Positive Circumferential Margin Research Articles

A Method for Continuous Surgeon Improvement in Rectal Cancer: Risk-Adjusted Cumulative Sum.

To develop and analyze a risk-adjusted cumulative sum (RA-CUSUM) chart as a potential method to monitor individual surgeon performance in robotic total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer. Currently, surgeons lack real-time tools to monitor and enhance their performance beyond residency completion. While national quality programs exist, granular, individual-level data is crucial for continuous improvement. Previous studies suggest CUSUM charts hold promise in identifying performance trends and outliers. This retrospective study analyzed data from 640 robotic TME cases performed by 12 surgeons at two institutions. RA-CUSUM charts were generated for three outcomes: complications, operative time, and length of stay. The overall RA-CUSUM curves for operative time and complications showed an initial learning phase followed by a plateau or downward slope, indicating proficiency or improvement. However, individual surgeon curves revealed significant heterogeneity. Three surgeons consistently excelled in operative time, while five minimized complications most effectively. Potential quality improvement could be implemented to drive performance toward positive outliers. No differences were found in unadjusted outcomes, including conversion, number of lymph nodes harvested, and positive circumferential margins. The RA-CUSUM chart is a promising method for identifying individual surgeon performance in robotic TME. It could help surgeons, teams, and leaders identify improvement areas and benchmark themselves against positive outliers. Further studies are needed to explore the potential of RA-CUSUM for implementing interventions to improve surgical quality.

Primary Surgery Followed by Selective Chemoradiotherapy Versus Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The aim of this work was to determine whether locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) with negative mesorectal fascia (MRF) predicted by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be excluded from preoperative radiation therapy treatment. This multicenter, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with LARC within 6 to 12 cm from the anal verge and with negative MRI-predicted MRF. Participants were randomized to the intervention group (primary surgery, in which the patients with positive pathologic [CRM] circumferential margins were subjected to chemoradiotherapy [CRT] and those with negative CRM underwent adjuvant chemotherapy according to pathologic staging) or the control group (preoperative CRT, in which all patients underwent subsequent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy). The primary endpoint was 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). A total of 275 patients were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 140) and control (n = 135) groups, in which 33.57% and 28.15% patients were at clinical T4 stage and 85.92% and 80.45% patients were at "bad" or "ugly" risk in the intervention and control groups, respectively. There were 2 patients (1.52%) and 1 patient (0.77%) with positive CRM in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P > .05). The non-adherence rates for the intervention and control groups were 3.6% and 23.7%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 34.6 months (IQR, 18.2-45.7), 43 patients had positive events (28 patients and 15 patients in the intervention and control groups, respectively). There were 6 patients (4.4%) with local recurrence in the intervention group and none in the control group, which led to the termination of the trial. The 3-year DFS rate was 81.82% in the intervention group (95% CI, 78.18%-85.46%) and 85.37% in the control group (95% CI, 81.75%-88.99%), with a difference of -3.55% (95% CI, -3.71% to -3.39%; hazard ratio, 1.76; 95% CI, 0.94-3.30). In the per-protocol data set, the difference between 3-year DFS rates was -5.44% (95% CI, -5.63% to -5.25%; hazard ratio, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.01-4.06). Based on the outcomes of this trial, in patients with LARC and MRI-negative MRF, primary surgery could negatively influence their DFS rates. Therefore, primary surgery was an inferior strategy compared with preoperative CRT followed by surgery and cannot be recommended for patients with LARC.

Primary mucinous skin cancer: A case report and review of the literature

Primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin (PMCS) is an extremely uncommon skin cancer originating from sweat glands. We present a case of a male patient diagnosed with PMCS who was initially misdiagnosed with benign sebaceous cysts. A 62-year-old male patient presented to a private clinic with a chief complaint of a slowly progressing nodule located under his lower lip for the past two years; The nodule was locally excised . The histopathology analysis yielded a diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma with a positive circumferential margin. Reexcison was performed, and the final histopathology result was a small nest of mucinous carcinoma with a negative surgical margin. He underwent thorough investigation, including gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and computerized tomography (CT) scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and found no signs of primary tumor. He was discharged from our hospital and educated to follow up closely for local recurrence. This paper illustrates the rarity of this disease, its vague presentation, and a brief review of diagnosis and treatment.

