The prognostic impact of surgical complications after combined modality treatment of rectal cancer: Long-term results of the CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial.

Abstract

670 Background: The influence of major surgical complications on survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing combined modality treatment is still debatable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgical complications on oncological outcome in 823 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated within the phase III CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial. Methods: Anastomotic leakages as well as wound healing disorders were prospectively evaluated and correlated with overall survival (OS) and the cumulative incidence of distant metastasis and local recurrence after a long-term follow-up of more than 10 years. Results: Anastomotic leakage after restorative rectal resection is significantly correlated with an impaired 10-year OS (51.0% vs. 65.2%, p = 0.02). Patients with abdominal or sacral wound healing disorders had a significantly reduced OS compared to those with sufficient wound healing (45.2% vs. 62.7%, p = 0.009). Patients developing any surgical complication (anastomotic leakage or/and wound healing disorder) had an impaired OS (50.6% vs 65.3%, p = 0.0002) as well as higher rates of distant metastases (65.3% vs. 72.7%, p = 0.03) and local recurrences (6.0% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.0007). In a multivariate cox regression model the only independent factors for restricted OS were lymph node metastases (p < 0.0001) and the occurrence of surgical complications (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Surgical complications are significantly associated with an adverse oncological outcome and reduced long-term OS in patients undergoing combined modality treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer.