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Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Chemoradiotherapy, and Laparoscopic Surgery with Selective Lateral Node Dissection for Poor-Risk Low Rectal Cancer

  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of induction modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) plus bevacizumab followed by S− 1-based chemoradiotherapy in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined poor-risk locally advanced low rectal cancer.

Patients and Methods

This was a prospective phase II trial at a single comprehensive cancer center. The primary endpoint was the pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Eligible patients had clinical stage II–III low rectal adenocarcinoma with any of the following MRI-defined poor-risk features: circumferential resection margin (CRM) ≤ 1 mm, cT4, positive lateral nodes, mesorectal N2 disease, and/or requiring abdominoperineal resection. Patients received six cycles of mFOLFOX6 with 5 mg/kg bevacizumab followed by oral S-1 (80 mg/m2/day on days 1–14 and 22–35) plus radiotherapy (50.4 Gy). Surgery was conducted through a laparoscopic approach. Lateral node dissection was selectively added when the patient had enlarged lateral nodes.

Results

A total of 43 patients were enrolled. Grade 3–4 adverse events occurred in nine patients during induction chemotherapy and in five patients during chemoradiotherapy. One patient declined surgery with a clinical complete response. Forty-two patients underwent surgery, and 16 had pCR [37.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 24.4–52.1%]. All underwent R0 resection without conversion, including combined resection of adjacent structures (n = 14) and lateral node dissection (n = 30). Clavien–Dindo grade 3–4 complications occurred in six patients (14.3%). With median follow-up of 52 months, six developed recurrences (lung n = 5, local n = 1; 3-year relapse-free survival 86.0%).

Conclusions

This study achieved a high pCR rate with favorable toxicity and postoperative complications in poor-risk locally advanced low rectal cancer. Multicenter study is warranted to evaluate this regimen.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by grants from the Japanese Foundation for Multidisciplinary Treatment of Cancer, Takeda Science Foundation, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

Funding

This research was funded in part by grants from the Japanese Foundation for Multidisciplinary Treatment of Cancer, Takeda Science Foundation, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report. The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the study and had the final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.

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Author notes

  1. Keiko Murofushi MD

    Present address: Department of Radiation Oncology and Proton Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Konishi MD, Yosuke Fukunaga MD, Satoshi Nagayama MD, Yoshiya Fujimoto MD, Takashi Akiyoshi MD, Toshiya Nagasaki MD & Masashi Ueno MD

  2. Department of Gastroenterological Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan

    Eiji Shinozaki MD, Mitsukuni Suenaga MD & Kensei Yamaguchi MD

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan

    Keiko Murofushi MD, Senzo Taguchi MD & Masahiko Oguchi MD

  4. Department of Gastroenterology, Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan

    Akiko Chino MD

  5. Department of Pathology, Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroshi Kawachi MD, Noriko Yamamoto MD & Yuichi Ishikawa MD

  6. Clinical Research Center, Cancer Institute Hospital of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan

    Naoki Ishizuka PhD

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Correspondence to Tsuyoshi Konishi MD.

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Konishi, T., Shinozaki, E., Murofushi, K. et al. Phase II Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Chemoradiotherapy, and Laparoscopic Surgery with Selective Lateral Node Dissection for Poor-Risk Low Rectal Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 26, 2507–2513 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-019-07342-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-019-07342-7

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