Symptomatic Rectal Cancer Research Articles

Palliative short-course radiotherapy (RAPASH study) in patients with rectal cancer.

Palliative radiation therapy (RT) is used to treat symptomatic rectal cancer although clinical benefits and toxicities are poorly documented. There is no consensus about the optimal RT regimen and clinical practice undergoes significant changes. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of short-course (SC) RT in this setting of patients. Charts from patients with locally advanced disease not candidates for standard treatment or with symptomatic metastatic rectal cancer treated with SCRT (25 Gy/5 fractions in 5 consecutive days) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcome measures were symptomatic response rate and toxicity. From January 2007 to December 2017, 59 patients (median age 80 years) received SCRT; 53 were evaluable. The median follow-up was 8 months (range, 1-70). Clinical response to RT for bleeding, pain and tenesmus was 100%, 95% and 89%, respectively. The compliance with the treatment was 100% and no patient experienced acute severe (≥ grade 3) toxicities. Median time to symptoms recurrence was 11 months (range 3-69). Globally, the median overall survival was 12 months. SCRT is a safe and effective regimen in symptomatic rectal cancer and may be considered the regimen of choice for standard treatment in unfit patients.

SP1.2.8Are screen detected rectal cancers truely asymptomatic?

Abstract Aims Patients with rectal cancers would be expected to be symptomatic and present to GP and be referred to tertiary care for investigations. Nevertheless nearly 15% of rectal cancers are screen detected. This study compared the presentation, demographics, staging of screen detected rectal cancer (SDRC) and symptomatic rectal cancer (SRC). Methods The national bowel cancer-screening database, the Somerset Cancer Register, the Great North Record, hospital electronic patient record and Sunquest ICE system was used to gather clinical information. All rectal cancers diagnosed between 2014 and 2019 were included. Results There were 379 SRC and 54 SDRC. The SRC had an average of 1.07 GP visits per patient (range 1-4) and SDRC had an average of 0.27 GP visits per patient (range 0-7) (p < 0.001). Screen detected patients presented to their GP with diarrhoea, change of bowel habit and bleeding whereas symptomatic patients presented with tenesmus, bleeding and change of bowel habit in that order respectively. Screening cancers were more likely to present as T1 or T2 compared to the symptomatic group (p = 0.023). Conclusion Screen detected rectal cancer patients presented less frequently to their GP. Those who presented had a different symptom profile to symptomatic cancers. This would explain these patients not seeking advice or the GP not referring them to hospital. Is it the morphological differences of the cancers or is it that the patients in screening group have a different personality trait that prevents them consulting their GP. These questions need investigating in future studies.

Efficacy of palliative radiation therapy for symptomatic rectal cancer

99 patients with symptomatic locally advanced rectal cancer who were treated with palliative radiation alone were reviewed. Dose-fractionation ranged from 18 to 54Gy. Response rate ranged from 62.5 to 86.7%, with a median response duration ranging 4.2–5.4months. Median survival was 6.9months. Using a BED cut-off of 39Gy10, no dose–response relationship was found.

Palliative pelvic radiotherapy for symptomatic rectal cancer – a prospective multicenter study

Background and purpose: Palliative pelvic radiotherapy (PPRT) is used to treat locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) although symptomatic effects and toxicities are poorly documented. Aims were to evaluate symptom severity, quality of life (QOL) and toxicity after PPRT.Material and methods: Fifty-one patients with symptomatic primary or recurrent RC prescribed PPRT with fractions of 3 Gy to 30–39 Gy were included. Primary outcome was severity of target symptoms (TS) 12 weeks after PPRT. Pelvic symptom burden, toxicity, and QOL were assessed. Response was defined as patient-reported TS improvement or resolution.Results: Pain (n = 24), rectal dysfunction (n = 16), and hematochezia (n = 9) were the most common TSs. Overall response rate among evaluable patients 12 weeks after PPRT was 28/33 (85%). Eighteen patients did not complete the study follow-up, 16 due to deteriorating health. TS responses were 10/13 (77%) for pain, 9/10 (90%) for rectal dysfunction, and 8/8 for hematochezia. Non-target pelvic symptom severity decreased and median QOL scores remained stable. There was no grade 4 toxicity. Median survival was nine months.Conclusions: In the majority of patients with symptomatic primary or recurrent RC, PPRT with 30–39 Gy contributes to pelvic symptom relief, with little toxicity. Patients prescribed PPRT of RC have limited life expectancy. Future studies should investigate simplification of PPRT.

