[Surgical treatment of low anterior resection syndrome]. / Khirurgicheskaya reabilitatsii bol'nykh s sindromom nizkoi perednei rezektsii.

OBJECTIVE: To compare functional outcomes of various rectal reconstruction after total mesorectal excision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized trial included 90 patients with mid-to-low rectal carcinoma who underwent total mesorectal excision. RESULTS: There were 22 patients after J-pouch surgery, 30 patients with side-to-end anastomoses and 38 patients with end-to-end anastomoses. Eight patients (26.6%) required conversion of J-P to E-E (7 patients) and S-E (1) anastomosis for technical reasons. Postoperative morbidity was similar (13.6, 16.7 and 34.2% in J-P, S-E and E-E groups, respectively, p=0.705). Sensory threshold, earliest and constant defecation urge and maximal tolerable volume were higher for J-P surgery within 3-6-12 months after surgery. Stool frequency was significantly lower after J-P surgery compared to S-E and E-E anastomoses within 3-6-12 months. Wexner scores were 3, 5, 6 after 6 months (p<0.05) and 0, 1, 1 after 12 months for J-P, S-E and E-E, respectively (p>0.05). Evacuation dysfunction was observed in 59.1% with J-P, 33.3% with S-E and 21.1% with E-E anastomoses in 6 months after stoma closure. CONCLUSION: J-pouch reconstruction demonstrates higher neorectal volume that ensures reduced stool frequency up to 12 months after stoma closure. However, technical challenges of J-pouch surgery and evacuation dysfunction restrain application of this procedure in clinical practice.

[Transanal mesorectumectomy for rectal cancer - is it optimal surgery for 'difficult' patients?] / Transanal'naia mezorektuméktomiia pri rake priamoi kishki - optimal'noe khirurgicheskoe vmeshatel'stvo dlia 'slozhnykh' patsientov?

AIM: To compare short-term outcomes after transanal total mesorectumectomy (Ta-TME) and laparoscopic (Lap-TME) procedure in 'difficult' patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective nonrandomized trial included patients with confirmed middle-/low rectum adenocarcinoma T1-4aN0-2M0 for the period November 2013 - September 2016. We identified 20 out of 55 in TA-TME and 14 out of 54 patients in Lap-TME group as those of 'difficult' subgroup: male, BMI ≥25 кг/м2, previous chemoradiotherapy (CRT). RESULTS: Time of surgery, blood loss, conversions rate, postoperative morbidity and length of hospital-stay were similar in both groups. Hardware anastomoses were more frequent in TA-TME compared with LAP-TME group (78.9% vs. 50%, p=0.086). Specimen quality was more favorable in TA-TME group: Grade I 10% in Ta-TME group vs. 28.6% in Lap-TME group; 'positive' CRM 5% vs. 14.3%, р=0.365. Within-group analysis did not reveal any differences between 'difficult' and 'typical' patients by surgical and pathomorphological characteristics in TA-TME group in contrast to Lap-TME group. Median of follow-up was 24.6 (IR 10.6-40.2) and 23.8 (IR 12.1-39.9) months for TA-TME and Lap-TME groups, respectively. Local recurrence occurred in 1 (1.8%) 'difficult' patient after Ta-TME. Distant metastases were observed in 1 (1.8%) patient of Ta-TME and 2 (3.7%) patients of Lap-TME group. Actuarial 3-years reccurence-free survival was 95.7% for Ta-TME and 93.9% for Lap-TME group, respectively (p=0.923). CONCLUSION: TA-TME is advisable for 'difficult' patients. Further multicenter randomized trials are necessary to specify the effectiveness of TA-TME in these patients.

[Short-term outcomes of complete mesocolic excision for right colon cancer]. / Neposredstvennye rezul'taty pravostoronnei gemikoléktomii s total'noi mezokolonéktomiei i D3 limfodissektsiei pri lechenii raka pravoi poloviny obodochnoi kishki.

PURPOSE: Complete mesocolic excision (CME) appears to be a relatively new concept for colon cancer. The purpose is to evaluate the results of CME with high vascular ligation (D3 lymph node dissection) for right colon cancer. The presented study identifies possible risks and advantages of the proposed method, as well as the role of the laparoscopic approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The article included data from 39 patients with right colon cancer, TNM stage I-III, operated on between November 2015 and December 2016 in the oncoproctology Department of the Blokhin Cancer Research Center. The analysis of main intraoperative parameters, morbidity and mortality was carried out. RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. 17 (43.6%) of operations were performed by open and 22 - by laparoscopic approach. The conversion for laparoscopic approach was 1 (4.5%) in 22. The median duration of the operation was 180 (130-260) minutes for laparoscopic approach and 120 (90-280) minutes for open approach, р=0.0056. Median intraoperative blood loss was 30 (30-300) ml for laparoscopic approach, and 300 (30-500) ml for open approach (р=0.0001). The duration of lymphorrhoea, time to first bowel movement, time to start liquid and solid food intake were 5.1±2.4, 1.3±0.5, 1.26±0.4 and 3.2±0.7 days, respectively. The median number of removed lymph nodes was 35.7 (6-68), the median number of metastatic lymph nodes was 1.9 (0-16). The median number of removed apical lymph nodes was 10.3 (0-24). Metastases did not affect any of the lymph nodes of the apical group. CONCLUSION: Right mesocolic excision with D3 lymphadenectomy for right colon cancer is technically safe, and the laparoscopic approach provides all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery and excellent early treatment outcomes. Preliminary data shows no metastasis in apical lymphnodes for right colon cancer. Nonetheless, it is necessary to study the long-term results for the evaluation of oncological outcomes.

[The possibilities of treatment of recurrent colorectal cancer with sacral invasion]. / Vozmozhnosti lecheniya retsidiva raka pryamoi kishki s invaziei v krestets (s kommentariem).

AIM: To describe current methods of surgical treatment of rare form of recurrent rectal cancer with sacral invasion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The article presents the methodology for the treatment of patients with recurrent colorectal cancer and sacral invasion using preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by high-tech surgery of recurrent tumor removal with sacral resection at various levels (including high intersection at S1 level). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that chemoradiotherapy is indicated in patients with recurrent colorectal cancer if it was not made at the first stage of treatment. Additional radiotherapy up to optimum overall focal dose prior to surgery is advisable in those patients who previously underwent radiotherapy with partial dose. This type of operations has high risk of complications and requires a personalized approach to the selection of patients. However, R0-resection is associated with favorable long-term prognosis, significantly increased survival and overall quality of life. Combined surgery for recurrent tumors with sacral invasion should be performed by multidisciplinary surgical team in specialized centers using current possibilities of anesthesiology and intensive care.

[Surgical strategy for locally-advanced right-sided colonic cancer]. / Strategiia khirurgicheskogo lecheniia mestno-rasprostranennogo raka pravoi poloviny obodochnoi kishki.

AIM: To present early and remote surgical outcomes in patients with locally-advanced right-sided colonic cancer, invasion of pancreatic head and/or duodenal wall. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Early and remote surgical outcomes were analyzed in 27 patients who underwent gastropancreatoduodenectomy combined with right-sided hemicolectomy (ileotransversostomy extirpation) for locally-advanced right-sided colonic cancer. RESULTS: Mean time of surgery was 300 (240-460) minutes, intraoperative blood loss - 2000 (500-7200) ml. Postoperative complications were observed in 15 (55.6%) patients. 3 (11.1%) patients died in early postoperative period. Overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival was 92.7%, 48% and 36,5% respectively. Median was 33 months. CONCLUSION: Advanced combined surgery for locally-advanced right-sided colonic cancer, invasion of pancreatic head and/or duodenal wall is associated with acceptable incidence of postoperative complications, early and long-term mortality.

Short-course preoperative radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, delayed surgery and local hyperthermia for rectal cancer: a phase II study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of short-course radiotherapy with oral capecitabine, hyperthermia and delayed surgery for neoadjuvant treatment of rectal cancer. METHODS: Patients with clinically staged T2-3N0-2M0 primary rectal cancer were included. All patients received short-course 25 Gy in 5 Gy fractions radiotherapy with capecitabine, local hyperthermia and metronidazole. Capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice a day was given on days 1-14. Local hyperthermia, 41-45 °C for 60 min, was performed on days 3-5. Metronidazole 10 g/m2 was administered per rectum on days 3 and 5. The time interval to surgery was not less than four weeks after neoadjuvant treatment. The primary end-point was pathological complete response (pCR). Secondary end-points included neoadjuvant treatment toxicity, tumour regression, surgical and oncological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 81 patients were included in the analysis. Ten (12.3%) patients had grade 3 toxicity and one (1.2%) patient had grade 4 toxicity. Sphincter-sparing surgery was performed for 78 (96.3%) patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 11 (13.8%) patients. Sixteen (20%) patients had a pCR. The median follow-up was 40.9 months. There were no local recurrences. Nine (11.1%) patients developed distant metastases. Three-year overall survival was 97% and the three-year disease-free survival was 85%. CONCLUSIONS: Short-course radiotherapy with chemotherapy, radiosensitizers and delayed surgery is a feasible treatment for rectal cancer and may lead to tumour regression rate comparable with long-course chemoradiation.

