Induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy alone as neoadjuvant treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer: the PelvEx II study

Abstract

Background: A resection with clear resection margins (R0 resection) is the single most important prognostic factor for overall and local recurrence free survival in patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). However, despite the use of neoadjuvant chemo(re)irradiation, an R0 resection is achieved in only ±60% of patients. Induction chemotherapy in addition to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is increasingly being used, as this combination may increase the R0 resection rate. Still, evidence for any beneficial effect of induction chemotherapy is lacking.