Gagliardi G, Pucciarelli S, Asteria CR, Infantino A, Romano G, Cola B, De Nardi P, Brulatti M, Lambertini M, Contessini-Avesani E, Casula G, Coco C, D'Amico D, Selvaggi FF, Eccher C, D'Ambrosio G, Galeotti F, Jovine E, Demma I, Fianchini A, Ambrosino G, Casentino LM, Fiorino M. A nationwide audit... (original) (raw)
Related papers
A nationwide audit of the use of radiotherapy for rectal cancer in Italy
Techniques in Coloproctology, 2010
Background There is good evidence that radiotherapy is beneficial in advanced rectal cancer, but its application in Italy has not been investigated. Methods We conducted a nationwide survey among members of the Italian Society of Colo-Rectal Surgery (SICCR) on the use of radiation therapy for rectal cancer in the year 2005. Demographic, clinical and pathologic data were retrospectively collected with an online database. Italy was geographically divided into 3 regions: north, center and south which included the islands. Hospitals performing 30 or more surgeries per year were considered high volume. Factors related to radiotherapy delivery were identified with multivariate analysis. Results Of 108 centers, 44 (41%) responded to the audit. We collected data on 682 rectal cancer patients corresponding to 58% of rectal cancers operated by SICCR members in 2005. Radiotherapy was used in 307/682 (45.0%) patients. Preoperative radiotherapy was used in 236/682 (34.6%), postoperative radiotherapy in 71/682 (10.4%) cases and no radiotherapy in 375 (55.0%) cases. Of the 236 patients who underwent preoperative radiotherapy, only 24 (10.2%) received short-course radiotherapy, while 212 (89.8%) received long-course radiotherapy. Of the 339 stage II-III patients, 159 (47%) did not receive any radiotherapy. Radiotherapy was more frequently used in younger patients (P \ 0.0001), in patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection (APR) (P \ 0.01) and in the north and center of Italy (P \ 0.001). Preoperative radiotherapy was more frequently used in younger patients (P \ 0.001), in large volume centers (P \ 0.05), in patients undergoing APR (P \ 0.005) and in the north-center of Italy (P \ 0.05). Conclusion Our study first identified a treatment disparity among different geographic Italian regions. A more systematic audit is needed to confirm these results and plan adequate interventions.
La radiologia medica, 2019
Aim To conduct a survey among Sicilian centers of radiation oncology belonging to Associazione Italiana di Radioterapia ed Oncologia Clinica (AIRO), to record the different methods of integration of radio-chemotherapy both in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, to evaluate surgical procedures in relation to the sphincter preservation and to report the different toxicity profiles of the treatment strategies. Methods A questionnaire was sent at the end of 2017 to all the radiation oncology centers of Sicily region in order to collect the data from individual centers and the treatment characteristics retrospectively over the previous 5 years, from 2012 to 2016. The required data were collected from 13 centers out of 17 which, in relation to the single catchment areas, correspond to approximately 85% of the Sicilian population. The requested data concerned the type of integrated treatment (neoadjuvant vs adjuvant vs radical), combination with chemotherapy (induction, concomitant, adjuvant), type of surgical intervention (sphincter-saving vs abdomino-perineal resection), disease stage, schedule and radiotherapy technique adopted, as well as toxicity detected over the treatment period. Results A total of 784 pts (M/F: 509/275) were treated between 2012 and 2016, with a median age of 67 years (range 25-92). The majority of patients was treated in the neoadjuvant phase (62% of the total) compared to the adjuvant phase (31%) and to those treated radically (7%). Twenty-five percent of patients did not receive combination chemotherapy mainly for cardiovascular problems. Chemotherapy used concomitantly to radiotherapy was single-agent capecitabine (73% of patients) or 5-fluorouracil (27%). The use of chemotherapy alone before concomitant treatment is more common for patients treated in the adjuvant phase (64% of this subgroup), while 14% of patients treated in the neoadjuvant phase received induction chemotherapy before the concomitant phase; in both cases of chemotherapy alone, the majority of patients (91%) received oxaliplatin-based protocols (FOLFOX/XELOX/CAPOX). Few patients (3%) received chemotherapy alone after the concomitant phase. Information on the surgical treatment received is available for 88% of the sample. Of these, 93% received a surgical treatment. The overall rate of sphincter-saving surgery (anterior resection) was 72%, but the contribution of neoadjuvant treatment allowed to reach a rate of 83% in this subgroup (against 65% found in the subgroup of patients treated in adjuvant phase). Traditional radiotherapy schedule (45-50 Gy in 25-28 fractions) was used in 90% of patients, of which an intensified treatment in neoadjuvant phase (45 Gy + boost of 9-10 Gy) was used in 11% of patients. A short-course regimen (25 Gy in 5 fraction) in neoadjuvant setting was opted rarely (7%). Three-dimensional conformal technique was preferred over intensity-modulated ones (73% vs 27%). Toxicity was mainly of grade I-II CTCAE (skin 23%, gastrointestinal 39%, genitourinary 14%) compared to grade III (gastrointestinal 4%, genitourinary and hematological < 1%). Interestingly, the toxicity rates were significantly higher in the adjuvant group compared to the neoadjuvant (GI: 58% vs 31%, GU: 21% vs 10%). Extended author information available on the last page of the article La radiologia medica 1 3 Conclusion The present survey shows that in the Sicily region integrated therapies for rectal cancer have allowed a neoadjuvant approach in the majority of patients, thus resulting in a greater use of sphincter conservative surgery. The toxicity has also been reported to be significantly less in this treatment setting.
