]: 1.212, P = 0.5708). Furthermore, the DFS in R0 and R1 resection followed by AC was identical (MST: 20.6 vs. 17.7 months, matching HR: 1.020, P = 0.9482).

CONCLUSIONS

NAT was a significant predictor of R0 resection. When patients completed AC, there were no marked differences in the OS or DFS between R0 and R1 resection. Our results demonstrated that the clinical impact of the R1 status has waned in the current era of PDAC management.

Evolution of pelvic exenteration surgery- resectional trends and survival outcomes over three decades

OBJECTIVE

To examine the changes in exenterative surgery over three decades analysing oncological outcomes and whether changes in surgical approach have led to improved patient outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Advances in surgical technology, perioperative care and pattern of disease recurrence have coincided with an evolutionary change in exenterative surgery.

METHODS

A review of a prospectively maintained databases of pelvic exenteration surgery from 1988 to 2018  at two high volume specialised institutions. The total cohort was divided into three major time points (1988-2004, 2005-2010 and 2011 to 2018) to allow comparative analysis. Primary endpoints were overall survival in primary and recurrent disease at each time point. Secondary endpoints included anastomotic leak, blood transfusion, ileus, wound infection rates and evolution of case complexity. Data were analysed using R with a p < 0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS

Six hundred and seventy patients underwent exenterative surgery. In 2011-2018 there was an increase in resection of recurrent malignancy with a continuous increase in GI malignancies resected over each time period(p < 0.001,<0.01) and a reduction in gynaecological malignancy(p < 0.001). A significant increase in sacrectomy, pelvic sidewall resection and ileal conduit reconstruction was observed (p < 0.01,<0.001).In 2005-2010 patients had increased rates of ileus and anastomotic leak(p < 0.05). Patients undergoing resection for primary disease had improved overall survival at time points 1988-2004 and 2011-2018 compared to those with recurrent disease(p = 0.007,<0.001). Overall survival was significantly improved in patients with primary versus recurrent disease(p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

There has been a significant improvement in survival in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration surgery from primary disease. Case complexity has increased without significant morbidity.

Impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA repair pathway genes on response to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients: Results from ACCORD-12/PRODIGE-2 phase III trial

We examined whether 66 germline single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 candidate genes would predict clinical outcome in 316 patients with resectable locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) enrolled in the ACCORD-12 phase III trial who were randomly treated with preoperative radiotherapy plus capecitabine (CAP45; n = 155) or dose-intensified radiotherapy plus capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX50; n = 161). The primary endpoint was tumor response according to the Dworak score. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted on treatment arm and T stage determined the SNPs prognostic and predictive values for tumor response. In univariate analysis, five SNPs in ERCC2, XPA, MTHFR and ERCC1 were associated with the Dworak score in the CAPOX50 arm. In the overall population, interaction with treatment arm was significant for ERCC2 rs1799787 (p_interaction = 0.05) and XPA rs3176683 (p_interaction = 0.008), suggesting a predictive effect for response to oxaliplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT). All but XPA rs3176683 had a prognostic effect on tumor response. In a multivariate model, interaction remained significant for XPA rs3176683 ([OR 7.33, 95% CI 1.40-38.23], p_interaction = 0.018) and the prognostic effect significant for ERCC2 rs1799787 ([OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.32-0.93], p = 0.027) and ERCC1 rs10412761 ([OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.34-0.98], p = 0.042). Patients with the T/G haplotype of rs1799787 and rs10412761 had a 60% decrease in odds of response (p < 0.001). None of the five SNPs were associated with toxicity, overall and disease-free survival. These data suggest that genetic variation in DNA repair genes influences response to preoperative CRT in LARC and identify patients who benefit from the addition of oxaliplatin to CRT.

