NEOADJUVANT THERAPY AND SURGERY FOR RECTAL CANCER. Comparative study between partial and complete pathological...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Gastrointestinal Cancer Research

Background:

• Locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma treatment involves neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery.
• Tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy is variable, with mechanisms not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate variables linked to complete tumor response in rectal adenocarcinoma.
• To compare outcomes of patients with partial versus total tumor remission post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 212 patients treated between 2000-2010.
• Group 1: 182 patients with partial remission; Group 2: 30 patients with total remission.

Main Results:

• Complete remission (Group 2) was associated with surgery ≤8 weeks post-neoadjuvant therapy (P=0.027).
• Group 2 showed fewer affected lymph nodes (0.5 vs 1.9), less angiolymphatic/perineural invasion, and better overall/disease-free survival (P<0.05).
• No significant difference in local recurrence or distant metastasis between groups.

Conclusions:

• Surgery timing (≤8 weeks) is key for complete rectal adenocarcinoma remission.
• Complete pathological remission correlates with better prognosis but not guaranteed cure.
• Shorter neoadjuvant therapy to surgery intervals improve survival outcomes.