Short-term results of combined and complex treatment of patients with low rectal cancer

Abstract

The issue of sphincter preservation when low rectal cancer (rectal adenocarcinoma 0–6 сm from marge anal) remains topical. Objective: to increase the number of sphincter preservation operations in patients with low rectal cancer. Materials and methods. We analyzed data on 110 patients with low rectal cancer randomized into 3 groups: in the 1st group surgery was performed following 0–3 days after the end of short-term radiotherapy (RT) 25 Gy. In the 2nd group the interval before surgery after the identical RT was 42 ± 3 days. In the 3rd group, in 2 cycles of capecitabine chemotherapy were performed starting on the 1st day of RT. Results. pCR was observed obly in 2nd and 3rd group: in 16.6 % patients in the 2nd group, and 12.8 % in the study group. The sphincter preservation rate was 40.0 % in the 1st control group, 70.0 % in the 2nd group and 77.0 % in the 3rd group. The postoperative complications rate was 37.5 % in the 1st group, 26.6 % in the 2nd group and 17.9 % in the 3rd group. Conclusions. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy may increase sphincter preservation rate without increase in the number of postoperative complications.