Oncologic outcomes for low rectal adenocarcinoma following low anterior resection with coloanal anastomosis versus abdominoperineal resection: a National Cancer Database propensity matched analysis

PURPOSE

Low anterior resection with coloanal anastomosis (CAA) for low rectal cancer is a technically difficult operation with limited data available on oncologic outcomes. We aim to investigate overall survival and operative oncologic outcomes in patients who underwent CAA compared to abdominoperineal resection (APR).

METHODS

The National Cancer Database (2004-2013) was used to identify patients with non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent CAA or APR. Patients were 1:1 matched on age, gender, Charlson score, tumor size, tumor grade, pathologic stage, and radiation treatment with propensity scores. The primary outcome was overall survival. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality and resection margins.

RESULTS

Following matching, 3536 patients remained in each group. No significant differences in matched demographic, treatment, or tumor variables were seen between groups. There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality (1.24% vs. 1.39%, p = 0.60). Following resection, margins were more likely to be negative after CAA compared with APR (5.26% vs. 8.14%, p < 0.001). When stratified by pathologic stage, there was a significant survival advantage for individuals undergoing CAA compared to APR (stage 1 HR 0.72, [95% CI 0.62-0.85], p < 0.001; stage 2 HR 0.76, [95% CI 0.65-0.88], p < 0.001; stage 3 HR 0.76, [95% CI 0.67-0.85], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing CAA compared with APR for rectal cancer have better overall survival and are less likely to have positive margins despite the technically challenging operation.

Laparoscopic and open resection of rectal cancer-is age an effect modifier for short- and long-term survival?

INTRODUCTION

Rectal cancer is a frequently diagnosed tumor worldwide. Various studies have shown the noninferiority or even slight superiority of laparoscopic resection. However, there is no clear recommendation on whether age should influence the choice of surgical approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study compared outcomes of laparoscopic and open surgery in rectal cancer patients. Perioperative mortality and 5-year overall, relative, and recurrence-free survival rates were analyzed separately for three age groups. Data originate from 30 regional German cancer registries that cover approximately one quarter of the German population. All primary nonmetastatic rectal adenocarcinoma cases with surgery between 2005 and 2014 were eligible for inclusion. To compare survival rates, Kaplan-Meier analysis, a relative survival model, and multivariable Cox regression were used; a sensitivity analysis assessed bias by exclusion.

RESULTS

Ten thousand seven hundred fifty-four patients were included in the analysis. The mean laparoscopy rate was 23.0% and increased over time. Analysis of 30-day postoperative mortality rates revealed advantages for laparoscopically treated patients, although the significance level was not reached in any age group. Regarding 5-year overall survival, laparoscopy generally seems to be the superior approach, whereas for recurrence-free survival, an age-dependent gradient in effect size was observed: with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.703 for laparoscopy, patients under 60 years benefitted more from the minimally invasive approach than older patients (septuagenarians, HR 0.923).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopy shows similar results to the open approach in terms of postoperative survival in all age groups. Concerning long-term outcomes, younger patients benefitted most from the minimally invasive approach.

Surgical outcome after standard abdominoperineal resection: A 15-year cohort study from a single cancer centre

BACKGROUND

Abdominoperineal resection (APR) is associated with a poorer oncological outcome than anterior resection. This may be due to higher rates of intra-operative perforation and circumferential resection margin involvement. The aim of this study was to audit our short and long-term results of abdominoperineal resection performed using conventional techniques and to compare this with other published series.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients who had standard APR between January 2000 and December 2016 in a single institution, Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. A total of 163 cases performed by nine different colorectal surgeons for primary rectal adenocarcinoma were identified, with their clinicopathological data analysed.

RESULTS

Using standard APR, only six patients (3.7%) were found to have a positive circumferential resection margin (CRM). There were two cases of intra-operative perforation (1.2%). Local recurrence rate was 5.6% of patients, with distant recurrence found in 24.9%. Disease-free survival at five years was 73.1%. Five-year overall survival was 66.7%, 67.9% of all deaths were cancer-related.

