Rectal Cancer In Terms Research Articles

Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: Toward Standardization of the Surgical Technique.

Laparoscopic surgery is widely used for rectal cancer; however, this technique is challenging due to tapering of the mesorectum in the pelvis, and the forward angle of the distal rectum, which renders this part of the rectum less accessible from the abdominal cavity. Hence, concerns regarding its safety and curability have been raised, particularly for inadequate distal and circumferential resection margins. Recently, transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME), which involves endoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) retrogradely from the anal side, has attracted attention worldwide as a solution to these problems. TaTME is superior to the conventional laparoscopic approach for rectal cancer in terms of both oncological and functional preservations. However, a shallow learning curve caused by the unfamiliar anatomical view from the anal side can pose challenges. Therefore, an efficient educational system needs to be established. Randomized controlled trials comparing conventional laparoscopic TME with TaTME are ongoing to demonstrate the usefulness of TaTME. This article reviews changes in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer, with a focus on TaTME, and describes the indications, surgical techniques, and training curricula for TaTME.

Ghost Ileostomy Versus Loop Ileostomy Following Oncologic Resection for Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this study was to compare ghost ileostomy (GI) and loop ileostomy (LI) in patients undergoing oncologic resection for rectal cancer in terms of postoperative morbidity. LIs are often fashioned to protect downstream anastomoses following oncologic resection for low rectal cancer at medium-to-high risk of anastomotic leak. More recently, GIs have been utilized in patients with low-to-medium risk anastomoses to reduce the rate of unnecessary stomas. Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL were systematically searched. Studies investigating the use of GI in patients undergoing oncologic resection for rectal cancer were included. The primary outcomes were anastomotic leak and postoperative morbidity. Secondary outcomes included stoma-related complications and length of stay (LOS). Pairwise meta-analyses were performed with inverse variance random effects. From 242 citations, 14 studies with 946 patients were included. In comparative studies, 359 patients were undergoing GI and 266 patients were undergoing LI. Pairwise meta-analysis revealed no differences in the prevalence of anastomotic leak (OR 1.40, 95%CI .73-2.68, P = .31), morbidity (OR .76, 95%CI .44-1.30, P = .32), or LOS (SMD -.05, 95%CI -.33-.23, P = .72). International Study Group of Rectal Cancer anastomotic leak grades were as follows: Grade A (GI 0% vs LI 13.3%), Grade B (GI 80.9% vs LI 86.7%), Grade C (GI 19.1% vs LI 0%). GI appears to be a safe alternative to LI following oncologic resection for rectal cancer. Larger, prospective comparative studies are warranted to evaluate the use of GI in patients deemed to be at low-to-medium risk of anastomotic leak.

Short-term outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted versus open surgery for low rectal cancer (LASRE): A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.

3516 Background: The efficacy of laparoscopic versus open surgery for low rectal cancer has not yet been established. We aimed to evaluate whether laparoscopic surgery is non-inferior to open surgery for low rectal cancer in terms of oncologic outcomes. Methods: LASRE trial (NCT01899547) is a multicenter, noninferiority, randomized controlled trial being conducted in 22 tertiary hospitals across China. Patients with low rectal cancer and without evidence of pelvic lateral lymph nodes or distant metastasis were randomly assigned (2:1) to laparoscopic or open surgery. The primary outcome was 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included pathological outcomes, 30-day postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, overall survival (OS), and quality of life. The target sample size was 1065 patients. The short-term pathological, surgical, and postoperative recovery outcomes, analyzed in a modified intention-to-treat population (mITT). Results: Between November 12, 2013, and June 6, 2018, 1070 patients were randomized into laparoscopic (n = 712) or open surgery (n = 358) groups; 1039 were included in the mITT analysis (685 in laparoscopic and 354 in open group). Seventeen patients (2.5%) in the laparoscopic group required conversion to open surgery. There were no significant between-group differences in the rates of complete mesorectal excision (85.3% vs. 85.8%; p = 0.777), negative circumferential resection margins (98.2% vs. 99.7%; p = 0.085), negative distal resection margins (99.4% vs. 100%; p = 0.362), and numbers of retrieved lymph nodes (13.0 vs. 12.0; p = 0.394). The laparoscopic surgery group exhibited a shorter time to first flatus (40.4 vs. 44.8 hours; p = 0.006), time to first defecation (61.2 vs. 66.3 hours; p = 0.031), duration of analgesic use (45.0 vs. 48.0 hours; p = 0.001), and duration of hospitalization (8.0 vs. 9.0 days; p = 0.008) compared to the open surgery group. The postoperative complication rates were 13.0% and 17.2% in the laparoscopic and open surgery groups, respectively (p = 0.065). There was no incidence of 30-day mortality. Conclusions: In patients with low rectal cancer, laparoscopic surgery performed by experienced surgeons can provide pathological outcomes comparable with those of open surgery in terms of complete mesorectal excision and negative resection margins, rapid postoperative recovery, and fewer postoperative complications. Clinical trial information: NCT01899547.

