Ann Surg Treat Res.  2018 Jun;94(6):306-311. 10.4174/astr.2018.94.6.306.

Additional 4-week capecitabine during the resting periods after 6-week neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: long-term oncologic outcomes

• Park SW
• Kim JS
• Kim JY
• Lee KH

• KMID: 2412400
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2018.94.6.306

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of additional 4-week chemotherapy with capecitabine during the resting periods following a 6-week neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) regimen, in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.
METHODS
Radiotherapy was delivered to the whole pelvis at a total dose of 50.4 Gy for 6 weeks. Oral capecitabine was administered at a dose of 825 mg/m2 twice daily for 10 weeks. Surgery was performed 2-4 weeks following the completion of chemotherapy.
RESULTS
Between January 2010 and September 2011, 41 patients completed the scheduled neoadjuvant therapy and surgery. The pathologic complete response rate, 5-year overall survival, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 22%, 85.4%, and 78.0%, respectively. The 5-year systemic recurrence and 5-year local recurrence rates were 22% and 0%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Additional 4-week chemotherapy with capecitabine, during the resting periods following a 6-week NCRT regimen, has favorable long-term oncologic outcomes. Further randomized controlled trials are however necessary to evaluate if substantial improvement in local control is achieved with this additional chemotherapy modality for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Keyword

Rectal neoplasms; Neoadjuvant therapy; Capecitabine; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Capecitabine*
Chemoradiotherapy*
Disease-Free Survival
Drug Therapy
Humans
Neoadjuvant Therapy
Pelvis
Prognosis
Radiotherapy
Rectal Neoplasms*
Recurrence
Capecitabine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Five-year overall survival rate (5Y OS).

• 

  Fig. 2 Five-year disease-free survival rate (5Y DFS).

• 

  Fig. 3 Five-year systemic recurrence rate (5Y SR).

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