An up-to-date predictive model for rectal cancer survivorship reflecting tumor biology and clinical factors

Our aim was to develop a nomogram taking into account factors such as tumor biology to predict overall and disease-free survival for patients with primary rectal adenocarcinoma undergoing curative intent surgical resection.

Patients undergoing resection for primary rectal adenocarcinoma (2007-2017) were included. Factors reflecting tumor biology and important clinical prognosticators were included in nomogram development. Prognostic factors were assessed with multivariable analysis using Cox regression. The impact of each was assessed using Kaplan Meier survival curves.

Overall, 1688 patients (male, 61%) with a mean age of 59.8 years (±13.5) and a median follow-up of 34.8 months (range, 12-132) were included. The only significant factors affecting the overall and disease-free survival were age at diagnosis, pathological staging, regression grade, resection margin, and tumor deposits.

The current model incorporates histopathological and clinical factors. It emphasizes the importance of tumor biological factors like tumor deposits in predicting overall and disease-free survival in rectal cancer.

Rectal cancer outcomes are associated with certain clinical and pathological factors that can be evaluated. Tumor deposits are one such factor that can affect overall and disease-free survival.