CONCLUSION

Short and long-term outcomes after standard APR in this study were comparable to previous published studies. The CRM rate of 3.7% compares favourably to published positive CRM rates for standard APR which ranged from 6 to 18%. Standard APR remains a viable technique for the treatment of rectal cancer. Patient selection and adequate training remain important factors.

Long-Term Functional and Oncological Outcomes Following Intersphincteric Resection for Low Rectal Cancers

Surgery for low rectal cancer often involves a permanent stoma. Intersphincteric resection (ISR) with colo-anal anastomosis is a valuable sphincter sparing surgical procedure that avoids the need for permanent stoma in patients with low rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term functional and oncological outcomes following ISR. This was a retrospective analysis of patients with low rectal cancer who underwent ISR with colo-anal anastomosis in our institution between 2007 and 2015. All patients had a diversion stoma. Bowel function outcomes were assessed prospectively using Wexner incontinence score, low anterior resection syndrome score (LARS), and the Cancer Institute Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire. The histological reports were reviewed to assess the oncological adequacy of the surgery. Patterns of recurrence and survival were analyzed in this group of patients. Thirty-three patients who underwent an ISR were eligible for this study. Laparoscopic resection was performed in five patients. All the patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiation except the two who received short course radiation and one who did not receive any neoadjuvant treatment. The median distance from the anal verge to the distal edge of the tumor was 3 cm (range 1.5-5 cm). Distal resection margins and circumferential resection margins were negative in all the patients. The 30-day post-operative mortality rate was 3.03%. In 20 patients with a median follow-up of 48 months, the 3-year overall survival was 95%. One patient had recurrence in the para-aortic nodes. No patient had a local recurrence. Bowel function was assessed in 18 patients who had a minimum stoma free period of 1 year. After a median of 43 months following stoma closure, the median Wexner score was 3.56 (range 0-19), median LARS score was 4.78 (range 0-33), and the mean Cancer Institute QoL score was 151.56 ± 15.741. The QoL was average to very high with an overall acceptable quality of life. In this study, ISR was associated with acceptable long-term functional and oncological outcomes. It can be considered as a safe alternative to a permanent stoma in selected patients with low rectal cancer.

Comparison of volumetric-modulated arc therapy using simultaneous integrated boosts (SIB-VMAT) of 45 Gy/55 Gy in 25 fractions with conventional radiotherapy in preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancers: a propensity score case-matched analysis

Background and purpose

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare volumetric-modulated arc therapy using simultaneous integrated boosts (SIB-VMAT) of 45 Gy/55 Gy in 25 fractions with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D–CRT) in preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancers.

Methods and materials

In the propensity score-matching analysis of 1:2, we selected 60 patients from the SIB-VMAT group and 120patients from the 3D–CRT group matched pairings out of 145 patients between 2005 and 2015. The regimen of concurrent combined chemotherapy was oral uracil/tegafur plus leucovorin with/without irinotecan.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups, in pathological complete response rates (pCR) (11% in the 3D–CRT group vs. 17% in the SIB-VMAT group, P = 0.39), pathological response rates (44% vs. 60%, P = 0.77), disease-free survival (P = 0.32), or local control (P = 0.52). The SIB-VMAT method marginally improved the rate of pathological grade 2–3 effects and the OS was significantly better in patients with grade 2–3 effects. Recurrence was seen in 36 patients (30%) in the 3D–CRT group and 19 patients (32%) in the SIB-VMAT group. The first distant recurrence site in the SIB-VMAT group was liver in 6 patients and lung in 8 patients. The obvious radiation-induced late toxicity in the SIB-VMAT group was recto-vesical fistula in two patients.

Conclusions

The SIB-VMAT may be a promising method for preoperative CRT of rectal cancer.

