Short-term preoperative radiotherapy results in down-staging of rectal cancer: a study of 1316 patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to investigate down-staging effects after short-term, high-fractionated preoperative radiotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The relationships between preoperative radiotherapy 25-25.5 Gy given over 5-7 days and clinical variables (sex, age, tumour level, metastatic disease, and tumour size) and the risk of lymph node metastases were examined in 1316 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma by uni-, and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Irradiated specimens contained smaller tumours (P < 0.00001) and nodal metastases were less common (P < 0.001). In a logistic regression model, tumour size in cm was positively related to the risk for nodal spread (odds ratio, OR = 1.14, 95% confidence limits, CL, of OR 1.08-1.22). In the same model, radiotherapy decreased the risk for nodal involvement (OR 0.73, 95% CL 0.58-0.92. This risk was particularly reduced when the time interval between start of radiotherapy and surgery equalled 10 days or more.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate a down-staging effect by a short course of preoperative radiotherapy which should be considered in the interpretation of radiotherapy trials and in the recruitment of patients for further postoperative adjuvant treatment.

Monitoring palliative chemotherapy in advanced gastrointestinal cancer using serial tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) measurements

Tissue polypeptide antigen specific (TPS) was analysed in serum taken prior to chemotherapy in 90 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer and prior to every treatment course in 68 of these patients in order to explore whether serial tumour marker measurements can be of importance in monitoring patients treated with palliative chemotherapy. Elevated TPS levels were seen in 83/90 (92%) patients (48/52 colorectal, 9/9 pancreatic, 9/11 biliary, 17/18 gastric). Baseline TPS level correlated with performance status, tumour response and survival. Based upon the change in TPS levels after the first two courses in relation to baseline, a decrease by >50% had a high sensitivity for a favourable treatment outcome (partial remission and prolonged stationary disease (90%) or a subjective response (100%)), whereas the specificity was lower (72% and 73% respectively). A similar result was seen when the TPS levels were analysed at the time of the response evaluation after 2 months (sensitivity 91 and 95%, specificity 74 and 75% for an objective or subjective response respectively). In 7 out of 15 patients with an initially favourable outcome, an increase in TPS levels of >50% at two occasions was seen 8-20 weeks prior to clinical disease progression. In advanced gastrointestinal cancer serial TPS measurements can with high accuracy early identify patients who will not benefit from the treatment. On the other hand, a response must be confirmed using other methods in the presence of a decrease, since this was also seen in non-responding patients.

Surgery for colorectal cancer in elderly patients

In 545 consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery for colorectal cancer (370 colon and 175 rectum), mortality and morbidity were analysed in different age groups with special reference to patients over 80 years old. In that group, 33% had an emergency operation, compared with 18% below that age. Postoperative mortality after elective surgery ranged from 3 to 11% in the different age groups, but was not significantly related to age. In contrast, postoperative in-hospital mortality after emergency surgery was high (38%) among those older than 80 years, compared with 6% below 75 years and 24% between 76 and 80 years. Postoperative morbidity, i.e. infections and cardiovascular disease, increased with age, as did the length of hospital stay. Five-year survival, independent of age, was poorer after emergency surgery than after elective surgery. It is concluded that elective colorectal resection for cancer in elderly patients is a safe procedure.