European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO), 2007
Introduction: After publication of the results of the Dutch TME-trial preoperative radiotherapy followed by TME-surgery was introduced in July 2001 in the region of the comprehensive cancer centre Rotterdam as standard treatment for rectal cancer. The aim of this study is to identify the compliance to a new standardized treatment protocol i.e. the introduction of preoperative radiotherapy and to analyze the results of rectal cancer treatment in the Cancer Centre Rotterdam Region. Patients and methods: A total of 521 patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum were included in the period from 2001 to 2003. All patients were treated with curative intent. Results: There was a significant increase of preoperative radiotherapy for patients with a tumour in the lower two-third of the rectum (21% versus 69%, p < 0.001). Peri-operative mortality rate was 2.7% and overall anastomotic leakage rate was 10.3%. There was a significant increase in the occurrence of anastomotic leakage in end-to-end anastomoses ( p < 0.0001). Most anastomotic leakages occurred when patients were operated in between 4 and 8 days after the end of radiotherapy. Several aspects such as continence for urine and faeces and sexual functions were poorly registered. The total number of lymph nodes registered in pathology reports was low. The rate of reported circumferential margins increased from 37% to 70% after feedback to the regional pathology working group. Conclusion: The regional quality of rectal cancer surgery is conform preset quality-demands. There was a significant increase in the percentage preoperative radiotherapy, but still about 25% of patients who qualified for radiotherapy did not receive radiation. Pathology reports improved during registration, which illustrates the importance of registration to assess and improve quality of rectal cancer treatment.
A trial of preoperative radiotherapy in the management of operable rectal cancer
British Journal of Surgery, 1982
In a multicentre study, 824 patients with operable rectal cancer were randomized to receive surgery alone, surgery plus a single fraction of 500 rad (5 Gy) and surgery plus 2000 rad (20 Gy) in 10 equal daily, i.e. multiple, fractions. The ratio of abdominoperineal excision to anterior restorative operations was 3:1. There was no evidence of an increased morbidity or mortality following irradiation. The multiple fraction 2000 rad group had tumours which were significantly smaller than those of the other groups. There was also a reduction in the Dukes' C cases in the multiple fraction group. Neither the tumour size nor the lymph node status was altered in the single fraction group.
Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2011
Purpose: To assess efficacy and tolerance of intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) in patients suffering from locally advanced rectal cancer, treated with preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgical resection. Methods and materials: In this French, multicenter, comparative, phase III study, 142 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (T3 or T4 or N+, and M0), treated with a 4-week preoperative radiotherapy (40 grays) were randomly assigned to either surgical resection alone (Control group: n = 69) or combined to 18-gray intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT group: n = 73) between 1993 and 2001. Results: The 5-year cumulative incidence of local control was 91.8% with IORT and 92.8% with surgery alone (p = 0.6018); the mean duration without local relapse (Kaplan-Meier method) was 107 versus 126 months, respectively. No statistically significant difference was demonstrated for overall survival (p = 0.2578) disease-free survival (p = 0.7808) and probability of metastatic relapse (p = 0.6037) with 5-year cumulative incidences of 69.8% versus 74.8%, 63.7% versus 63.1%, and 26.1% versus 30.2%, respectively. 48 patients of the IORT group and 53 patients of the control group were alive with a median follow-up of 60.1 and 61.2 months, respectively. Post-operative complications were observed in the IORT group in 21 patients (29.6%) and in the control group in 13 patients (19.1%) (p = 0.15), with an acceptable tolerance profile. Conclusions: Although this randomized study did not demonstrate any significant improvement in local control and disease-free survival in rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative radiation therapy receiving IORT or not, it confirmed the technical feasibility and the necessity for evaluating IORT for rectal carcinoma in further clinical studies.
Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, 2015
We previously found considerable variation in information provision on preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) in rectal cancer. Our aims were to reach consensus among patients and oncologists on which benefits/harms of PRT should be addressed during the consultation, and to assess congruence with daily clinical practice. A four-round Delphi-study was conducted with two expert panels: (1) 31 treated rectal cancer patients and (2) 35 radiation oncologists. Thirty-seven possible benefits/harms were shown. Participants indicated whether addressing the benefit/harm was (1) essential, (2) desired, (3) not necessary, or (4) to be avoided. Consensus was assumed when ⩾80% of the panel agreed. Results were compared to 81 audio-taped consultations. The panels reached consensus that six topics should be addressed in all patients (local control, survival, long term altered defecation pattern and faecal incontinence, perineal wound healing problems, advice to avoid pregnancy), three in male patients (er...
Preoperative Short-Course Radiotherapy and Surgery versus Surgery Alone for Patients with Rectal Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis at 18-Year Follow-Up, 2021
A significant problem for long-term rectal cancer survivors may be the late toxicity of radiotherapy. It creates the possible risk of developing second primary malignancy and a theoretical decrease in overall survival. This study aimed to assess the influence of short-course preoperative radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer on overall survival, local recurrence rate, and second malignancy at 18-year follow-up. The rectal cancer trial was conducted in a single tertiary center between February 1992 and June 2006. A total of 389 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (cT2-cT4, cN0/+, cM0) were included in the study. Preoperative radiotherapy was conducted in 148 patients and 241 patients underwent surgery alone. The propensity-matched group consisted of 105 patients operated on after radiotherapy and 105 controls. The number of local recurrences was 7 (6.7%) in the preoperative radiotherapy group and 22 (21%) in the surgery alone group (p = 0.016). The 18-year survival analysis showed no survival benefit in the preoperative radiotherapy group (38% versus 48%, p = 0.107) but improved recurrence-free survival (81% versus 58%, p = 0.001). The preoperative short-course radiotherapy significantly decreases the risk of local recurrence in locally advanced rectal cancer and may improve recurrence-free survival without an increased risk of second primary malignancy.
Preoperative Radiotherapy in Carcinoma Rectum
Indian Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2012
The present study was undertaken to address the various concerns that has limited the use of preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer in our institution. All patients diagnosed as having carcinoma rectum between August 2005 and July 2007 were included in the study. Group 1 patients consisted of those presenting with T2, T3 and T4 who received preoperative radiation of 25 Gy. Group 2 consisted of those with T4 tumours, who received Long course radiotherapy. Complication of radiation like dermatitis, enteritis and proctitis were noted. Before surgery CT scan and TRUS were repeated. In the postoperative period a record of abdominal, perineal wound complications and other complications were noted. The results were compared with a similar group of patients who did not receive preoperative radiotherapy. There were 21 patients (12males) with a mean age of 48.4 years (Range 18-70) in the radiotherapy group. Sixteen patients received short course (25 Gy) and five patients received long course of preoperative radiotherapy. Fourteen patients underwent definitive surgery in the form of abdominoperineal resection (APR) or anterior resection (AR). In the non-RT group there were 17 patients (8 males) with a mean age of 50.2 year. Fourteen patients underwent definitive surgery like APR (11) and AR (3). In the RT group CT scan and TRUS failed show any significant downsizing or down staging of tumour. In the RT group, incidence of acute skin toxicity was 23.8 % (5/21), all were seen in those who received long course of radiotherapy (Group 2). Grade 2 or 3 lower G I symptoms occurred in 3 (18.6 %) patients of Group 1 and 1(20 %) patient of group 2. There was higher incidence of perineal wound complication in the RT group (19.0 % vs 5.9 %). Preoperative long course of radiotherapy may be associated with high rates of dermatitis and perineal wound infection. Short course may be associated with lower G I toxicity.