[Total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer management: laparoscopic or transanal?].

AIM: To evaluate and compare intraoperative features, early surgical outcomes, quality of excised specimen after laparoscopic and transanal total mesorectal excision (LA-TME and TA-TME). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective randomized study included 45 patients with confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma (cT2-4N0-2M0) since October 2013. LA-TME and TA-TME groups consisted of 23 and 22 patients respectively. Inclusion criteria were patients with primary-operable rectal cancer and satisfactory response after neoadjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy. Both groups were comparable in stages of cancer, age and body mass index (BMI). Median length from anal edge was 6.5 cm and 7 cm in TA-TME and LA-TME groups respectively. There was significantly greater number of patients after chemo- and radiotherapy in TA-TME group (86% vs. 48%, p=0.006). RESULTS: Surgery time was 305 and 320 minutes in LA-TME and TA-TME groups recpectively, median blood loss -- less than 100 ml. Mean hospital-stay was 8.0 days in both groups. Each group had 1 conversion including laparoscopic procedure in TA-TME group. Transanal extraction of specimen was performed in 86% vs. 48% in TA-TME and LA-TME groups respectively (p=0.021). Complications (Clavien-Dindo sclale) were observed in 27% and 26% in TA-TME and LA-TME groups respectively without statistically significance. Complications IIIb, IVb and V degrees were not diagnosed in TA-TME group. Also in this group «good¼, «satisfactory¼ and «unsatisfactory¼ quality of TME was obtained in 68%, 14% and 18% of cases. At the same time in LA-TME group these values were 74%, 9% and 17% respectively (p=0.859). One of operated patients had «positive¼ lateral edge (TA-TME). Median distal edge of resection was 21 mm and 23 mm in TA-TME and LA-TME groups respectively. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data show comparable early outcomes after transanal and laparoscopic techniques. Laparotomy and associated compications are avoided in case of transanal extraction of specimen. Further researches are necessary to study functional and long-term results.

Short-term outcomes after transanal and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has potential benefits of better visual control, especially in male patients with a high body mass index and low rectal cancer. However, this method has not yet been validated in clinical trials. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes of transanal and laparoscopic (lap) TME. METHODS: From October 2013 to January 2015, consecutive patients undergoing transanal or laparoscopic TME for biopsy-proven mrT1-4aN0-2M0 rectal cancer were included in a prospective database. Patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 2 and higher and patients undergoing partial mesorectal excision were excluded. This analysis focused on short-term surgical outcomes. RESULTS: From October 2013 to January 2015, 22 taTME procedures and 23 laparoscopic TME procedures were performed. Patient characteristics were comparable between groups, but more patients in the taTME group underwent neoadjuvant (chemo) radiotherapy (87 vs. 48 %, p = 0.006). Median operative time was 320 min in the taTME group and 305 min in the lapTME group. There was one conversion in each group, but the transanal procedure was converted to laparoscopic resection. Transanal specimen extraction was performed in 86 versus 48 % patients in taTME and lapTME groups accordingly (p = 0.021). There was no post-operative mortality and post-operative morbidity in the taTME and lapTME groups was similar (27 vs. 26 %). One patient in the taTME group had positive circumferential resection margins. Oncologic results from resected specimens were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience demonstrates comparable short-term results for taTME and lap TME. Further investigation is necessary to assess long-term functional and oncologic outcomes.

[Results of complex treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal using advanced radiotherapy technologies].

