Influence of the Interval Between Preoperative Radiation Therapy and Surgery on Downstaging and on the Rate of Sphincter-Sparing Surgery for Rectal Cancer: The Lyon R90-01 Randomized Trial

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2396-2396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Francois ◽  
Chantal J. Nemoz ◽  
Jacques Baulieux ◽  
Jacques Vignal ◽  
Jean-Paul Grandjean ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: The optimal timing of surgery after preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer is unknown. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the role of the interval between preoperative radiotherapy and surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with rectal carcinoma accessible to rectal digital examination, staged T2 to T3, NX, M0, were randomized before radiotherapy (39 Gy in 13 fractions) into two groups: in the short interval (SI) group, surgery had to be performed within 2 weeks after completion of radiation therapy, compared with 6 to 8 weeks in the long interval (LI) group. Between 1991 and 1995, 201 patients were enrolled onto the study. RESULTS: A long interval between preoperative radiotherapy and surgery was associated with a significantly better clinical tumor response (53.1% in the SI group v 71.7% in the LI group, P = .007) and pathologic downstaging (10.3% in the SI group v 26% in the LI group, P = .005). At a median follow-up of 33 months, there were no differences in morbidity, local relapse, and short-term survival between the two groups. Sphincter-preserving surgery was performed in 76% of cases in the LI group versus 68% in the SI group (P = 0.27). CONCLUSION: A long interval between preoperative irradiation and surgery provides increased tumor downstaging with no detrimental effect on toxicity and early clinical results. When sphincter preservation is questionable, a long interval may increase the chance of a successful sphincter-saving surgery.

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (34) ◽  
pp. 8697-8705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helgi Birgisson ◽  
Lars Påhlman ◽  
Ulf Gunnarsson ◽  
Bengt Glimelius

Purpose To analyze the occurrence of subacute and late adverse effects in patients treated with preoperative irradiation for rectal cancer. Patients and Methods The study population included 1,147 patients randomly assigned to preoperative radiation therapy or surgery alone in the Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial conducted 1987 through 1990. Patient data were matched against the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register to identify patients admitted to hospital after the primary treatment of the rectal cancer. Patients with known residual disease were excluded, and patients with a recurrence were censored 3 months before the date of recurrence. Relative risks (RR) with 95% CIs were calculated. Results Irradiated patients were at increased risk of admissions during the first 6 months from the primary treatment (RR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.22); these were mainly for gastrointestinal diagnoses. Overall, the two groups showed no difference in the risk of admissions more than 6 months from the primary treatment (RR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.12). Regarding specific diagnoses, however, RRs were increased for admissions later than 6 months from the primary treatment in irradiated patients for unspecified infections, bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, and nausea. Conclusion Gastrointestinal disorders, resulting in hospital admissions, seem to be the most common adverse effect of short-course preoperative radiation therapy in patients with rectal cancer. Bowel obstruction was the diagnosis of potentially greatest importance, which was more frequent in irradiated than in nonirradiated patients.


Author(s):  
Arielle C. Dubose ◽  
Benjamin D. Lee ◽  
SreyRam Kuy

The landmark Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial examined whether preoperative radiation given to patients <80 years of age with resectable rectal cancer impacted rate of local recurrence and survival compared with immediate surgical resection. This trial demonstrated that neoadjuvant radiation therapy decreased rates of local and distant recurrence and improved survival. This chapter describes the basics of the study, including funding, year study began, year study was published, study location, who was studied, who was excluded, how many patients, study design, study intervention, follow-up, endpoints, results, and criticism and limitations. The chapter briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, gives a summary and discusses implications, and concludes with a relevant clinical case.


Author(s):  
O.W.M. Meijer ◽  
R.J.F. Felt-Bersma ◽  
S. Meijer ◽  
M.A. Cuesta ◽  
B.J. Slotman

Author(s):  
Christian Isaac ◽  
John Kavanagh ◽  
Anthony Michael Griffin ◽  
Colleen I Dickie ◽  
Rakesh Mohankumar ◽  
...  

Objectives: To determine if radiological response to preoperative radiotherapy is related to oncologic outcome in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Methods: 309 patients with extremity STS who underwent preoperative radiation and wide resection were identified from a prospective database. Pre-and post-radiation MRI scans were retrospectively reviewed. Radiological response was defined by the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST).Local recurrence-free (LRFS), metastasis-free (MFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared across response groups. Results: Tumour volume decreased in 106 patients (34.3%; PR- Partial Responders), remained stable in 97 (31.4%; SD- Stable Disease), increased in 106 (34.3%; PD- Progressive Disease). The PD group were older (p = 0.007), had more upper extremity (p = 0.03) and high grade tumours (p < 0.001). 81% of myxoid liposarcomas showed substantial decrease in size. There was no difference in initial tumour diameter (p = 0.5), type of surgery (p = 0.5), margin status (p = 0.4), or complications (p = 0.8) between the three groups. There were ten (3.2%) local recurrences with no differences between the three response groups (p = 0.06). Five-year MFS was 52.1% for the PD group versus 73.8 and 78.5% for the PR and SD groups respectively (p < 0.001). OS was similar (p < 0.001). Following multivariable analysis, worse MFS and OS were associated with higher grade, larger tumour size at diagnosis and tumour growth following preoperative radiation. Older age was also associated with worse OS. Conclusion: STS that enlarge according to RECIST criteria following preoperative radiotherapy identify a high risk group of patients with worse systemic outcomes but equivalent local control. Advances in knowledge: Post radiation therapy, STS enlargement may identify patients with potential for worse systemic outcomes but equivalent local control. Therefore, adjunct therapeutic approaches could be considered in these patients.


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