Pathologic Complete Response in Locally Advanced Rectal carcinoma after Neo-adjuvant chemo radiation –A Single Institutional Study

Abstract

The study aims to assess pathologic complete response (pCR) and its clinical significance in patients treated with pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal carcinoma in Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, during 2008-2012 (n= 114), followed-up till 2014. Pre-operative radiation was given using external beam radiation (50.4Gy in 28#), with concurrent chemo radiation. 94% had tumor down staging and 14% had a complete response to pre-operative chemo radiation. In pCR group, histological subtype was well differentiated adeno in 45%, moderate in 45%, poorly-differentiated in 5% and remaining 5% showed carcinoma of other histologic types. The corresponding values among non-pCR group were 48% (well), 40% (moderate), 7% (poorly differentiated) and 5% (others), respectively. 95% had no recurrence in pCR and 81% in non-pCR group.