Local control of sphincter-preserving procedures and abdominoperineal resection for locally advanced low rectal cancer: Propensity score matched analysis

Sphincter‐preserving procedures (SPPs) for surgical treatment of low‐lying rectal tumors have advanced considerably. However, their oncological safety for locally advanced low rectal cancer compared with abdominoperineal resection (APR) is contentious. We retrospectively analyzed cohort data of 1500 consecutive patients who underwent elective resection for stage II‐III rectal cancer between 2010 and 2011. Patients with tumors 2‐5 cm from the anal verge and clinical stage T3‐4 were eligible. Primary outcome was 3‐year local recurrence rate, and confounding effects were minimized by propensity score matching. The study involved 794 patients (456 SPPs and 338 APR). Before matching, candidates for APR were more likely to have lower and advanced lesions, whereas SPPs were carried out more often following preoperative treatment, by laparoscopic approach, and at institutions with higher case volume. After matching, 398 patients (199 each for SPPs and APR) were included in the analysis sample. Postoperative morbidity was similar between the SPPs and APR groups (38% vs 39%; RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.77‐1.27). Margin involvement was present in eight patients in the SPPs group (one and seven at the distal and radial margins, respectively) and in 12 patients in the APR group. No difference in 3‐year local recurrence rate was noted between the two groups (11% vs 14%; HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.42‐1.41). In this observational study, comparability was ensured by adjusting for possible confounding factors. Our results suggest that SPPs and APR for locally advanced low rectal cancer have demonstrably equivalent oncological local control.

Advances in surgical management for locally recurrent rectal cancer: How far have we come?

Locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) is a complex disease with far-reaching implications for the patient. Until recently, research was limited regarding surgical techniques that can increase the ability to perform an en bloc resection with negative margins. This has changed in recent years and therefore outcomes for these patients have improved. Novel radical techniques and adjuncts allow for more radical resections thereby improving the chance of negative resection margins and outcomes. In the past contraindications to surgery included anterior involvement of the pubic bone, sacral invasions above the level of S2/S3 and lateral pelvic wall involvement. However, current data suggests that previously unresectable cases may now be feasible with novel techniques, surgical approaches and reconstructive surgery. The publications to date have only reported small patient pools with the research conducted by highly specialised units. Moreover, the short and long-term oncological outcomes are currently under review. Therefore although surgical options for LRRC have expanded significantly, one should balance the treatment choices available against the morbidity associated with the procedure and select the right patient for it.

Predictive and Prognostic Molecular Biomarkers for Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Rectal Cancer

The standard of care in locally advanced rectal cancer is neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) followed by radical surgery. Response to nCRT varies among patients and pathological complete response is associated with better outcome. However, there is a lack of effective methods to select rectal cancer patients who would or would not have a benefit from nCRT. The utility of clinicopathological and radiological features are limited due to lack of adequate sensitivity and specificity. Molecular biomarkers have the potential to predict response to nCRT at an early time point, but none have currently reached the clinic. Integration of diverse types of biomarkers including clinicopathological and imaging features, identification of mechanistic link to tumor biology, and rigorous validation using samples which represent disease heterogeneity, will allow to develop a sensitive and cost-effective molecular biomarker panel for precision medicine in rectal cancer. Here, we aim to review the recent advance in tissue- and blood-based molecular biomarker research and illustrate their potential in predicting nCRT response in rectal cancer.

Survival after Abdominoperineal and Sphincter-Preserving Resection in Nonmetastatic Rectal Cancer: A Population-Based Time-Trend and Propensity Score-Matched SEER Analysis

Background. Abdominoperineal resection (APR) has been associated with impaired survival in nonmetastatic rectal cancer patients. It is unclear whether this adverse outcome is due to the surgical procedure itself or is a consequence of tumor-related characteristics. Study Design. Patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The impact of APR compared to coloanal anastomosis (CAA) on survival was assessed by Cox regression and propensity-score matching. Results. In 36,488 patients with rectal cancer resection, the APR rate declined from 31.8% in 1998 to 19.2% in 2011, with a significant trend change in 2004 at 21.6% (P < 0.001). To minimize a potential time-trend bias, survival analysis was limited to patients diagnosed after 2004. APR was associated with an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality after unadjusted analysis (HR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.28-2.03, P < 0.01) and multivariable adjustment (HR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.10-1.76, P < 0.01). After optimal adjustment of highly biased patient characteristics by propensity-score matching, APR was not identified as a risk factor for cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.56-1.29, P = 0.456). Conclusions. The current propensity score-adjusted analysis provides evidence that worse oncological outcomes in patients undergoing APR compared to CAA are caused by different patient characteristics and not by the surgical procedure itself.