191 Minimally Invasive General Surgery Landmark Trials and Lessons Learned - A Narrative Review

Abstract Aims The aim of this review is to explore the history of minimally invasive (MI) surgery and landmark trials that guide modern practice. Methods A narrative review was conducted according to the four steps outlined by Demiris et al. Results MI surgery has become the gold-standard for many operations. Laparoscopic surgery has equivalent operative outcomes to open surgery with reduced recovery time and hospital stay. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating complex laparoscopic upper gastrointestinal oncological resections demonstrate reduced blood loss and postoperative pain. Within colorectal surgery, the CLASSIC and COREAN trials described comparable mortality and oncological clearance in MI colorectal cancer resections versus open surgery. Conversely, ALaCaRT and ACOSOG raised concerns about oncological results. Robotic surgery provides a high degree of instrument freedom and stabilises hand tremors, however substantial associated costs remain a barrier. Robotic cholecystectomy (RC) is a safe and effective tool, and RC outcomes are comparable to laparoscopic surgery in the elective setting; although more evidence is required for more complex disease outcomes. For rectal cancer, the ROLARR trial found no difference in complications, conversion rate, or circumferential margin positivity for robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic surgery. Recently, the Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot performed the first autonomous intestinal anastomosis on porcupines, outperforming expert surgeons for both consistency and accuracy, demonstrating the potential future of robotic surgery. Conclusion This review gives an overview of MI general surgery; demonstrating the advantages as well as some concerns for the different surgical techniques, and raises suggestions for future uses.

Network meta-analysis comparing the clinical outcomes and safety of robotic, laparoscopic, and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection for rectal cancer

Objective: To methodically assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of robot-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (RTME), laparoscopic-assisted total rectal mesenteric resection (laTME), and transanal total rectal mesenteric resection (taTME). Methods: A computer search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Ovid databases to identify English-language reports published between January 2017 and January 2022 that compared the clinical efficacy of the three surgical procedures of RTME, laTME, and taTME. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the NOS and JADAD scales for retrospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials, respectively. Direct meta-analysis and reticulated meta-analysis were performed using Review Manager software and R software, respectively. Results: Twenty-nine publications comprising 8,339 patients with rectal cancer were ultimately included. The direct meta-analysis indicated that the length of hospital stay was longer after RTME than after taTME, whereas according to the reticulated meta-analysis the length of hospital stay was shorter after taTME than after laTME (MD=-0.86, 95%CI: -1.70 to -0.096, P=0.036). Moreover, the incidence of anastomotic leak was lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.39 to 0.91, P=0.018). The incidence of intestinal obstruction was also lower after taTME than after RTME (OR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.31 to 0.94, P=0.037). All of these differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the three surgical procedures regarding the number of lymph nodes cleared, length of the inferior rectal margin, or rate of positive circumferential margins (all P>0.05). An inconsistency test using nodal analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between the results of direct and indirect comparisons of the six outcome indicators (all P>0.05). Furthermore, we detected no significant overall inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence. Conclusion: taTME has advantages over RTME and laTME, in terms of radical and surgical short-term outcomes in patients with rectal cancer.

Assessing the learning curve of robot-assisted total mesorectal excision: a multicenter study considering procedural safety, pathological safety, and efficiency

PurposeEvidence regarding the learning curve of robot-assisted total mesorectal excision is scarce and of low quality. Case-mix is mostly not taken into account, and learning curves are based on operative time, while preferably clinical outcomes and literature-based limits should be used. Therefore, this study aims to assess the learning curve of robot-assisted total mesorectal excision.MethodsA retrospective study was performed in four Dutch centers. The primary aim was to assess the safety of the individual and institutional learning curves using a RA-CUSUM analysis based on intraoperative complications, major postoperative complications, and compound pathological outcome (positive circumferential margin or incomplete TME specimen). The learning curve for efficiency was assessed using a LC-CUSUM analysis for operative time. Outcomes of patients before and after the learning curve were compared.ResultsIn this study, seven participating surgeons performed robot-assisted total mesorectal excisions in 531 patients. Learning curves for intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and compound pathological outcome did not exceed predefined literature-based limits. The LC-CUSUM for operative time showed lengths of the learning curve ranging from 12 to 35 cases. Intraoperative, postoperative, and pathological outcomes did not differ between patients operated during and after the learning curve.ConclusionThe learning curve of robot-assisted total mesorectal excision based on intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and compound pathological outcome did not exceed predefined limits and is therefore suggested to be safe. Using operative time as a surrogate for efficiency, the learning curve is estimated to be between 12 and 35 procedures.

