Assessment of macroscopic features in relation to tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in rectal cancer.

Abstract

507 Background: Several studies show locally advanced rectal cancer patients with clinical complete response (cCR) have comparable oncologic outcomes to pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NCRT). Thus, total mesorectal excision (TME) could potentially be avoided. Our objective was to validate macroscopic features of cCR. Methods: 164 patients with stage II/III rectal cancer were previously enrolled in a phase II trial and treated by NCRT and TME. Tumor response in the surgical specimens was assessed according to AJCC guidelines. A pCR was defined as absence of viable tumor cells. Gross macroscopic features by the pathologist were tabulated and our cohort was applied to previously published cCR criteria. Results: 25.0% (n = 41) had pCR; 75.0% (n = 123) had non-pCR. Descriptors were condensed into 14 macroscopic features by combining terms and excluding those rarely mentioned. Several reports affirm that scarring signifies cCR, while others suggest that fibrosis, edema, ulceration and nonpalpable tumor to be consistent with cCR. In our study, scarring was found in 6.1% of patients, 16.7% of which had pCR. We found that hyperemia, scarring, flat, smooth, and tan-pink mucosa were significantly associated with pCR (p < 0.05). In contrast, a firm lesion and ulceration were frequently observed in patients with non-pCR (p = 0.02 and 0.05 respectively). Conclusions: Our study suggests that macroscopic pathologic features do correlate with pCR. Although cCR has comparable oncologic outcomes as pCR with favorable outcomes, standard criteria of cCR should first be defined so NCRT patients can safely be selected for observation only. [Table: see text]