Conversations for providers caring for patients with rectal cancer: Comparison of long-term patient-centered outcomes for patients with low rectal cancer facing ostomy or sphincter-sparing surgery

For some patients with low rectal cancer, ostomy (with elimination into a pouch) may be the only realistic surgical option. However, some patients have a choice between ostomy and sphincter-sparing surgery. Sphincter-sparing surgery has been preferred over ostomy because it offers preservation of normal bowel function. However, this surgery can cause incontinence and bowel dysfunction. Increasingly, it has become evident that certain patients who are eligible for sphincter-sparing surgery may not be well served by the surgery, and construction of an ostomy may be better. No validated assessment tool or decision aid has been published to help newly diagnosed patients decide between the two surgeries or to help physicians elicit long-term surgical outcomes. Furthermore, comparison of long-term outcomes and late effects after the two surgeries has not been synthesized. Therefore, this systematic review summarizes controlled studies that compared long-term survivorship outcomes between these two surgical groups. The goals are: 1) to improve understanding and shared decision-making among surgeons, oncologists, primary care providers, patients, and caregivers; 2) to increase the patient's participation in the decision; 3) to alert the primary care provider to patient challenges that could be addressed by provider attention and intervention; and 4) ultimately, to improve patients' long-term quality of life. This report includes discussion points for health care providers to use with their patients during initial discussions of ostomy and sphincter-sparing surgery as well as questions to ask during follow-up examinations to ascertain any long-term challenges facing the patient. CA Cancer J Clin 2016;66:387-397. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Extramural depth of rectal cancer tumor invasion at thin-section MRI: predicting treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether the maximal extramural depth (EMD) of T3 tumor spread on magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) correlates with tumor response parameters and whether it can predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

METHODS

111 rectal cancer patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T3 tumors underwent MRI staging before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were included. Tumor EMD was measured as mm tumor beyond the muscular and compared between the following groups by Kruskal-Wallis test: pathological complete response(pCR) versus nonpCR, good regression versus poor regression, downstage versus nondownstage.

RESULTS

The final study population consisted of the 111 patients (79 male, 32 female). Median age was 56 years (range, 23-75 years). The EMD was significantly higher in nonpCR patients (7.8 ± 3.2 mm) than in pCR patients(6.1 ± 1.8 mm) (p = 0.033). According to good regression (tumor regression grade(TRG) 0-1 vs. TRG 2-3) and downstaging (ypStage 0-I vs. ypStage II-III), the difference was not significant. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a good value for the area under the curve (0.775) and the cutoff value for EMD to predict pCR was 5.6 mm. Compared with patients with a EMD ≥ 5 mm, more patients with EMD <5 mm showed pCR (p = 0.019), while there was no correlation between EMD and good regression or downstaged.

CONCLUSIONS

EMD value obtained on initial staging MRI may serve as an imaging biomarker which predicts patients that have an incomplete response pathological response after standard neoadjuvant therapy.