OGC P46 Positive Circumferential margins are associated with poorer survival following surgery in gastro-oesophageal junctional cancers

Abstract Background Adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) remains a significant clinical problem that is increasing in incidence and is associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of the resection margins on survival and recurrence. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at our hospital from March 2001 till December 2022. All the patients that had oesophagectomy for gastro-oesophageal junctional (GOJ) adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Demography, staging, margins, type of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and survival data were collected. Results Over the study, 174 patients had Gastro-oesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma. 42 of the patients had circumferential margins positive and 132 had negative circumferential margins. The median for survival is 18 months in circumferential margins positive and 31 months for the circumferential negative patients with a P value of &amp;lt;0.001 There were no patients with longitudinal margins positive enough to calculate any statical analysis The median of recurrence is 13.4 months for the circumferential margins positive and 26.8 months for the circumferential margins negative patients with a P value on 0.003 Conclusions The presence of any circumferential margin tumour will significantly affect the survival rate and recurrence rate.

Impact of Induction Chemotherapy Antecedent to Long Course Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy on Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Carcinoma Rectum: Retrospective Audit from a Tertiary Cancer Center

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> The paradigm of management of locally advanced rectal (T3/4; T1-4N1-2) cancers (LARC) have been shifting to induction chemotherapy (NACT) with long course neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (NACRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) inching towards total neoadjuvant therapy approach. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of NACRT alone (Arm A) versus NACT followed by NACRT (Arm B) in LARC treated at our center. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> Data of 101 patients of LARC (March 2013 – Jan 2021) were retrieved for this retrospective analysis. NACT in Arm B consisted of 2 cycles of CAPOX [oxaliplatin (130 mg/m² day 1) and capecitabine (1000 mg/m² twice daily for 14 days) repeated every 3 weeks]. Radiotherapy (RT) in both the arms was 50.4 Gray in 28 fractions with capecitabine 825 mg/m² twice daily on days of RT. All patients underwent TME. Adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) consisted of CAPOX regimen. Pathological complete response (pCR) and overall complete response OCR (pCR plus near complete response) were defined as per modified Ryan grading system. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed with Kaplan Meier method. <h3>Results</h3> Patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Median number of NACT cycles in Arm B was two (range 2-4). Median radiotherapy dose was 50.4 Gray. pCR rates were 12.7% in arm B and 7.3% (3/41) in arm A (p=0.516). OCR rates were 28.3% (17/60) in Arm B vs 12.1% (5/41) in Arm A (p=0.044). 2-Year DFS and OS in Arm A versus B were 47.5% vs. 73.9% (p=0.781) and 54.3% vs 67.3% (p= 0.371) respectively. Patients with pCR vs no pCR had better 2-year DFS and OS 88.9% vs 50.1% (p = 0.009) and 83.3% vs 55.4% (p = 0.015) respectively. Patients with OCR vs no OCR had better 2-year DFS and OS 88.5% vs 45.2% (p = 0.009) and 94.4% vs 51% (p = 0.015) respectively. Patients with positive circumferential margin (CRM) and regional node at presentation had poorer DFS 18.6% vs 83.6% (p=0.03) and 42.7% vs 54.9% (p=0.004) respectively. <h3>Conclusion</h3> NACT prior to NACTRT leads to higher OCR rates in LARC. pCR and OCR predicted better DFS and OS and positive CRM and node positivity at presentation portended poorer outcome in our cohort of patients.