Induction chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin followed by chemoradiotherapy before surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer

BackgroundLocally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has a high incidence of local and distant relapse even after adequate treatment. The emerging role of neoadjuvant induction chemotherapy may allow initial down staging of the primary tumor, less toxicity and early treatment of micrometastatic disease followed by chemoradiation with the hope of increased complete response rates before surgery ObjectivesTo identify the effect of induction chemotherapy before concurrent chemoradiation (CCRTH) in locally advanced rectal cancer in terms of response and toxicity. Primary end point is assessment of pathological complete response rate after surgery. Secondary end points are disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) after 3 years follow up. Patients and MethodsPatients with MRI based criteria for staging high-risk LARC (T4 tumors, tumors within 2 mm of mesorectal fascia, T3 tumors at or below levators and T2–4 with LN +ve tumors) were included. Thirty-five patients were recruited. Patients received 12 weeks of induction capecitabine/oxaliplatin followed by concomitant capecitabine and conventional 3D-conformal radiotherapy. Surgery was done at least 6 weeks later . ResultsFive patients (20.8%) had a pathological complete response (TRG 0) (ypT0N0). Another three patients (12.5%) had near complete pathological response (TRG 1). Regarding OS and pathological complete response corrlelation, it was statistically not significant in relation to patients with incomplete pathological response (p = 1). ConclusionInduction chemotherapy could be a promising option for better response rates either clinical or pathological for high risk LARC patients with acceptable toxicity.

Induction chemotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin followed by chemoradiotherapy before surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (A phase II study)

Abstract Background Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has a high incidence of local and distant relapse even after adequate treatment. The emerging role of neoadjuvant induction chemotherapy may allow initial down staging of the primary tumor, less toxicity profile and early treatment of micrometastatic disease followed by chemoradiation, and optimum local control may be attained, with the hope of increased complete response rates Objectives to identify the effect of induction chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine (CapeOx) before concurrent chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer in terms of response and toxicity. Primary end point is assessment of complete pathological response rate. Patient and Methods patients with MRI based criteria of high-risk LARC (T4 tumors, tumors within 2 mm of mesorectal fascia, T3 tumors at or below levators and T2-4N+ve tumors) were included. Patients received 12 weeks of induction capecitabine/oxaliplatin followed by concomitant capecitabine and conventional three dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Surgery was done at least 6 weeks after CCRTH. Results Thirty five patients with LARC were recruited during the period from December 2017 till January 2019. Five patients (20.8%) had a pathological complete response (TRG 0) (ypT0N0). Another three patients (12.5%) had near complete pathological response (TRG 1). While unfortunately 29.2% and 37.5% had partial response and poor response respectively. Conclusion Induction chemotherapy could be a promising option for better response rates either clinical or pathological for high risk LARC patients with acceptable toxicity profile.

