Maxime J M van der Valk1, Corrie A M Marijnen2, Boudewijn van Etten3, Esmée A Dijkstra4, Denise E Hilling5, Elma Meershoek-Klein Kranenbarg5, Hein Putter6, Annet G H Roodvoets5, Renu R Bahadoer5, Tone Fokstuen7, Albert Jan Ten Tije8, Jaume Capdevila9, Mathijs P Hendriks10, Ibrahim Edhemovic11, Andrès M R Cervantes12, Derk Jan A de Groot4, Per J Nilsson13, Bengt Glimelius14, Cornelis J H van de Velde5, Geke A P Hospers15. 1. Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. Electronic address: mvandervalk@lumc.nl. 2. Department of Radiotherapy, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands; Department of Radiotherapy, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. 6. Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 8. Department of Medical Oncology, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands. 9. Department of Medical Oncology, Vall Hebron University Hospital, Vall Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO). Barcelona, Spain. 10. Department of Medical Oncology, Northwest Clinics, Alkmaar, The Netherlands. 11. Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Slovenia. 12. Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Spain. 13. Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 14. Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden. 15. Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: g.a.p.hospers@umcg.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is widely accepted as the standard of care for high-risk rectal cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy is advised in several international guidelines, although the survival benefit remains unclear and compliance is poor. The current multidisciplinary approach has led to major improvements in local control, yet the occurrence of distant metastases has not decreased accordingly. The combination of short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) and chemotherapy in the waiting period before surgery might have several benefits, including higher compliance, downstaging and better effect of systemic therapy. METHODS: This is an investigator-initiated, international multicentre randomized phase III trial. High-risk rectal cancer patients were randomized to SCRT followed by chemotherapy (6 cycles CAPOX or alternatively 9 cycles FOLFOX4) and subsequent surgery, or long-course radiotherapy (25-28 × 2-1.8 Gy) with concomitant capecitabine followed by surgery and optional postoperative chemotherapy (8 cycles CAPOX or 12 cycles FOLFOX4) according to local institutions' policy. The primary endpoint is time to disease-related treatment failure. Here, we report the compliance, toxicity and postoperative complications in both study groups. FINDINGS:Between June 2011 and June 2016, 920 patients were enrolled. Of these, 901 were evaluable (460 in the experimental arm and 441 in the standard arm). All patients in the experimental arm received 5 × 5 Gy radiotherapy, and 84% of all patients received at least 75% of the prescribed chemotherapy. In the standard arm, the compliance for CRT was 93% and 58% for postoperative chemotherapy. Toxicity ≥grade 3 occurred in 48% of patients in the experimental arm, compared to 25% of patients in the standard arm during preoperative treatment and 35% of patients during postoperative chemotherapy. No statistically significant differences in surgical procedures or postoperative complications were observed. INTERPRETATION: High compliance (84%) of preoperative systemic treatment could be achieved with the experimental approach. Although considerable toxicity was observed during preoperative therapy, this did not lead to differences in surgical procedures or postoperative complications. Longer follow-up time is needed to assess the primary endpoint and related outcomes.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is widely accepted as the standard of care for high-risk rectal cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy is advised in several international guidelines, although the survival benefit remains unclear and compliance is poor. The current multidisciplinary approach has led to major improvements in local control, yet the occurrence of distant metastases has not decreased accordingly. The combination of short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) and chemotherapy in the waiting period before surgery might have several benefits, including higher compliance, downstaging and better effect of systemic therapy. METHODS: This is an investigator-initiated, international multicentre randomized phase III trial. High-risk rectal cancerpatients were randomized to SCRT followed by chemotherapy (6 cycles CAPOX or alternatively 9 cycles FOLFOX4) and subsequent surgery, or long-course radiotherapy (25-28 × 2-1.8 Gy) with concomitant capecitabine followed by surgery and optional postoperative chemotherapy (8 cycles CAPOX or 12 cycles FOLFOX4) according to local institutions' policy. The primary endpoint is time to disease-related treatment failure. Here, we report the compliance, toxicity and postoperative complications in both study groups. FINDINGS: Between June 2011 and June 2016, 920 patients were enrolled. Of these, 901 were evaluable (460 in the experimental arm and 441 in the standard arm). All patients in the experimental arm received 5 × 5 Gy radiotherapy, and 84% of all patients received at least 75% of the prescribed chemotherapy. In the standard arm, the compliance for CRT was 93% and 58% for postoperative chemotherapy. Toxicity ≥grade 3 occurred in 48% of patients in the experimental arm, compared to 25% of patients in the standard arm during preoperative treatment and 35% of patients during postoperative chemotherapy. No statistically significant differences in surgical procedures or postoperative complications were observed. INTERPRETATION: High compliance (84%) of preoperative systemic treatment could be achieved with the experimental approach. Although considerable toxicity was observed during preoperative therapy, this did not lead to differences in surgical procedures or postoperative complications. Longer follow-up time is needed to assess the primary endpoint and related outcomes.
Authors: Jun Seok Park; Min Kyu Kang; Seung Ho Song; Gyu-Seog Choi; Soo Yeun Park; Hye Jin Kim; Jong Gwang Kim; Byung Woog Kang; Jin Ho Baek; Dong Won Baek; Jae-Chul Kim; Shin-Hyung Park; Seung Hyun Cho; An Na Seo Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2021-02-06 Impact factor: 2.571