Assessing the Association Between Endoscopic Tattooing and Lymph Node Yield in Rectal Cancer

IntroductionPreoperative endoscopic tattooing is an effective tool for intraoperative tumor localization in colon cancer. Endoscopic tattooing in rectal cancer may have unidentified benefits on lymph node yield, making it easier for pathologists to identify nodes during histopathologic assessment. There remains concern that tattoo ink may alter anatomical planes, increasing surgical difficulty. MethodsRetrospective chart reviews from 2016 to 2021 of n = 170 patients presenting with rectal cancer were divided into two groups: with (n = 79) and without (n = 91) endoscopic tattoos. Demographics, operative details, tumor characteristics, prior chemoradiation, and pathologic details were collected. Primary outcome was total lymph node yield. Secondary outcomes were rates of adequate (> 12) nodes, margin status, and operative variables including operative time. ResultsNo differences between pathologic stage, tumor height, high inferior mesenteric artery ligation, operative times, conversion rate, or surgical approach (open versus minimally invasive) were noted between groups. Receipt of neoadjuvant chemoradiation was less frequent in the endoscopic tattooing group (53.2% versus 76.9%, P ≤ 0.001). Total node number and rate of adequate lymph node yield were higher with endoscopic tattooing (20.5 ± 7.6 versus 16.8 ± 6.6 lymph nodes and 100.0% versus 83.5% adequate lymph node harvest, both P ≤ 0.001). Rates of positive circumferential and distal margins and complete total mesorectal excision were also similar. Regression analysis identified endoscopic tattooing (Incidence Risk Ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.31) and operative time more than 300 min (Incidence Risk Ratio 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.77-0.99) had significant effects on lymph node harvest. Removal of patients with inadequate lymph node yield resulted in similar rates of total and positive lymph nodes. ConclusionsEndoscopic rectal tattooing is associated with increased lymph node yield (including after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy) without sacrificing oncologic or perioperative outcomes, although this effect is inconsistent when only considering patients with an adequate lymph node yield.

Primary surgery followed by selective radiochemotherapy versus conventional preoperative radiochemotherapy for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with MRI-negative circumferential margin (PSSR): A multicenter, randomized, open-label, noninferiority, phase 3 trial.

3515 Background: Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer. However, radiation therapy can lead to bowel, urinary and sexual dysfunction. The study aims to clarify whether locally advanced rectal cancer with a distance of 6 to 12 cm from the anus with negative circumferential margins (CRM) predicted by MRI can be exempted from preoperative radiotherapy. Methods: PSSR (NCT02121405), a multicentre, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial, was done across 10 hospitals in China. Patients aged from 18 to 75 years with locally advanced rectal cancer (including all cT3/4 and/or Nany) with negative MRI-predicted CRM and tumor distance of 6 to 12 cm from anus were randomly assigned (1:1), by central randomization, to intervention group (surgery directly, in which positive CRM was supplemented with chemoradiotherapy, negative CRM received adjuvant chemotherapy according to surgical pathologic staging), or control group (neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy then underwent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy). The primary endpoint is the rate of 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). A sample size of 350 was set according to the original non-inferiority margin of 15% for the difference of rates for 3-year DFS, which was changed to 5% under the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) suggestion after an interim analysis. The efficacy analysis followed the per-protocol (PP) principle. Results: From December 2015 to February 2021, 299 patients were recruited. DSMB stopped this trial due to the difference of 3-year DFS’s rate between two groups more than 5% at the interim analysis in July 2021. A total of 275 were included for the final analysis. Based on the PP dataset, 238 patients followed the original protocol (135 patients in the intervention group and 103 patients in the control group). Patients who had positive CRM were 2(1.5%) and 1(1.0%) in two groups, respectively ( P= 1.00). After a median follow-up of 34.6 (IQR: 18.2-45.7) months, a total of 42 patients had positive events (30 patients in the intervention group and 12 patients in the control group). There were 5 (3.7%) patients with local recurrence in the intervention group ( P= 0.062). Patients with pathological complete response (pCR) and near pCR were 19 (18.4%) and 21 (20.4%) in the control group. The rate of 3-year DFS was 81.1% (77.3%-84.9%) (HR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.01-4.06, P= 0.048) in the intervention group and 86.6% (82.7%-90.5%) in the control group, with difference of 5.4% (5.3%-5.6%), which did not meet the criteria for non-inferiority. Conclusions: In terms of DFS, initial surgery was inferior to conventional preoperative radiochemotherapy for locally advanced middle rectal cancer with MRI negative circumferential margin. Clinical trial information: NCT02121405.

Laparoscopic vs. open resection for colon cancer-quality of oncologic resection evaluation in a medium volume center.