Colonic J-pouch versus side-to-end anastomosis for rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundThis study aims to compare colonic J-pouch and side-to-end anastomosis for rectal cancer in terms of surgical and bowel functional outcomes and quality of life (QoL).MethodsA systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane. The last search was performed on March 28, 2021. All randomized controlled trials comparing colonic J-pouch with side-to-end anastomosis for rectal cancer were enrolled. The main outcomes were bowel functional outcomes and QoL. The secondary outcomes were surgical outcomes including operative time, postoperative hospital stay, complications, and mortality.ResultsNine articles incorporating 7 trials with a total of 696 patients (330 by J-pouch and 366 by side-to-end) were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The bowel functional outcomes were comparable between J-pouch and side-to-end groups in terms of stool frequency, urgency, and incomplete defecation at the short term (< 8 months), medium term (8–18 months), and long term (> 18 months) follow up evaluations. No difference was observed between groups with regards to QoL (SF-36: physical function, social function, and general health perception). Besides, surgical outcomes were also similar in two groups.ConclusionThe currently limited evidence suggests that colonic J-pouch and side-to-end anastomosis are comparable in terms of bowel functional outcomes, QoL, and surgical outcomes. Surgeons may choose either of the two techniques for anastomosis. A large sample randomized controlled study comparing colonic J-pouch and side-to-end anastomosis for rectal cancer is warranted.

Comparative study between ghost ileostomy and defunctioning ileostomy in terms of morbidity and cost-effectiveness in low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to compare ghost ileostomy (GI) and defunctioning ileostomy (DI) in patients who underwent low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer in terms of postoperative morbidity, rehospitalization rates, and total costs. Patients with an anastomosis level between 5 and 10 cm from the anal verge after LAR were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics, operative outcomes, postoperative morbidity, rehospitalization rates, and total costs were compared. A total of 123 patients were enrolled as follows: 42 patients in the GI group and 81 patients in the DI group. Anastomotic leakage (AL) was identified in three patients who underwent GI, and in all of them, GI was easily converted to DI. There were 96.3% of the patients with DI rehospitalized at least one time because of surgery-related and/or stoma-related complications or stoma closure. When we did not take into account the patients who were rehospitalized for stoma closure, the rates of rehospitalization were 4.7% and 22.2% in the GI and DI groups, respectively (P= 0.01). The mean total costs calculated by removing additional surgical procedures and adding all of the rehospitalization costs were 25,767 USD and 41,875 USD in the GI and DI groups, respectively (P= 0.0001). GI may be a safe and cost-effective method in patients who underwent LAR with low or medium risk factors for AL. It is possible to avoid unnecessary ileostomy and reduce unwanted outcomes due to it, such as postoperative complications, rehospitalizations, and increased total costs by performing GI.

Changes in surgical therapies for rectal cancer over the past 100 years: A review.

Advances in surgical and adjuvant therapies have resulted in a dramatic improvement in outcomes of rectal cancer in terms of both oncology and functional preservation. Surgery plays a central role in therapy as it is the only means of achieving a complete cure. These surgical advancements result from extensive pioneering research in the fields of anatomy and physiology. Much history lies behind the recent surgical breakthroughs of total mesorectal excision (TME) and intersphincteric resection (ISR). This article outlines the changes that have taken place in surgical therapies for rectal cancer over more than a century based on clinical trials performed to provide scientific evidence for these therapies.

Total Laparoscopic Approach for Rectal Cancer Resection—a Novel Technique and Review of the Literature

The role of minimal invasive surgery is well established. As regards rectal cancers particularly low lying rectal cancer studies are still going on for safety, feasibility and duplicability. A large prospective single-institutional study aims to assess the effectiveness of our technique of laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer in terms of oncological safety, complications and long-term prognosis. Between July 2006 and June 2016, 582 patients underwent laparoscopic LAR for rectal adenocarcinoma at our centre. Routine preoperative workup was done. Patients were evaluated for complications, graded and managed as per Clavien-Dindo classification. Survival probability analysis rate calculated using Kaplan Meier method. Total number of patients included in the study were 582 (375 men and 207 women) with the average age of 65 years. Tumours located in upper, middle and lower rectum were 132, 258 and 192 patients, respectively. A total of 33 patients received chemoradiation preoperatively and 450 received chemo+/-radiation postoperatively. Laparoscopic TME was done in 381 patients. Six out of 381patients underwent low anterior resection with hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis (CAA). Average operating time, blood loss and hospital stay were 124 min, 70 ml and 5 days, respectively. Average number of lymph nodes removed was 25.4 Overall complication rate was 20.8%, i.e. 121 out of 582 patients had complications. No conversion to conventional surgery was required. The most common postoperative complication was the anastomotic leak (grade II, IIIB and IV acc. to Clavien-Dindo classification); we had 71 leaks (13.4%).After a mean follow-up of 46 months (1–128 months), tumour recurrence occurred in 39 patients of 582. Overall recurrence rate was 6.7%. Overall cancer-related survival rate was 99.3, 96.7, 90.7, 90.7 and 87.7% at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and5th year, respectively. Five-year survival rate was 100% for stage I, 94.4% for stage II, 66.6% for stage III and 44.6% for stage IV. Laparoscopic TME technique is feasible and safe. With the development of improved technique, devices and expertise, laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer should be a standard method. Our results when compared with the other similar studies on laparoscopic low anterior resection clearly demonstrate that laparoscopic rectal resection with our technique is not associated with higher morbidity or mortality. Oncological and surgical principles were respected, and long-term outcomes compared with the previous literature and open surgery were comparable.

