In a nutshell
This study investigated the benefits of chemotherapy and short-course radiotherapy (SCR) followed by surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) with metastasis (spread to other parts of the body). Researchers suggested that this treatment approach is an effective and safe option for LARC patients with operable metastasis.
Some background
Long-course chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by rectal surgery is the standard treatment for LARC patients. An effective treatment for LARC patients with a distant metastasis that could be surgically removed is still to be determined. However, prior studies have suggested that chemotherapy and SCR followed by surgery may be an effective treatment strategy for these patients.
Methods & findings
The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of chemotherapy and SCR followed by surgery in patients with LARC and operable liver metastasis.
This study included information about 50 LARC patients with operable metastasis who underwent chemotherapy and SCR. 35 of these patients underwent surgery to remove both the primary and metastatic tumors. 6 patients underwent surgery only for the primary tumor. 9 patients did not have any surgery.
The average follow-up period was 22 months. The average progression-free survival (PFS; time from treatment to disease progression) was 16 months and the 2-year PFS rate was 34.8%. The clinical complete response rate (tumor disappearance) among surgery patients was 13.6%.
Factors such as number of metastases, pattern of distant metastasis, tumor status and a good main tumor response were good predictive factors of cancer outcomes.
Severe blood-related side effects were reported in 6% of the patients and severe diarrhea in 8% of the patients.
The bottom line
This study reported that chemotherapy and SCR followed by surgery is an efficient and safe treatment option for LARC patients with operable metastasis.
Published By :
PLOS ONE
Date :
Aug 18, 2016