Despite concerns regarding oncologic safety, laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer has been proven in several trials in the lasts decades to be superior to open surgery. In addition, the benefits of laparoscopic surgery can be offered to other patients with malignant disease. The aim of the present study was to compare the quality of oncologic resection for non-metastatic, resectable colon cancer between laparoscopic and open surgery in terms of specimen margins and retrieved lymph nodes in a medium volume center in Romania. A total of 219 patients underwent surgery for non-metastatic colon cancer between January 2017 and December 2020. Of these, 52 underwent laparoscopic resection, while 167 had open surgery. None of the patients in the laparoscopic group had positive circumferential margins (P=0.035) while 12 (7.19%) patients in the open group (OG) had positive margins. A total of three patients in the laparoscopic group (5.77%) and seven patients (4.19%) in the OG had invaded axial margins. While the number of retrieved lymph nodes was not correlated with the type of procedure [laparoscopic group 16.12 (14±6.56), OG 17.31 (15±8.42), P=0.448], the lymph node ratio was significantly higher in the OG (P=0.003). Given the results of the present study, it is safe to conclude that laparoscopic surgery is not inferior to open surgery for non-metastatic colon cancer in a medium volume center.

Pathologic outcomes of transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: a meta-analysis of 26 studies.

Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) has the potential advantages for patients with low rectal cancer. The objective of this meta-analysis was to identify the pathologic outcomes between the TaTME and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LaTME) in rectal cancer. The literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE with English language restriction. The primary endpoint was circumferential margin (CRM), and the secondary endpoints were distal resection margin (DRM), mesorectal excision quality, and harvested lymph nodes. Our research identified 1090 articles, and 26 studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The positive CRM was lower in the TaTME than the LaTME (OR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.53, 0.98; P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in the positive CRM between the TaTME and LaTME published after 2016 (OR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.57, 1.12; P = 0.19), prospective study (OR = 2.70; 95% CI = 0.51, 14.24; P = 0.24), respective study (OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.55, 1.04; P = 0.09), BMI > 26 (OR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.63, 1.58; P = 0.98), or sample size > 100 (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.57, 1.23; P = 0.38). In addition, there was no significant difference observed between the TaTME and LaTME in terms of DRM, mesorectum incompleteness, and harvested lymph nodes. The TaTME is associated with lower positive CRM compared to the LaTME and similar pathologic outcomes including DRM, harvested lymph node, and mesorectal excision quality.

Specialization improves outcomes in rectal cancer surgery

Scope of specialtyColorectal surgery encompasses any procedure performed on the colon and/or rectum. This section focuses on rectal surgery, specifically regarding surgery for rectal cancer and its technical complexity and disease complexity that often requires a multidisciplinary team-based approach. The emergence of rectal cancer surgical specialists exhibits improvements in rectal cancer outcomes.Colorectal surgery fellowships are available for general surgeons who desire specialization. Roughly 70 colorectal surgery fellowship programs exist, of which 39 are accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC). Patient care and quality outcomesThe OSTRiCh (Optimizing the Surgical Treatment of Rectal Cancer) Consortium (OC) and NAPRC developed guidelines for a standardized pathway for rectal cancer care and outline standards for patient care and performance indicators. These efforts focus on the recognition of disparities in rectal cancer outcomes, a system for improvement, delivery of quality care, and optimizing patient results by minimizing morbidity and mortality. Regulatory requirementsIn the United States, Board certification for surgeons performing colorectal surgery is granted by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS). While the United States lags behind its European counterparts in development of rectal cancer quality measures, significant changes have been made to close the gap. Improvement initiatives launched by the OC implemented a myriad of quality metrics for longitudinal outcome tracking; surgical site infection, positive circumferential margin rate, rate of colostomy creation, recurrence rate, to name a few.

Early post-operative perineal wound complications in patients undergoing etralevator abdominoperineal excision: A Retrospective Study at Department of Surgical Oncology

Background: Extralevator Abdominoperineal Excision (ELAPE) is an emerging technique for the management of locally advanced distal rectal tumors in which sphincter preservation cannot be performed. The technique has not yet been adopted globally, however now as evidence is emerging more and more centers are adopting this technique. Positive circumferential margins (CRM) and intra-operative tumor perforations are one of the major factors that lead to local disease relapse and overall poor patient outcomes.

Transanal total mesorectal excision for abdominoperineal resection is associated with poor oncological outcomes in rectal cancer patients: A word of caution from a multicentric Canadian cohort study.