Comparison of young and elderly patients with rectal cancer in terms of prognostic factors and clinical features: A retrospective analysis

Aim: Rectal Carsinoma (RC) has considerable morbidity, mortality, and highly operational costs. RC is generally known as a disease of the elderly especially beyond the age of 50 years. Nevertheless, the incidence of RC in younger adults (aged ≤50 years) has been increasing widely. Our aim is to evaluate the clinical and histopathological features of the patients under and over 50 years with RC and their contribution to prognosis.Material and Methods: Patients with RC who were treated in our clinic included in the current retrospective designed study, and their data collected including demographics, clinical presentations, histopathological features, disease characteristics, treatment received or not, survival and outcomes. Their variables were compared statistically.Results: This study included 187 RC patients from our General Surgery Clinic. Median age at diagnosis was 62 years (min:26-max:88). Lack of perineural invasion significantly affected disease-free survival and overall survival in general (p 0.035-p 0.001). High grade of tumor variable was statistically significant in favor of ≤ 50 years group (p: 0.0082).Conclusion: RC in young-onset is related with poor prognostic factors such as aggressive histological features, high grade and stage tumors. Clinicians should pay more attention and interest to the symptoms and sings of the bowel in younger patients and should not hesitate to perform screening tests such as blood test, or especially rectosigmoidoscopy, etc to be initiate early diagnosis and further treatment.

Comparable regional therapeutic effects between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced lower rectal cancer in terms of histopathological analysis

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for lower rectal cancer is commonly used in many Western countries. NACRT improves local control, but it may also induce anal dysfunction, postoperative complications, and late effects associated with radiation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for lower rectal cancer has recently been employed to improve these problems, but the local control effect of NAC when compared with NACRT is controversial. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of NAC and NACRT using histopathological analysis. The subjects included 16 patients treated with NAC and 10 patients treated with NACRT prior to surgery. Pathological effects on primary lesions and lymph nodes were evaluated based on fibrosis and tumor depth prior to and following preoperative therapy. In the NAC and NACRT groups, the T downgrade rates were 87.5 and 80%, T depth/F depth ratios were 0.61 and 0.73, pathological T downgrade rates were 25 and 40%, pathological complete response rates were 12.5 and 0% for primary lesions and 33.3 and 37.5% for lymph nodes, and the N conversion rates were 80 and 37.5%. There were no significant differences between the groups. These results suggest that the pathological therapeutic effects of NAC were similar to those of NACRT, and NAC may be effective as an alternative therapy to NACRT.

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of preserving the left colic artery in laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer: A meta‑analysis

The aim of the present meta-analysis compared left colic artery (LCA) preservation with non-preservation in laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer in terms of feasibility, efficacy and safety. The PubMed, Ovid, Embase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data databases were searched prior to June 2017 for studies comparing LCA preservation and non-preservation in laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer. Two researchers screened the literature independently, extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias. The study was performed using RevMan 5.3 software for meta-analysis. A total of 10 studies comparing LCA preservation and non-preservation in laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer were selected for this meta-analysis, with a combined study population of 1,471 patients. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that, when comparing LCA preservation with non-preservation in laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of operative time (P<0.01), estimated blood loss (P<0.01), percentage of neostomy (P<0.01), the number of retrieved lymph nodes (P<0.01), time to first postoperative exhaust (P<0.01) and amount of anastomotic leakage (P<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in postoperative hospital stay (P=0.28), incidence of recurrence (P=0.73) and incidence of metastasis (P=0.52). Therefore, compared with LCA non-preservation, patients in whom the LCA was preserved during laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer had a better prognosis. However, there was no difference in recurrence or metastasis between the two groups. Although the operative time and estimated blood loss were increased with LCA preservation, these may be reduced with improving proficiency of the operating surgeons. The conclusions of the present study require verification by larger samples and high-quality randomized controlled trials.

