Long-term prognostic value of mesorectal grading after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Mesorectal grading was reported to be a valuable prognostic factor in rectal cancer surgery. Previous studies were retrospective, and had short follow-up. To assess the long-term influence of total mesorectal excision quality on disease recurrence in mid and low rectal cancer patients who received preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and postoperative chemotherapy. One hundred twenty-one patients with rectal cancer had either low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection. All patients received neoadjuvant CRT and postoperative chemotherapy. Main outcome measures included TNM staging, involvement of the circumferential resection margin (ICRM), mesorectal grading, local and systemic recurrences were recorded. Follow-up was done for at least 5 years or up to disease recurrence whatever comes first. Mean follow-up time was 59.4 months. Twenty-nine patients had abdominoperineal resection and 92 had low anterior resection. About 7.5% had positive CRM which was significantly correlated with mesorectal grading. Grade 3 mesorectal specimens were obtained in approximately 60% of patients, 27% had grade 2, and only 13% had grade 1 (poor) mesorectal specimens. Poorer mesorectal grading increased with APR and lower rectal tumors. Recurrences occurred in 20% of patients (40% in the first 2 years, 32% in the 3rd year, and 28% in the 4th and 5th years); factors affecting recurrence included lymphovascular invasion, ICRM, and N stage. Mesorectal grading was not a valuable prognostic factor for recurrence unless it resulted in ICRM. Recurrences occurred earlier with poorer mesorectal grade, yet this was not statistically significant. Mesorectal grading is a pathologic description that reflects the quality of surgery. However, in patients who received neoadjuvant CRT and postoperative chemotherapy, grading had no long-term prognostic value regarding recurrences unless it resulted in ICRM.

Madbouly KM ，Hussein AM ，Abdelzaher E 《-》

Factors that influence the adequacy of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

Jeyarajah S ，Sutton CD ，Miller AS ，Hemingway D ，Leicester Colorectal Specialist Group ... -  《Colorectal Disease》

Local excision of rectal cancer followed by radical surgery because of poor prognostic features does not compromise the long term oncologic outcome.

The outcome of patients undergoing full-thickness local excision (LE) of rectal cancers may be compromised if poor prognostic features are found in the LE specimen. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term results of radical surgery performed after LE because poor prognostic factors are identified. Patients with biopsy-proven rectal cancer who had undergone full-thickness LE followed by radical surgery because of a positive margin, T stage ≥3, lymphovascular invasion, poor differentiation or mucinous histology were identified from a prospective database. Their records were retrospectively reviewed and follow up was updated. Between 1995 and 2003, 17 patients underwent LE followed by radical surgery because of poor prognostic features. Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was given to 11 (65%) patients before radical surgery. Patients underwent radical surgery after a median of 14 (range: 0-40) weeks from LE. Nine underwent a low anterior resection and eight an abdominoperineal resection. At the time of radical surgery, residual disease was found in six (35%) patients (in lymph nodes in three; intramural in two; and both lymph nodes and intramural in one). Four of the patients with residual disease had undergone neoadjuvant therapy before radical surgery. The mean follow up was 110 (95% CI: 92-129) months. Recurrence-free survival at 10 years was 88%. There was no case of local recurrence, and two patients died of metastatic disease. In this series patients who underwent early radical surgery because of poor prognostic features found at LE had good overall and cancer-specific long-term survival. Even after neoadjuvant therapy, more than a third of patients had residual disease at the time of radical surgery. We therefore recommend radical surgery with neoadjuvant therapy when poor prognostic features are found at LE.

Gagliardi G ，Newton TR ，Bailey HR 《-》

Improved outcomes for rectal cancer in the era of preoperative chemoradiation and tailored mesorectal excision: a series of 338 consecutive cases.

Pacelli F ，Sanchez AM ，Covino M ，Tortorelli AP ，Bossola M ，Valentini V ，Gambacorta MA ，Doglietto GB ... -  《-》

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer: correlation with rectal cancer regression grade.

Wheeler JM ，Dodds E ，Warren BF ，Cunningham C ，George BD ，Jones AC ，Mortensen NJ ... -  《DISEASES OF THE COLON & RECTUM》