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Short-course versus long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer: preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial

  • Aghili, Mahdi (Radiation Oncology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Khalili, Nastaran (School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Khalili, Neda (School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Babaei, Mohammad (Radiation Oncology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Farhan, Farshid (Radiation Oncology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Haddad, Peiman (Radiation Oncology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Salarvand, Samaneh (Department of Anatomical and Clinical Pathology, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Keshvari, Amir (Colorectal Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Fazeli, Mohammad Sadegh (Colorectal Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Mohammadi, Negin (Radiation Oncology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Ghalehtaki, Reza (Radiation Oncology Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences)
  • Received : 2020.03.03
  • Accepted : 2020.05.12
  • Published : 2020.06.30

Abstract

Purpose: Colorectal cancer is becoming an increasing concern in the middle-aged population of Iran. This study aimed to compare the preliminary results of short-course and long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy treatment for rectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial we recruited patients with rectal adenocarcinoma located from 5 cm to 15 cm above the anal verge. Patients in group I (short-course) received three-dimensional conformational radiotherapy with a dose of 25 Gy/5 fractions in 1 week plus concurrent XELOX regimen (capecitabine 625 mg/㎡ from day 1-5 twice daily and oxaliplatin 50 mg/㎡ on day 1 once daily). Patients in group II (long-course) received a total dose of 50-50.4 Gy/25-28 fractions for 5 to 5.5 weeks plus capecitabine 825 mg/㎡ twice daily. Both groups underwent consolidation chemotherapy followed by delayed surgery at least 8 weeks after radiotherapy completion. The pathological response was assessed with tumor regression grade. Results: In this preliminary report on complications and pathological response, 66 patients were randomized into two study groups. Mean duration of radiotherapy in the group II (long-course) was 5 ± 1 days (range, 5 to 8 days) and 38 ± 6 days (range, 30 to 58 days). The median follow-up was 18 months. Pathological complete response was achieved in 32.3% and 23.1% of patients in the shortcourse and long-course groups, respectively (p = 0.558). Overall, acute grade 3 or higher treatment-related toxicities occurred in 24.2% and 22.2% of patients in group I and II, respectively (p = 0.551). No acute grade 4 or 5 adverse events were observed in either group except one grade 4 hematologic toxicity that was seen in group II. Within one month of surgery, no significant difference was seen regarding grade ≥3 postoperative complications (p = 0.333). Conclusion: For patients with rectal cancer located at least 5 cm above the anal verge, short-course radiotherapy with concurrent and consolidation chemotherapy and delayed surgery is not different in terms of acute toxicity, postoperative morbidity, complete resection, and pathological response compared to long-course chemoradiotherapy.

Keywords

References

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