The Role of Concomitant Radiation Boost in Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

This study analyzed the impact of concomitant boost on long-term clinical outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer. A total of 141 patients (median age=61 years) were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Median total dose was 50.4 Gy. Forty-three patients received a concomitant boost. Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), given as a 24-h continuous infusion. Mean follow-up was 83.7 months. The 3, 5-, and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 91.9%, 84.6%, and 52.9%, respectively. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 91.4%, 88.9%, and 79.3%, respectively. Metastasis-free survival (MFS) rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 84.6%, 75.4%, and 49.9%, respectively. Overall, 9.9% of all patients achieved pathological complete response. Down-staging of T- or N-stage was achieved in 55.1% and 41.5% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex (p=0.011), concomitant boost-radiotherapy (p=0.014), and the presence of fewer than five positive lymph nodes (p<0.001) were positive predictors of OS. Fewer than five positive lymph nodes was also a positive predictor for RFS (p=0.019). Female gender (p=0.018) and fewer than five positive lymph nodes (p<0.001) were significant predictors for MFS. Our data support the efficacy of preoperative treatment for rectal cancer in terms of local outcomes. Intensified radiotherapy using a concomitant boost has a positive effect on OS.

High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy in the Management of Operable Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review

To evaluate the role of high-dose-rate endorectal brachytherapy (HDREBT) in the preoperative and definitive management of operable rectal cancer in terms of clinical outcomes and toxicities using a systematic review. A review of published articles from January 1990 to December 2016 was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases using the search terms "rectal" or "rectum" in combination with "brachytherapy," "high dose rate," "HDR," and "endorectal." Additional publications were identified by scanning references. Only studies published in English reporting clinical outcomes with ≥30 patients treated with HDREBT were included. The search identified 1688 articles, of which 22 met our inclusion criteria. Twelve studies were included in this systematic review. Following preoperative HDREBT with chemoradiation therapy (CRT), the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate ranged between 18% and 31% (weighted mean rate, 22.2%); R0 resection rate, between 80% and 99% (weighted mean rate, 95.5%); and sphincter-preservation rate, between 29% and 54% (weighted mean rate, 46.4%). The weighted mean 2-year progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 68.1% and 81.5%, respectively. After preoperative HDREBT alone, the pCR rate ranged between 10.4% and 27% (weighted mean rate, 23.8%), the R0 rate was 96.5% (1 study), and the sphincter-preservation rate ranged between 53.8% and 75.8% (weighted mean rate, 59.4%). The weighted mean 5-year progression-free survival and OS rates were 66.6% and 70.8%, respectively. There was only 1 study of HDREBT for nonsurgical management of rectal cancer, which reported a 2-year OS rate of 100%. Preoperative HDREBT either alone or in combination with CRT may result in a better pCR but may not necessarily translate into better survival, which is similar to outcomes seen following preoperative CRT alone. There were significant variations across studies in terms of patient selection, treatment approaches, and evaluation of clinical outcomes, suggesting the need for an international consensus on the dosimetric parameters and techniques of HDREBT, timing and methods of response assessment, definitions and assessment of toxicities, and optimal timing of surgery before further prospective studies. Future studies should include evaluation of the role of HDREBT in the nonsurgical curative treatment of screen-detected early cancers and organ preservation in lower rectal cancers.

Delayed versus immediate surgery following short-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy in resectable (T3N0/N+) rectal cancer.