Perineural Invasion is a Strong Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a possible route for metastatic spread in various cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). PNI is linked to poor prognosis, but systematic analyses are lacking. This study systematically reviews the frequency and impact of PNI in CRC. A literature search was performed using PubMed database from inception to January 1, 2014. Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. A quality assessment was performed on the basis of modified REMARK criteria. Endpoints were local recurrence (LR), 5-year disease-free survival (5yDFS), 5-year cancer-specific survival (5yCSS), and 5-year overall survival (5yOS). Meta-analysis was performed in terms of risk ratios (RR) and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). In this meta-analysis, 58 articles with 22,900 patients were included. PNI was present in 18.2% of tumors. PNI is correlated with increased LR (RR 3.22, 95% CI, 2.33-4.44) and decreased 5yDFS (RR 2.35, 95% CI, 1.66-3.31), 5yCSS (RR 3.61, 95% CI, 2.76-4.72), and 5yOS (RR 2.09, 95% CI, 1.68-2.61). In multivariate analysis PNI remains an independent prognostic factor for 5yDFS, 5yCSS, and 5yOS (HR 2.35, 95% CI, 1.97-3.08; HR 1.91, 95% CI, 1.50-2.42; and HR 1.85, 95% CI, 1.63-2.12, respectively). We confirmed the strong impact of PNI for LR and survival in CRC. The prognostic value of PNI is similar to that of well-established prognostic factors as depth of invasion, differentiation grade, lymph node metastases, and lymphatic and extramural vascular invasion. Therefore, PNI should be one of the factors in the standardized reporting of CRC and might be considered a high-risk feature.

Evaluation of treatment response and tissue necrosis as prognostic indicators following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic roles of treatment response and tissue necrosis after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 243 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant CRT were included. Three treatment response groups were classified by their pathological stage results: complete treatment response (CTR), intermediate treatment response (ITR), and poor treatment response (PTR). Three tissue necrosis groups were classified based on tissue pathological results: complete necrosis response (CNR), intermediate necrosis response (INR), and poor necrosis response (PNR).

RESULTS

Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate at three years were 74.5% and 61.3%, respectively. The 3-year OS rates of the CTR, ITR, and PTR groups were 83.7%, 75.9%, and 69.7%, respectively (p < 0.001); the 3-year RFS rates were 76.7%, 69.0%, and 52.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). The 3-year OS rates of the CNR, INR, and PNR groups were 83.7%, 80.6%, and 61.8%, respectively (p < 0.001); the 3-year RFS rates were 76.7%, 68.9%, and 44.3%, respectively (p < 0.001). When compared to CTR/CNR, PTR/PNR was strongly related to an increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 5.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01 to 15.23 vs. HR, 6.37; 95% CI, 2.29 to 17.74, respectively) in univariate Cox regression. Both PTR and PNR were strongly associated with shorter RFS and OS when compared with CTR and CNR in the multivariate Cox regression.

CONCLUSIONS

Tissue necrosis is an equally important prognostic marker as treatment response for oncologic outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer.

NPTX2 is associated with neoadjuvant therapy response in rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) is recommended for locally advanced rectal cancer. Tumor response varies from pathologic complete response (pCR) to no tumor regression. The mechanisms behind CRT resistance remain undefined. In our previously generated complementary DNA microarrays of pretreatment biopsies from rectal cancer patients, neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2) expression discriminated patients with pCR from those with residual tumor. As tumor response is prognostic for survival, we sought to evaluate the clinical relevance of NPTX2 in rectal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate NPTX2 messenger RNA expression in individual rectal cancers before CRT. Tumors with NPTX2 expression <50% of normal rectum were defined as NPTX2-low and those with >50% were defined as NPTX2-high. NPTX2 levels were compared to response to therapy and oncologic outcomes using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square, and Mantel-Cox (log-rank) tests, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Rectal cancers from 40 patients were included. The mean patient age was 56.8 years, and 30% were female. pCR was achieved in eight of 40 patients (20%). In these patients, messenger RNA NPTX2 levels were significantly decreased compared to those with residual cancer (fold change 30.4, P = 0.017). Patients with NPTX2-low tumors (n = 13) achieved improved response to treatment (P = 0.012 versus NPXT2-high tumors), with 38.5% and 46.1% of patients achieving complete or moderate response, respectively. Of patients with NPTX2-high tumors (n = 27), 11.1% and 18.5% achieved complete or moderate response, respectively. No recurrence or death was recorded in patients with NPTX2-low tumors, reflecting more favorable disease-free survival (P = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased NPTX2 expression in rectal adenocarcinomas is associated with improved response to CRT and improved prognosis. Further studies to validate these results and elucidate the biological role of NPTX2 in rectal cancer are needed.