Palliative Short-Course Radiation Therapy in Rectal Cancer: A Phase 2 Study

The management of patients with symptomatic rectal cancer not amenable to curative treatment may be challenging. The aim of this phase 2 study was to evaluate the efficacy of short-course radiation therapy in patients with obstructing rectal cancer. Patients who were not candidates for surgical resection because of synchronous metastases, age, and/or comorbidities were considered eligible. The sample size was calculated based on the 2-stage design of Simon. Short-course radiation therapy was delivered with an isocentric 4-field box technique (total, 25Gy; 5 fractions in 5days). Chemotherapy was suspended during radiation treatment. Clinical outcome measures were symptomatic response rate, toxicity, colostomy-free survival, and overall survival. From October 2003 to November 2012, 18 patients (median age, 77.5years) were enrolled. The median follow-up was 11.5months (range, 3-36months). Four weeks after treatment, a complete response (ie, complete symptom resolution) was observed in 38.9% of patients and a partial response in 50.0% cases, whereas 11.1% had no response.The rates of reduction or resolution of pain and bleeding were 87.5% and 100%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year colostomy-free survival rates were 100%, 71.4%, and 47.6%, respectively (median, 30months). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year cumulative overall survival rates were 85.2%, 53%, and 39.8%, respectively (median, 25months). No patients stopped treatment because of gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicities: 38.9% of patients had grade 1 to 2 toxicity, and 16.7% had grade 3 toxicity. Only 1 patient had hematologic grade 2 toxicity, and 2 patients had grade 2 skin toxicity. Short-course radiation therapy may represent a safe and effective alternative treatment option in patients with obstructing rectal cancer not eligible for curative treatment, allowing colostomy to be avoided in a substantial proportion of patients.

Palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy instead of surgery in symptomatic rectal cancer with synchronous unresectable metastases: Final overall survival analysis of phase II study.

726 Background: A palliative surgery and chemotherapy is the standard of care in stage IV rectal cancer patients with pelvic symptoms. Recently we published primary results of the single-arm phase II study on combination of short-course radiation (5x5 Gy) with an oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy started after one-week rest (NCT01157806). The study met its primary end-point with only 17.5% (95% CI 13% to 22%) of patients (pts) who needed stoma throughout the observation and 67% (95% CI 58% to 76%) of pts having significant resolution of pelvic symptoms. Here we provide the long-term follow up data after median 60 months of observation. Methods: 40 consecutive patients with symptomatic rectal cancer with unresectable distant metastases were enrolled from September 2009 to February 2011. The time of treatment failure on chemotherapy (TTF3) was measured from the start of radiation to disease progression on fluoropiridine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan. All eligible patients were assessed for KRAS/NRAS status. Due to limitations in access to targeted agents none of patients were treated with anti-angiogenic agents and anti-EGFR treatment was restricted to third line. Results: Total 40 pts were assessed for pelvic symptoms, chemotherapy response and overall survival. In the group of patients with survival reaching over 2 years we have not observed any additional local complications which were treated surgically. The patients with total symptoms’ resolution after one month had significantly longer time-to-treatment failure (TTF3) than non-responders (median 22.5 vs 5 months, p < 0.05), while patients with minor local response had intermediate TTF3. The subgroup of patients who experienced clinical complete response of rectal tumor had a median TTF3 and overall survival reaching median 40 months. Conclusions: In the palliative setting short-course radiotherapy and early chemotherapy allowed for acceptable and durable local control. Metastatic rectal cancer patients with early symptomatic response of primary tumor had significantly better prognosis. Clinical trial information: NCT01157806.

Negative-balance isolated pelvic perfusion in patients with incurable symptomatic rectal cancer: results and drug dose correlation to adverse events

Drug leakage and lack of a drug-removal system have prevented clinical application of isolated pelvic perfusion (IPP). These barriers were overcome with negative-balance IPP (NIPP) in experimental pig models. Here, a phase 1 clinical study of NIPP was performed in patients with incurable symptomatic rectal cancer. To establish a safe regimen of high-dose regional chemotherapy with NIPP using cisplatin in patients with incurable rectal cancer. Between June 2004 and January 2007, NIPP therapy was performed for 23 patients (11 women, 12 men; mean age, 58 years). NIPP was routinely performed twice over a 4-week interval. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined using a 5 + 3 design, and cisplatin doses were escalated from 170 mg/m(2), with a fixed 5-fluorouracil dose of 1000 mg/m(2). The grade of adverse events (AEs) at the first and second sessions of NIPP therapy, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor response were evaluated. No DLTs were observed during the first session of NIPP. However, at the second session, two patients experienced the DLT of neuropathy after administration of 200 mg/m(2) cisplatin. Therefore, 190 mg/m(2) cisplatin was indicated as the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The plasma pelvic-to-systemic exposure ratio was 18.4 based on the maximum concentration and 19.0 based on the concentration-time curve. Solid tumor responses included complete response in two patients, partial response in five patients, stable disease in 15 patients, and progressive disease in one patient. NIPP may offer the safe delivery of high-dose regional chemotherapy (MTD of 190 mg/m(2) cisplatin) with negligible AEs and effective control of tumor growth in patients with incurable rectal cancer.

Palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy instead of surgery in symptomatic rectal cancer with synchronous unresectable metastases: a phase II study

BackgroundIn stage IV rectal cancer, palliative surgery is often carried out upfront. This study investigated whether the surgery can be avoided. Patients and methodsForty patients with symptomatic primary rectal adenocarcinoma and synchronous distant metastases deemed to be unresectable received 5 × 5 Gy irradiation and then oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Before treatment, 38% of patients had a near-obstructing lesion. The palliative effect was evaluated by questionnaires completed by the patients. ResultsThe median follow-up for living patients was 26 months (range 19–34). The median overall survival was 11.5 months. Eight patients (20%) required surgery during the course of their disease: seven patients required stoma creation and one had local excision. Thirty percent of patients had a complete resolution of pelvic symptoms during the whole course of the disease, and 35% had significant improvement. In the subgroup with a near-obstructing lesion, 23% of patients required stoma creation. In all patients, the probability of requiring palliative surgery at 2 years was 17.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 13% to 22%), and the probability of sustained good palliative effect after radiotherapy and chemotherapy was 67% (95% CI 58% to 76%). ConclusionShort-course radiotherapy and chemotherapy allowed most patients to avoid surgery, even those with a near-obstructing lesion. ClinicalTrialsThe trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: number NCT01157806.

Efficacy of Palliative Radiation Therapy in Symptomatic Rectal Cancer in the Modern Era

Modern Era DAVID CHIA, MBBS1,2, JIADE JAY LU, MD MBA1,2, CHENG NANG LEONG, FRANZCR1,2, LEA CHOUNG WONG, FRCR1,2, GABRIEL TAN, MBBS1,2, EN YUN LOY3, JEREMY TEY, FRANZCR1,2 1 Department of Radiation Oncology, National University Hospital, National Cancer Institute of Singapore, Singapore 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National Cancer Institute of Singapore, Singapore 3 Health Promotion Board, Singapore

Rectal cancer recurrence after prior resection and radiotherapy: palliation following additional surgery.

Patients with rectal cancer may develop local recurrence despite cancer resection plus treatment with high dose radiation therapy. In this report, symptomatic patients received benefit from repeat resection. The morbidity and mortality can be maintained at an acceptable level with meticulous dissections and consistent use of reconstructive procedures. The primary treatment of rectal carcinoma is surgical excision to remove the primary tumor and its draining lymphatic systems. Postoperative radiotherapy may be recommended if tumor has penetrated through the full thickness of the bowel wall, and where there is lymph node involvement. Despite such treatments, tumor may recur locally, producing symptoms relieved by palliative surgery. Between 1989 and 1995, twenty patients underwent 21 reoperations for locally recurrent rectal cancer. All patients previously had not only surgical resection but also radiotherapy as treatment. The clinical data available on these patients was critically evaluated. Eighty-nine dissections (4.5 per patient) and 39 reconstructive procedures (2.0 per patient) were required on these 20 patients to re-resect rectal cancer in an irradiated site. Major complications occurred in 4 of 21 reoperative procedures (19%). There were no mortalities. Palliative benefits from pain control (8 of 9 patients), resolution of uncontrolled hemorrhage (2 of 2 patients), resolution of pelvic sepsis (2 of 2 patients), and reversal of intestinal obstruction (2 of 2 patients) were clearly demonstrated. The median survival following repeat resection was 24 months. Surgical cure following reoperation for recurrent rectal cancer treated initially with resection radiotherapy was uncommon. However, the morbidity and mortality of the procedures were acceptable, the survival was extensive and the palliative effects were substantial. The results of treatment suggest that repeat resection combined with aggressive reconstruction, is an important part of the treatment of symptomatic rectal cancer patients who recur locally, after resection combined with radiation therapy.