Preoperative short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) followed by surgery has shown advantage over surgery alone in patients with resectable rectal carcinoma (RC); however, the importance of the timing of surgery after SCRT has not been well defined. This study aimed to investigate the effect of this duration on treatment outcomes. Patients who underwent surgery after SCRT (25Gy/500cGy/daily/5fr, monday-friday) for resectable and infraperitoneal rectal adenocarcinoma (T3N0/(+)) were included into the study. Patients were divided into two groups in terms of the timing of surgery: delayed surgery (>4weeks) or immediate surgery (<4weeks). A hundred and thirty-six patients were included in the study. Median time between RT and surgery was 4 ± 5.7 (1-58)weeks, where 68% (n = 93) patients underwent delayed surgery (≥4weeks). The two groups did not differ in terms of surgical margin positivity, pathological tumor regression, N downstaging, or T downstaging (p > 0.05 for all). However, the number of positive lymph nodes was higher in the immediate surgery group [median 3 (0-18) vs. 1 (0-17), p = 0.009]. Median follow-up time was 36 ± 9 (6-93)months. Delayed surgery group had significantly longer mean overall survival (p = 0.038); however, the two groups did not differ in terms of local recurrence, mean time to local recurrence, or mean disease-free survival. Our findings seem to support the benefit of a longer time interval between radiotherapy and surgery after short-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy in resectable rectal cancer in terms of overall survival. However, there is a need to better define patient characteristics that might benefit from delayed surgery.

Modified transverse coloplasty pouch: new reconstruction techniques after total mesorectal excision. Our experience.

The incidence of rectal cancer continues to rise. The functional results after complete Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) depend on the segment of colon used for reconstruction of colonic continuity and the form, the volume and the functional proprieties of the "neorectum". The aim of our study is evaluate the efficacy of our Modified Transverse Coloplasty Pouch (MTCP) after the treatment of low rectal cancer in terms of functional outcomes and quality of life. The study included 136 patients, underwent TME from January 2007 to December 2016 with diagnosis of extraperitoneal carcinoma of the rectum. The average distance of the tumor from the dentate line was 5.6 cm. Our follow-up protocol included functional outcome evaluation at 7th post-operative day (POD), 2nd month, and 6th month after the surgery. All patients (M/F 84/52) underwent anterior rectal resection (TME) with MTCP. Frequency of bowel movements per 24 hours in the studied patients compared at 7th POD, 2 months, and 6 months. Since the first post-operative weeks there is an encouraging reduction of the frequency of bowel movements. Modified Transverse Coloplasty Pouch (MTCP) had better functional results and quality of life compared to patients with a Colonic J Pouch (CJP) and traditional Transverse Coloplasty Pouch (TCP).

Comparison of Oncologic Short Term Results of Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery of Rectal Cancer

Background: Today, with improvements in laparoscopy technique, surgery of rectal cancer is performed by laparoscopy. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate oncologic results of open versus laparoscopic surgery of rectal cancer in terms of resection margins, removal of lymph nodes and recurrence rate. Patients and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 88 patients with middle and lower rectal cancer in the two equivalent groups of laparoscopic and open surgery in Mashhad Ghaem and Omid hospitals during 2011 - 2013. Information including age, sex, number of removed and involved lymph nodes, proximal, distal, and radial margins, tumor stage and location, recurrence and disease-free survival collected in the questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution tables and t-test. Results: Both groups of open and laparoscopic surgery had similar characteristics of age, sex, recurrence and disease-free survival, tumor margins and one-year mortality. The number of removed and involved lymph nodes was higher in the laparoscopic group (5.16 vs. 3.55, respectively, with P < 0.050, and 1.74 vs. 0.59 with P = 0.023), but the ratio of involved lymph nodes to the total number of removed lymph nodes was not different between the two groups (LNR) (P = 0.071). Tumor stage was higher in the laparoscopic group and most were in stages II and III (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery is an effective technique for safe margin and removing lymph nodes in rectal cancer.

Is Low-Dose-Rate Endorectal Brachytherapy a New Treatment Method for Locally Advanced Distal Rectal Cancer?