The importance of surgical margins in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease with a grim prognosis. Surgical resection offers the best chance for long-term survival, yet recurrence rates are high and outcomes are poor. The influence of margin status in PDAC is controversial, as conflicting data have been plagued by a lack of standardization in margin definitions, pathologic analysis, and reporting. Despite recent efforts, international consensus is still needed for this disease.

The effect of multidisciplinary teams for rectal cancer on delivery of care and patient outcome: has the use of multidisciplinary teams for rectal cancer affected the utilization of available resources, proportion of patients meeting the standard of care, and does this translate into changes in patient outcome?

BACKGROUND

We hypothesized that mandatory multidisciplinary team (MDT) participation improves process evaluation, outcomes, and technical aspects of surgery for rectal cancer in a stable practice of colorectal surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective review of MDT data was conducted of all patients with colorectal cancer since 2010. Demographic, clinical stage, process evaluation, quality of surgery, and outcome data were collected. Total mesorectal excision and MDT required participation started 2013.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty patients were included in this study: 47 patients in 2014; 41 patients in 2013; and 42 patients pre-MDT. Improvements were seen in 12 of the 14 preoperative process variables, 6 significantly. Improvement in the completeness of total mesorectal excision (0% to 76%) was significant. Local recurrence occurred in 10% of the pre-MDT group, and follow-up is ongoing in the MDT groups.

CONCLUSIONS

MDT participation improves care of patients with rectal cancer. Preoperative clinical staging, multimodality treatment, pathologic staging, and technical aspects of surgery have improved.

Prognostic value of perineural invasion in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of perineural invasion (PNI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) does not reach a consensus.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search for relevant reports published up to October 2014 was performed using the electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) was used to estimate the prognostic effects.

RESULT

Thirty-eight studies comprising 12,661 CRC patients were analyzed. Our results showed that PNI is significantly associated with poor prognosis in OS (overall survival) (HR = 2.07, 95 % CI = 1.87-2.29, P < 0.01) and DFS (disease-free survival) (HR = 2.23, 95 % CI = 1.79-2.78, P < 0.01). There was no significant prognostic difference in DFS between stage II CRC patients with PNI(+) and stage III patients (HR = 1.67, 95 % CI = 0.53-5.25, P = 0.38). Further subgroup analysis revealed that the significance of the association between PNI and worse prognosis in CRC patients is not affected by many factors, including geographic setting, PNI positive rate, treatment, TNM stage, tumor site, and quality of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis indicates that PNI is a poor prognostic factor in CRC patients. The postoperative survival of stage II CRC patients with PNI(+) is probably more similar to that of stage III patients. Currently available adjuvant therapy should be considered in stage II CRC patients with PNI(+).

Perineal pseudocontinent colostomy is safe and efficient technique for perineal reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection for rectal adenocarcinoma

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate oncologic results and satisfaction rate results of pseudocontinent perineal colostomy (PCPC) using Schmidt’s technique in patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection (APR) for managing low rectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

From January 1993 and December 2007, One hundred and forty six patients underwent successfully PCPC after abdominoperineal resection for lower rectal adenocarcinoma. There were 75 women, with an average age of 47 years old. All patients received neoadjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Long-term oncological results and satisfaction rate were evaluated.

Results

After a median follow up of 36 months (range 12–156) months, the five-year overall survival and disease free survival rate were 74.6% and 60.3% respectively. Local and distant recurrences occurred respectively in 10 (6,8%) and 29 (20%) patients. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the patients were highly satisfied with this technique and only one patient was unsatisfied. However, none of them accepted the conversion to an abdominal colostomy neither would have changed PCPC for an iliac colostomy at first intent.

