Preoperative radiotherapy and local excision of rectal cancer: Long-term results of a randomised study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is uncertain whether local control is acceptable after preoperative radiotherapy and local excision (LE). An optimal preoperative dose/fractionation schedule has not yet been established. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a phase III study, patients with cT1-2N0M0 or borderline cT2/T3N0M0 < 4 cm rectal adenocarcinomas were randomised to receive either 5 × 5 Gy plus 1 × 4 Gy boost or chemoradiation: 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions plus 3 × 1.8 Gy boost and 5-fluorouracil with leucovorin bolus. LE was performed 6-8 weeks later. Patients with ypT0-1R0 disease were observed. Completion total mesorectal excision (CTME) was recommended for poor responders, i.e. ypT1R1/ypT2-3. RESULTS: Of 61 randomised patients, 10 were excluded leaving 51 for analysis; 29 in the short-course group and 22 in the chemoradiation group. YpT0-1R0 was observed in 66% of patients in the short-course group and in 86% in the chemoradiation group, p = 0.11. CTME was performed only in 46% of patients with ypT1R1/ypT2-3. The median follow-up was 8.7 years. Local recurrence incidences and overall survival at 10 years were respectively for the short-course group vs. the chemoradiation group 35% vs. 5%, p = 0.036 and 47% vs. 86%, p = 0.009. In total, local recurrence at 10 years was 79% for ypT1R1/T2-3 without CTME. CONCLUSIONS: This trial suggests that in the LE setting, both local recurrence and survival are worse after short-course radiotherapy than after chemoradiation. Because of the risk of bias, a confirmatory study is desirable. Lack of CTME is associated with an unacceptably high local recurrence rate.

Preoperative radiotherapy and local excision of rectal cancer with immediate radical re-operation for poor responders: a prospective multicentre study.

PURPOSE: To assess local control after preoperative radiation and local excision and to determine an optimal radiotherapy regimen. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with G1-2 rectal adenocarcinoma <3-4 cm; unfavourable cT1N0 (23.6%), cT2N0 (62.9%) or borderline cT2/cT3N0 (13.5%) received 5 × 5 Gy plus 4 Gy boost (71.9%) or 55.8 Gy in 31 fractions with 5-FU and leucovorin (28.1%). Local excision (traditional technique 56.2%, transanal endoscopic microsurgery 41.6%, Kraske procedure 2.2%) was performed 6-8 weeks later. If patients were downstaged to ypT0-1 without unfavourable factors (good responders), this was deemed definitive treatment. Immediate conversion to radical surgery was recommended for remaining patients. RESULTS: Good response to radiation was seen in 67.2% of patients in the short-course group and in 80.0% in the chemoradiation group, p = 0.30. Local recurrence at 2 years (median follow-up) in good responders was 11.8% in the short-course group and 6.2% in the chemoradiation group, p = 0.53. In the total group, a lower rate of local recurrence at 2 years was observed in elderly patients (>69 years, median value) when compared to the younger patients; 8.3% vs. 27.7%, Cox analysis hazard ratio 0.232, p = 0.016. A total of 18 patients initially managed with local excision required conversion to abdominal surgery but either refused it or were unfit. In this group, local recurrence at 2 years was 37.1%. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an acceptable local recurrence rate after preoperative radiotherapy and local excision of small, radiosensitive tumours in elderly patients.

Preoperative radiotherapy and local excision of rectal cancer with immediate radical re-operation for poor responders.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To report an early analysis of prospective study exploring preoperative radiotherapy and local excision in rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mucosa at tumour edges was tattooed. Patients with cT1-3N0 tumour <3-4 cm were treated with either 5x5Gy+4Gy boost (N=31) or chemoradiation (50.4Gy+5.4Gy boost, 1.8Gy per fraction+5-fluorouracyl and leucovorin; N=13). Thirteen patients from the short-course group were unfit for chemotherapy. The interval from radiation to full-thickness local excision was 6 weeks. The protocol called for conversion to a transabdominal surgery in case of ypT2-3 disease or positive margin. RESULTS: The postoperative complications requiring hospitalization were recorded in 9% of patients. The rate of pathological complete response was 41%. The rate of patients requiring conversion was 34%; however, 18% actually underwent conversion and the remaining 16% refused or were unfit. During the 14 months of median follow-up, local recurrence was detected in 7% of patients and all underwent salvage surgery. Of 19 patients in whom initially anterior resection was likely, 16% had abdominoperineal resection performed for a conversion or as a rescue procedure. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the short-course radiation prior to local excision is a treatment option for high-risk patients.

[Late results of the combined treatment with the use of preoperative chemotherapy and surgery of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer]. / Odlegle wyniki leczenia skojarzonego z udzialem przedoperacyjnej chemioterapii i resekcji u chorych na miejscowo zaawansowanego niedrobnokomórkowego raka pluca.

The aim of the study is the assessment of efficacy of combined treatment (preoperative chemotherapy and surgery) of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Material included sixty-two NSCLC patients treated in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Medical School of Lublin between February 1993 and October 1997. Treatment was started with 2 or 3 courses of chemotherapy. In 51 cases chemotherapy was based on Cisplatin. Response (CR + PR) to chemotherapy was observed in 30 cases (48.8%). 21-25 days after last course of chemotherapy resections were carried out. In 1 case it was lobectomy, in 25 cases--pneumonectomy and in 36--extended pneumonectomy. In 56 cases resection was radical, in 6 cases non-radical. No perioperative deaths or bronchial fistulas were observed. Median survival was 21.4 months and 5-years survival--35.25%. The results confirm the usefulness of preoperative chemotherapy in locally advanced NSCLC.