The main objective of this study was to compare the oncological outcomes of patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection (APR) versus low anterior resection (LAR) through a transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) approach. A total of 360 adult patients with a diagnosis of rectal cancer were enrolled at participating centres from the Canadian taTME Expert Collaboration. Forty-three patients received taTME-APR and received 317 taTME-LAR. Demographic, operative, pathological and follow-up data were collected and merged into a single database. Results are presented as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval. All analyses were performed in the R environment (v.3.6). The proportion of patients with a positive circumferential radial margin status was higher in the taTME-APR group than the taTME-LAR group (21% vs. 9%, p=0.001). Complete TME was achieved in 91% of those undergoing APR compared with 96% of those undergoing LAR (p=0.25). APR was associated with a greater rate of local recurrence relative to LAR, although it was not significant [crude HR=3.53 (95% CI 0.92-13.53)]. Circumferential margin positivity was significantly associated with a higher rate of systemic recurrence [crude HR=3.59 (95% CI 1.38-9.3)]. Our results demonstrate inferior outcomes in those undergoing taTME-APR compared with taTME-LAR. The use of this technique for this particular indication needs to be carefully considered.

Prognostic Impact of Upfront Surgery for Locally Advanced Upper Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced upper rectal adenocarcinoma (LAURC) is debated. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes between LAURC and locally advanced sigmoid and recto-sigmoid junction cancer (LASC). This retrospective study included 149 consecutive patients [42 CRT/LAURC, 16 upfront surgery (US/LAURC) and 91 LASC]. Partial mesorectum excision (PME) was performed for all LAURC. Pathology results as well as short-and-long-term outcomes were compared between the three groups. Overall mortality was nil. Morbidity was comparable (CRT/LAURC 23.8% vs. LASC: 20.8% vs. US/LAURC: 37.5%, p=0.2354). CRT was associated with a reduced risk of positive circumferential margin (CRT/LAURC: 9.5% vs. US/LAURC: 18.7%, p<0.0001). Recurrence rate, 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between the three groups. CRT and PME did not improve LAURC oncological outcomes but were associated with improved margins. CRT for LAURC was not associated with increased morbidity.

Type of recurrence is associated with disease-free survival after salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

To compare the characteristics and outcomes of rectal cancer patients with local recurrence at a perianastomotic site (PA), a surgical field (SF) site, or in lateral lymph nodes (LLN). A total of 114 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for recurrent, non-metastatic rectal cancer at a single comprehensive cancer center between 1997 and 2012 were grouped on the basis of radiographic assessment of type of recurrence: PA, 76 (67%) patients; SF, 25 (22%) patients; LLN, 13 (11%) patients. Demographic, clinical, and pathological features were compared between the three groups, as were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Recurrence type was associated with positive circumferential margin in the primary resection (PA, 4 [6%]; SF, 4 [19%]; LLN, 3 [25%]; P = 0.027), prior neoadjuvant therapy for the primary tumor (PA, 57 [75%]; SF, 18 [72%]; LLN, 4 [31%]; P = 0.007), and location of the primary tumor in the upper rectum (PA, 33 [45%]; SF, 5 [23%]; LLN, 1 [8%]; P < 0.001). Patients with PA had longer median DFS (PA, 5.1years; SF, 1.5years; LLN, 1.2years; P = 0.036). There was a non-significant trend toward longer OS and higher rates of R0 resection for PA. Type of recurrence after salvage surgery for locally recurrent rectal cancer is associated with longer DFS in patients with PA recurrence.

Association of Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision With Local Recurrence of Rectal Cancer

