Postoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer, prognostic factors for disease control and survival

Abstract

13575 Background: The aim of this paper is an assessment of results of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer with respect to prognostic factors, causes of treatment failures and treatment tolerance. Methods: 178 pts with Dukes’ stage B or C rectal cancer received postoperative chemoradiotherapy between 1993 and 2002. Median age was 62; 110 patients were males, 68 were females. Median follow-up time was 45 months. Main endpoints of the analysis were locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), distant relapse free survival (DRFS), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates. Univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors were performed using log rank and Cox’s proportional hazard method. Results: The 5-year LRRFS was 73%, DRFS was 80%, DFS was 61% and OS was 65%. Lymph node involvement and method of resection (AR favoured) were the only independent prognostic factors for LRRFS. Lymph node involvement, in particular when four or more are involved, was independent prognostic factors for DFS. For DRFS are histological grade, lymph node involvement and extracapsular extension of the lymph node metastases. For OS, the independent prognostic factors were infiltration of the pararectal fatty tissue, lymph node involvement in particular when four or more are involved, total number of chemotherapy cycles (at least six favoured). The 5-year LRRFS was 73%, DRFS was 80%, DFS was 61% and OS was 65%. Radiation therapy was well tolerated in 45% of patients. Most common early reactions were diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and leucopoenia. Conclusions: Involvement of lymph nodes and method of resection were the only independent prognostic factors for LRRFS. Prognostic factors for OS were infiltration of the pararectal fatty tissue, lymph node metastases, four or more involved lymph nodes, total number of chemotherapy cycles. No significant financial relationships to disclose.