During recent decades radiotherapy is the basis, on which it is built a medical complex that is the first-line treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. An increase of overall and disease-free survival and quality of life of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal at the present stage of development of a comprehensive medical treatment is largely due to the improvement of technical equipment of radiotherapy departments of oncology clinics. The use of modem linear electron accelerators and systems of computer dosimetric planning to create a 3D program of isodose distribution, diagnostic devices (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) as well as a number of other conditions permit accurate summarizing of proposed dose, reducing of absorbed dose to critical structures, diminishing unplanned interruptions in chemoradiotherapy course by means of modern technologies of conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT, IMRT, VMAT). The paper presents the preliminary results of a comprehensive medical treatment of 14 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal.

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer--time to learn a new treatment strategy?].

The article discusses the possibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer patients and rectal cancer patients without the additional use of radiation therapy. The possible risks and benefits of such approach are analyzed and the data of available clinical studies are provided.

[Decrease of the number of involved lymph nodes after preoperative chemoradiotherapy in rectal carcinoma].

The total of 296 T3-4NO-2 Federal Coloproctology Science Center colon cancer patients received treatment since 2004 to 2011, 165 patients (main group) also received treatment (pre- and postoperative irradiation, surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy) in P.A.Herzen State Clinical Research Center for Oncology. The control group (131 patients) received only surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy. Based on our results, prolonged chemoradiotherapy leads to statistically significant decrease of regional mesorectal lymph nodes metastases, the decrease is most evident in N1 stage patients group (1-3 lymph nodes metastases). However, the number of diagnosed involved lymph nodes also depends on the depth of tumor penetration and the timing between chemoradiotherapy and surgery. The most important prognostic criterion is not the state of involved lymph nodes, but their number.

[Influence of a total focal dose of preoperative chemoradiotherapy on direct results of treatment of rectal cancer].

An analysis of complex treatment of 154 patients with T2-4N0-2 stage rectal cancer is presented who were given preoperative chemoradiotherapy in regimen of dynamic functioning with total focal dose 39.5 Gy (71 patients of the first group) and 47 Gy (83 patients of the second group) using 5-fluororacil and cisplatin. A multivariant analysis has demonstrated a reliably increased frequency of total and close to total regressions of rectal cancer (1-2 stage by Mandard) in the second group as compared with reduced duration of the operative intervention the 1st group (43.2% and 23.9). Frequency of postoperative complications did not have reliable difference in both groups as well as the number of sphinctersaving surgical procedures.

[Effect of the duration of time between chemo-radiotherapy and surgical intervention on the results of the combined treatment of rectal cancer].

Complex treatment included preoperative radiochemotherapy (fractionated TTD of 47 Gy), 5-FU 2.75-3.5 g, cisplatin 90 mg, surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (XELOX). The radiochemotherapy/ surgery interval ranged 21-72 days (average--40; median--41.2 +/- 7.9). Patients were divided into two groups: those operated on within days 21-40 (1) and days 41-72 (2) to evaluate the impact of the interval between surgery and completion of radiochemotherapy. The intervals longer than 40 days were not followed by longer sphincter-saving operations, higher intraoperative blood loss or postoperative complication incidence, as compared with the 21-40 day interval. Besides, radiochemotherapy-related alterations in tumor tissues arising more than 40 days after exposure were more pronounced, yet unaccompanied by significantly better end results.

[Prognostic value of rectal cancer regression after preoperative chemoradiation therapy].

Despite the international experience enriched in the number of observations of combination treatment in patients with rectal cancer, many issues remain to be the subject-matter of the discussion. This also applies to the estimation of the value of tumor regression after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in order to develop indications for sphincter-sparing operations depending on the site of a tumor in the organ and their impact on long-term treatment results. The authors have gained experience with combination treatment in 157 patients with rectal cancer (T2-4 N0-2 M0) receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in a cumulative radiation dose of 39.5-47 Gy and radical surgery 4-6 weeks after radiation. The direct effect of chemoradiation therapy has been investigated using a set of studies involving ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopic diagnosis, as well as the data of a postoperative morphological study of primary tumor and lymph nodes. The authors have evaluated the impact of preoperative chemoradiation therapy on the rate and degree of resorption of a primary tumor, including the depth of its invasion through the intestinal wall and exit into the cellular tissue, its localization in the organ and the distance to the anus, a difference in the preoperative estimation of stages and according to the data of pathomorphological studies of intraoperative specimens, etc. The degree of tumor resorption was comparatively analyzed with the long-term results and the rate of sphincter-sparing operations.