Proponents of novel transanal total mesorectal excision (TME) suggest the procedure overcomes the technical and oncologic challenges of conventional approaches for treating rectal cancer. Recently, however, there has been controversy regarding the oncologic safety of the procedure. To assess the association of transanal TME with the incidence of local recurrence (LR) of cancer and the probability of remaining free of LR during follow-up. This multicenter cohort study used data from 8 high-volume rectal cancer academic institutions from across Canada on all consecutive patients with primary rectal cancer treated by transanal TME at the participating centers. The study was conducted between January 2014 and December 2018, and data were analyzed from April 1, 2020, to September 15, 2020. Transanal TME. The incidence of LR was reported as a direct measure of quality of resection. The cumulative probability of LR- and systemic recurrence (SR)-free survival at 36 months was estimated. Local recurrence and SR were defined as radiologic or endoscopic evidence of 1 or more new lesions in or outside the pelvis, respectively, documented during surveillance after the removal of the primary tumor. Of 608 total patients included in the analysis, 423 (69.6%) were male; the median age was 63 years (interquartile range [IQR], 54-70 years). Local recurrence was identified in 22 patients (3.6%) after a median follow-up of 27 months (IQR, 18-38 months). The median time to LR was 13 months (IQR, 9-19 months). Sixteen of the 22 patients with LR (72.7%) were male, 14 (63.6%) received neoadjuvant chemoradiation, and 12 (54.5%) had American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III disease. Of those with LR, 16 (72.7%) had a negative circumferential radial margin and 20 (90.9%) had a negative distal resection margin, 2 (9.1%) experienced conversion to open surgery, and 15 (68.2%) also developed SR. The probability of LR-free survival at 36 months was 96% (95% CI, 94%-98%). According to the Cox proportional hazards regression model, the hazard ratio of LR was estimated to be 4.2 (95% CI, 2.9-6.2) times higher among patients with a positive circumferential radial margin than among those with a negative circumferential radial margin. In this cohort study, transanal TME performed by experienced surgeons was associated with an incidence of LR and SR that is in line with the published literature on open and laparoscopic TME, suggesting that transanal TME may be an acceptable approach for management of rectal cancer.

Transanal total mesorectal excision outcomes for advanced rectal cancer in a complex surgical population.

Total mesorectal excision (TME) is the gold standard for oncologic resection in low and mid rectal cancers. However, abdominal approaches to TME can be hampered by poor visibility, inadequate retraction, and distal margin delineation. Transanal TME (taTME) is a promising hybrid technique that was developed to mitigate the difficulties of operating in the low pelvis and to optimize the circumferential resection and distal margins. The objective of this study was to characterize our experience implementing taTME at our institution in a technically challenging patient population. We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent taTMEs between November 2013 and May 2019 for rectal cancer at a tertiary community cancer center. Outcome measures included pathologic grading of TME specimen, post-operative complications, and oncologic outcomes. Forty-four patients with mid and low rectal cancer underwent low anterior resection via taTME. The most common staging modality was rectal MRI which demonstrated T3 or T4 tumors in 89% of our patients prior to neoadjuvant. Eighty-six percent of patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The initial cases were performed sequentially as a single team, but we later transitioned to a synchronous, two-team approach. Ninety-one percent of TME grades were complete or near complete. Only one patient (2.3%) had a positive circumferential margin. Six patients developed anastomotic leaks with an overall anastomotic complication rate of 18.2%. Two patients (4.5%) with primary rectal cancer developed local recurrence, one of which developed multifocal local recurrence. Using the taTME approach on selected locally advanced low rectal cancers, especially in technically complex irradiated and obese male patients, has yielded comparably safe and effective outcomes to laparoscopic proctectomy.

Extralevator abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancer: oncological outcome after five-year follow-up

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Extralevator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) is a surgical technique that is indicated for low rectal cancer where sphincter preservation is not possible. Compared to conventional abdominoperineal excision major advantages of ELAPE are the risk reduction of intraoperative bowel perforation and positive circumferential margin which lead to a better oncological outcome. The aim of this study was to present our results in ELAPE surgery METHODS: From February 2011 to February 2015, 40 patients underwent surgery for low rectal cancer at the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina. The collected data included sex, age, preoperative staging, neoadjuvant treatment, operative time, rate of intraoperative bowel perforation, rate of positive circumferential resection margins, histopathological analysis, postoperative mortality, tumour, node and metastasis (TNM) classification, local recurrence (LR) rate and presence of distant metastases RESULTS: Positive circumferential margin was found in three (7.5%) patients while eight (20%) patients had intraoperative bowel perforation. LR during follow-up was seen in seven (17.5%) patients, three of them had intraoperative bowel perforation and two patients had positive circumferential margin. The estimated five-year cumulative incidence of LR is 7%. Distant metastases occurred in 18 (45%) patients. The estimated five-year survival rate is 62% CONCLUSION: The study shows satisfactory five-year survival rates of 62% in a highly complex patient group treated by ELAPE procedure Keywords: rectal cancer, extralevator abdominoperineal excision, local recurrence, overall survival