Preoperative Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Efficacy and Safety

Background

Preoperative chemoradiation (CRT) is considered the standard of care in the management of stage II/III rectal cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy and safety of preoperative CRT in our patient cohort with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Forty patients with cT3-4N0-2M0 adenocarcinoma of the lower (n = 26) and mid/upper (n = 14) rectum were enrolled in this study between 2001 and 2012. Radiotherapy (RT) was given to the pelvis. The median prescribed dose was 45 Gy (daily dose, 1.8 - 2.0 Gy). All patients received chemotherapy concurrently with RT and underwent surgery 6 - 8 weeks after CRT. Low anterior resection (LAR) was achieved in 21 patients. Total mesorectal excision (TME) was performed in 24 patients.

Results

Tumor downstaging (expressed as TN downstaging) was observed in 15 patients (38%); a pathological complete response (pCR) was pathologically confirmed in six of them. In nine out of the 26 (23%) patients with low lying tumors, sphincter preservation (SP) was possible. SP was also possible in all but one patient (13%) who achieved a pCR. In three out of 15 patients (8%) with preoperative sphincter infiltration, SP was achieved. With a median follow-up of 58 months, the 4-year local control (LC), distant metastases-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 89.7%, 86.9%, 79.5% and 81.2%, respectively. The pretreatment tumor size was predictive of response to preoperative CRT. The response to preoperative CRT did show a significant impact on DFS and on OS. TME resulted in a statistically significant increased DFS rate. No grade 3/4 acute toxicity was reported. Three patients developed grade 3 late side effects.

Conclusion

Preoperative CRT demonstrates encouraging rates of disease control and facilitates complete resection and SP in advanced rectal cancer with acceptable late toxicity.

Reirradiation for recurrent head and neck carcinoma

PURPOSE

To present the outcome and toxicity profile of reirradiation (re-RT) in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer (HNC).

METHODS

From 1995 to 2009, 35 patients underwent re-RT at our institution. Twenty-seven (77%) patients were initially diagnosed with stage III/IV disease. The median total doses of irradiation -first and second courses- were 66.0 Gy (range 54.0-70.0) and 55.8 Gy (range 32.5-66.6), respectively. The median time from the first course of irradiation to re-RT was 25.2 months (range 8-136). Six (17%) patients underwent salvage surgery before reirradiation. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered to 18 (51%) patients.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 12.9 months (range 2.5-109.6), the 1- and 2-year locoregional control (LRC) rates were 41 and 9%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year disease free survival (DFS) rates were 30 and 7%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates were 42.9 and 7.9%, respectively. Grade 3 acute toxicity was reported in 7 (20%) patients while grade 3-4 late radiation-induced complications were seen in 8 (23%) patients. In univariate analysis, an improvement in OS was observed in patients with initial N0/N1 stage vs. those with N2/N3 stage (p=0.004). Prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with significantly inferior OS (p=0.028), while neoadjuvant chemotherapy in recurrence was predictive of improved LRC (p=0.041).

CONCLUSION

re-RT in HN cancer is associated with poor prognosis, especially in patients with inoperable disease. Complications due to treatment are not infrequent. Nonetheless, our outcomes remain encouraging and applicable to a carefully selected patient population.