Clinical efficacy and prognostic factors of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced low and middle rectal cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced low and middle rectal cancer,and evaluate the effect of related clinical factors upon the long-term survival. Methods Clinical data of 101 patients with locally advanced low and middle rectal cancer admitted to our hospital from January 1,2010 to December 31,2014 were collected. All patients completed the preoperative intensity-modulated radiation therapy DT45-50. 4 Gy,synchronized with oxaliplatin+capecitabine/5-fluorouracil or single drug capecitabine chemotherapy,and total mesorectal excision) was performed 4-13 weeks after the end of the neoadjuvant therapy. The short-term efficacy and long-term prognosis of these patients were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis,and Cox’s regression model for multivariate analysis. Results The total sphincter preservation rate was 53. 5%.The decrease rates of T,N staging and TNM total staging were 73. 26%,67. 32% and 72. 3%,respectively. The pathological complete response ( pCR) rate was 16. 8%.The median follow-up time was 41 months. The 3-year overall survival (OS), desease-free survival (DFS),local recurrence and distant metastases rates were 82. 2%,80. 7%,7. 2% and 12. 1%,respectively. The single factor analysis demonstrated that ypT and ypN stages were the risk factors affecting the 3-year OS,DFS anddistant metastases ( all P＜0. 05).Multivariate analysis revealed that ypT stage was an independent factor affecting the 3-year OS,and ypT and ypN stages were the independent factors of the 3-year DFS ( all P＜ 0. 05 ). ConclusionsNeoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with TME in the treatment of locally advanced middle and low rectal cancer can partially decrease the tumor staging,enhance the sphincter preservation rate and improve long-term clinical prognosis. Both ypT and ypN stages are correlated with the clinical prognosis of patients.

Long-term efficacy of preoperative chemoradiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision for locally advanced rectal cancer: an analysis of 241 patients / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To retrospectively analyze the long-term efficacy of and prognostic factors after preoperative chemoradiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision (TME) in the treatment of 241 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.Methods A total of 241 patients who were consecutively admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with locally advanced mid-low rectal adenocarcinoma by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography from January 2006 to November 2014 were enrolled as subjects.All patients received preoperative radiotherapy with doses ranging between 42.0 and 50.4 Gy (median dose =50 Gy) and concurrent chemotherapy with capecitabine ±oxaliplatin.Patients received TME (R0 excision) at 4-15 weeks (median time =7 weeks) after chemoradiotherapy.Adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy was given depending on the recovery and preference of each patient.Disease-free survival (DFS),locoregional recurrence (LRR),overall survival (OS),and distant metastasis (DM) rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed by the log-rank test.The Cox model was used for multivariate analysis.Results In all the patients,the median follow-up time was 42 months;the 3-year LRR,DFS,OS,and DM rates were 3.8％,76.2％,85.9％,and 20.6％,respectively.The subgroup analysis showed that ypT0-2,ypN-,pCR,and TRG4 were associated with improved DFS (ypT0-2 vs.yp T3-4:86.0％ vs.69.3％,P =0.002;ypN-vs ypN +:88.1％ vs.56.9％,P=0.000;pCR vs.non-pCR:100％ vs.72.4％,P=0.001;TRG4 vs.TR G2-3 vs.TR G0-1:94.9％ vs.73.6％ vs.66.3％,P=0.011).The multivariate analysis revealed that the postoperative ypN status was an independent prognostic factor for DFS (P=0.000).Conclusions For patients with locally advanced mid-low rectal adenocarcinoma,preoperative chemoradiotherapy combined with radical surgery achieves satisfactory outcomes in local control.The major reason for treatment failure lies in distant metastasis.The ypN status after chemoradiotherapy is an independent prognostic factor for DFS.

Mid-term outcomes of a prospective phase Ⅱ trial of preoperative sandwich-like neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To evaluate the mid-to long-term survival benefits of preoperative sandwich-like neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods A total of 45 LARC patients who underwent neoadjuvant sandwich CRT in the form of XELOX regimen prior to,concurrently with,and following volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) in 2012 were enrolled in this study.VMAT was given at a gross tumor volume dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions,and a clinical target volume dose of 45-46 Gy in 25 fractions.Total mesorectal excision was performed 6 to 8 weeks after completion of VMAT.The overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were determined by the Kaplan-Meier method,and survival comparison and univariate prognostic analysis were performed using the log-rank test.Results The median follow-up time was 46.7 months.There was no local recurrence detected among the patients.The 3-year distant metastasis (DM) rate was 18%,and the 3-year OS and DFS were 96% and 84%,respectively.Univariate analysis indicated that perineural invasion,N1-N2 pathology (pathological stage Ⅲ),and Ca-199>35 U/ml before treatment were risk factors for DM (P=0.000,0.000,and 0.013,respectively).Conclusions The significant short-term efficacy of preoperative sandwich-like neoadjuvant CRT can be extended to a positive mid-term survival in LARC patients.However,further phase Ⅲ clinical studies will be needed to confirm this finding.

A clinical study to evaluate the toxicities of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in early stage after low-anterior resection for locally advanced rectal cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective In the previous study completed in Korea, early three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy in rectal cancer after radical surgery demonstrated a better prognosis compared with late radiotherapy. However, with the report of MOSAIC trial, the adjuvant chemotherapy regimen had transferred from 5-Fu alone to combined 5-Fu and Oxaliplatin. We need more evidence to clarify the best radiotherapy timing during the whole period of adjuvant therapy . Methods Patients who met the following criteria were accrued in this study: 18-70 years old, lower anterior resection,pathologically proven rectal adenocarcinoma, stage T3-4 and/or N+, no evidence of distant metastases and KPS≥70. Three dimensional conformal Radiotherapy was started at the fourth week after surgery, which included 45 Gy whole pelvic radiation following by 6-10 Gy tumor bed boost. Oxaliplatin of 50 mg/m2 weekly and Xeloda 625 mg/m2 twice a day, every week from d1-5 were used concurrent with radiotherapy.Toxicity was evaluated and graded by common toxicity critera version 3. 0. The study was designed as Simon two-phase design, in the first phase, a total of 15 patients were accrued, and if more than or equal to 9 patients had grade 3 toxicity, we had 85% power to confirm the toxicity caused by early radiotherapy more than 50%. Otherwise, another 15 patients of the second phase were accrued, we would have 85% power to confirm the high toxicity of more than 50% if 18 out of 30 patients had grade 3 toxicity. Results From July 2008 to December 2008, 15 patients were treated with early radiotherapy concurrent with combined chemotherapy, Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity occurred in 12 patients and Grade 3 hematologic toxicity occurred in 2 patients. According to Simon design, we had 85% power to confirm the toxicity caused by early radiotherapy more than 50%. Conclusions For locally advanced rectal cancer patients, whole pelvic radiotherapy concurrent with oxaliplatin and xeloda had severe toxicities. Further studies are needed to decrease toxieities.