Preoperative long-course chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy versus short-course radiotherapy without adjuvant chemotherapy both with delayed surgery for stage II-III resectable rectal cancer: 5-Year survival data of a randomized controlled trial

Laura Kairevičė, Tadas Latkauskas, Algimantas Tamelis, Aleksandras Petrauskas, Henrikas Paužas, Tadas Žvirblis, Laimonas Jaruševičius, Žilvinas Saladžinskas, Dainius Pavalkis, Rasa Jančiauskienė, Laura Kairevičė, Tadas Latkauskas, Algimantas Tamelis, Aleksandras Petrauskas, Henrikas Paužas, Tadas Žvirblis, Laimonas Jaruševičius, Žilvinas Saladžinskas, Dainius Pavalkis, Rasa Jančiauskienė

Abstract

Background and objective: At present, there are common recommendations for treatment for stage II-III resectable rectal cancer patients: preoperative conventional chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with delayed surgery in 6-8 weeks or preoperative short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) followed by immediate surgery. The aim of this study was to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in two treatment groups: preoperative SCRT and CRT both with delayed surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy in CRT arm.

Materials and methods: A total of 150 patients were randomly assigned to two groups: 75 to CRT (preoperative conventional CRT, 50Gy/25 fr with fluorouracil and leucovorin on the 1st and the 5th week of RT followed by TME surgery in 6-8 weeks and 4 cycles of adjuvant fluorouracil/leucovorin every 4 weeks; then follow-up) and 75 to SCRT (preoperative short-course RT, 25Gy/5 fr followed by TME surgery in 6-8 weeks; then follow-up). The data of 140 patients (72 in CRT and 68 in SCRT group) were included in statistical analysis. Primary end points were OS and DFS.

Results: Median follow-up was 60.5 (range, 5-108) months. The 5-year DFS was 67% in the CRT group (n=72) and 45% in the SCRT group (n=68) (P=0.013; HR=1.88; 95% CI, 1.13-3.12; P=0.015). The 5-year OS was 79% and 62% in the CRT and SCRT groups, respectively (P=0.015; HR=2.05; 95% CI, 1.13-3.70; P=0.017). The 5-year OS for intent-to-treat (ITT) population (n=150) was 78% in the CRT and 58% in the SCRT group (P=0.003; HR=2.28; 95% CI, 1.30-4.00; P=0.004).

Conclusions: The 5-year DFS and OS were significantly better in the CRT than the SCRT group. For ITT population, OS was also significantly better after CRT versus SCRT.

Keywords: Chemoradiotherapy; Radiotherapy; Rectal cancer.

Copyright © 2017 The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.

Source: PubMed

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