See Article on Page 123-130 In the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer, preoperative chemoradiotherapy improved the rate of local recurrence after surgery and anal sphincter preservation [1]. Because it resulted in down-staging of tumors and changes of histologic characteristics, it is now regarded as the standard treatment in the patients with stages II-III advanced rectal cancer [2]. Conventional preoperative chemoradiotherapy used a dose of 50.4 Gy with concurrent chemotherapy before surgery. However, there were concerns because of increased risks of radiation toxicity and morbidity after external beam irradiation. In these regards, the endocavitary brachytherapy technique was introduced to reduce radiation-related toxicity and to down-stage the primary resectable rectal cancer [3]. Endorectal brachytherapy has advantages because it can deliver a high dose of radiation around the tumor target and spare normal tissues such as small bowel, urinary bladder and skin. Vuong et al. [4] reported that a high dose rate of endorectal brachytherapy as preoperative chemoradiotherapy can reduce local recurrence with favorable toxicity compared with external mean radiotherapy. This article reported the phase-II clinical outcomes of low-dose-rate endorectal brachytherapy as a boost to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy compared with conventional preoperative chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer [5]. It was demonstrated that endorectal brachytherapy showed a more decreased rate of pathologic tumor size and tumor stage. In addition, there was a higher rate of pathologic complete response and acceptable toxicity after endorectal brachytherapy compared with concurrent neoadjuvant chemoradiatherapy only. Although this study evaluated only 34 patients as a phase-II clinical trial, the results are meaningful to suggest the efficacy and safety of low-dose rate endorectal brachytherapy for the treatment of locally advanced distal rectal cancer. However, according to a recent report for the long-term results of a randomized trial for brachytherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer, there were no benefits of 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival after brachytherapy in spite of increased pathologic tumor regression [6]. The results of this study might decrease justification of the use of brachytherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer in terms of oncologic outcomes. Moreover, brachytherapy is a complicated treatment procedure compared to conventional preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Without a doubt, the present study needs a further large-scale randomized phase III study to assure oncologic benefits compared to conventional chemoradiotherapy or high-dose-rate endorectal brachytherapy as a boost to conventional neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. However, in terms of dose reduction of brachytherapy in this study, I am looking forward to seeing not only oncologic outcomes but also better short-term clinical outcomes in the future investigation of the present study.

VATE: VAlidation of high TEchnology based on large database analysis by learning machine

SUMMARY The interaction between implementation of new technologies and different outcomes can allow a broad range of researches to be expanded. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the VAlidation of high TEchnology based on large database analysis by learning machine (VATE) project that aims to combine new technologies with outcomes related to rectal cancer in terms of tumor control and normal tissue sparing. Using automated computer bots and the knowledge for screening data it is possible to identify the factors that can mostly influence those outcomes. Population-based observational studies resulting from the linkage of different datasets will be conducted in order to develop predictive models that allow physicians to share decision with patients into a wider concept of tailored treatment.

A randomized pilot study on single-port versus conventional laparoscopic rectal surgery: effects on postoperative pain and the stress response to surgery.

Potential benefits of single-port laparoscopic surgery may include improved cosmetic results, less postoperative pain, surgical trauma and faster recovery. Results of randomized prospective studies with a focus on single-port rectal surgery have not yet been presented. The aim of the present study was to compare single-port and conventional laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in terms of short-term outcomes including postoperative pain and trauma-induced changes in certain bioactive substances. Patients with non-metastasized rectal cancer were prospectively randomized to single-port (n = 20) or conventional laparoscopic rectal surgery (n = 20). Postoperative pain was assessed at rest, at coughing and during mobilization, with a numeric pain ranking score and was recorded at 6 h after the operation and subsequently every morning daily for 4 days. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) were determined. Blood samples were collected preoperatively (baseline), and 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after skin incision. Pain scores were significantly reduced in the single-port group on postoperative days 2, 3 and 4 during coughing and mobilization. In addition, the patients in the single-port group suffered significantly less pain at rest at 6 h after surgery and on postoperative days 1, 3 and 4. The levels of the three markers increased significantly after surgery. The increase was similar between groups for plasma IL-6 and TIMP-1 at all time points, while the CRP levels were significantly lower in the single-port group at 6 (p < 0.001) and 24 h (p < 0.05) after skin incision. Abdominal incisions lengths were significantly shorter in the single-port group (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between groups in operating time and blood loss, morbidity or mortality rate. The short-term oncological outcome in the two groups was similar. Single-port rectal surgery may reduce postoperative pain. Although CRP levels were lower at some time points, results of the present randomized, pilot study suggest that the trauma-induced inflammatory response of single-port operations may be similar to the trauma-induced inflammatory response of conventional laparoscopic surgery.