Conclusion

This study showed that pseudocontinent perineal colostomy is a safe and reliable pelvic reconstruction technique after abdominoperineal resection for low rectal adenocarcinoma. It provides high degree of patient satisfaction without compromising oncological results. It is a good option in selected patients, especially in Muslim countries.

Factors influencing response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation and outcomes in rectal cancer patients: tertiary Indian cancer hospital experience

BACKGROUND

In the treatment of rectal cancers several randomized trials have demonstrated benefits of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in downstaging as well as survival among these patients. We investigated the patient and tumor related variables dictating the outcomes in these patients.

METHODS

Biopsy proven treatment naive 182 rectal cancer patients underwent NACRT from June 2006 to December 2010. The entire patients received long course conventionally fractionated external beam radiotherapy with concurrent oral Capecitabine. At 6 weeks from completion of NACRT clinico-radiological assessment was carried out for surgical feasibility. All patients were given postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy either single agent or multi drug regimen depending upon biopsy report.

RESULTS

Among 182 patients, 131 (72%) underwent surgery and initial T stage and signet ring cell morphology were major determinant of operability. Among the 131 operated patients at median follow up of 36 months, 94 (72%) are alive and disease free. With a median follow up of 42 months the 5-year disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was 60% and 77%. The majority of the failures were distal but with more advanced disease at presentation both local and distal failures were similar. While assessing survival by multivariate analysis patients having positive nodes post-surgery had a significantly poorer DFS (P=0.001), while signet ring cell morphology and pre-treatment carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) levels strongly influenced OS (P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of our patients were similar to World Literature and signet ring cell morphology, pre-treatment CEA level, and pathological nodal staging all were influential in determining survival. Besides this, the study also highlights the fact that tumours with signet ring cell morphology appearing in younger population with poor survival needs prospective evaluation for more intense CRT regimen and aggressive surgical resections.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the male pelvis

Diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging is playing an increasingly important role in disease detection, prognostication, and monitoring of treatment response. Particularly in the realm of oncology, the potential applications for DW imaging continue to expand. In this article, the authors detail the role of DW imaging for pathologic processes involving the male pelvis. The authors describe the current data, new insights, and ongoing controversies regarding DW imaging of the male pelvis with a particular emphasis on oncologic applications. The authors also discuss imaging techniques and common pitfalls for DW imaging in this anatomic region.

Sphincter saving and abdomino-perineal resections following neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced low rectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The improvement in surgical techniques alongside neoadjuvant chemoradiation enabled more patients with low rectal cancer to have sphincter preservation.

STUDY AIM

To compare the oncologic and functional outcome in patients with locally advanced low rectal cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by sphincter saving resection (SSR) against those who underwent abdomino-perineal resection (APR).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 111 patients with low rectal cancer were included in the study. Sixty-one consented patients who prospectively underwent SSR, from Jan 2008 to Jan 2013, and a retrospective group, formed of 50 patients, selected from cases seen at NCI, with comparable demographic, clinical and pathologic criteria, who underwent APR from Jan 2003 to Jan 2008. All lesions were <5 cm from anal verge. All 111 patients received preoperative chemoradiation and total mesorectal excision.

RESULTS

All tumors were located at a median of 3.6 cm (range 2.5-4.5 cm) for the SSR group, and 3.5 cm (range 2.5-4.6 cm) for the APR group, from the anal verge. The median follow-up was 34 months (range 1-60 months) for both groups. The difference in disease recurrence and OS between the APR and SSR groups were both statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSION

In low rectal cancer, the sphincter preservation appears to have nearly the same oncologic outcome compared to APR, this might be attributed to the small sample size and short follow up period. However, patients with sphincter preservation have certainly demonstrated an indisputable better functional outcome, in terms of stoma avoidance and adequate continence.