Background: The aim of this study is to determine the optimal indications for preoperative pelvic radiotherapy (RT) in patients with metastatic rectal cancer who underwent curative-intent surgical resection and/or ablation.
Methods: Between January 2000 and October 2019, 246 patients who met our inclusion criteria were enrolled. Preoperative RT was performed in 22 patients (8.9%). Lower margin below the peritoneal reflection (p < 0.001), mesorectal fascia (MRF) invasion (p = 0.02), and lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) involvement (p = 0.005) were more frequent in the preoperative RT group.
Results: During the median follow-up period of 13.3 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.0-36.3 months), local recurrence (LR) was identified in 60 patients (24.4%). It was the first site of recurrence in 45 of them (18.3%). Among them, three patients were in the preoperative RT group. On multivariable analysis, lower margin below the peritoneal reflection, MRF invasion, LPLN involvement, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level ≥ 10 ng/mL before treatment, and preoperative RT were significant prognostic factors for LR-free survival (LRFS). In the patient group without any risk factors, the 2-year LRFS rate was 94.9% without preoperative RT. In the patient group with one or more risk factors, the 2-year LRFS was 64.4% without and 95.2% with preoperative RT.
Conclusion: LR developed in about 25% of patients within 2 years. Preoperative RT should be considered, especially in patients with a risk factor for LR, including lower margin below the peritoneal reflection, MRF invasion, LPLN involvement, or CEA ≥ 10 ng/mL before treatment.
© 2022. Society of Surgical Oncology.