Early Outcomes of Preoperative Short Course Radiotherapy With Simultaneous Integrated Boost and Response-adapted Chemotherapy for Advanced Rectal Cancer

Background and purpose

Limited evidence exists for dose escalation in neoadjuvant short course radiotherapy (SCRT) for rectal cancer. With enhanced imaging and radiotherapy techniques over the past decades along with the valuable endpoint of pathological complete response (pCR), we believe SCRT with simultaneous integrated boost could potentially provide deeper pathological responses and improve local control.

Methods and Materials

Between January 2020 and December 2022, locoregional-advanced rectal cancer patients that were treated with neoadjuvant SCRT with simultaneous integrated boost up to 5.5–6Gy per fraction with five daily fractions followed by response-adapted chemotherapy was retrospectively reviewed. The pCR rates, R0 resection rates, tumor downstaging, toxicities, and early pattern of recurrence are reported.

Results

Among the 76 patients, 67 (88%) were able to undergo curative intent surgery. R0 resection was achieved in 99% (n = 66) of patients with pCR rates of 28% (n = 19). Forty-six percent (n = 31) of patients had significant pathological downstaging (ypT2N0) and 55% (n = 37) of patients had both T and N downstaging. Most common grade 3 or above radiotherapy-related side-effects were proctitis, rectal pain, and dermatitis found in 5% (n = 4), 3% (n = 2) and 3% (n = 2) of patients, respectively. Grade 3 or above surgical complications were observed in 15% (n = 10) of patients. There were no treatment-related deaths. With a median follow-up of 27 months, only 6% (n = 4) had local recurrence after surgery.

Conclusions

Neoadjuvant short course radiotherapy with simultaneous boost for rectal cancer is feasible with no added toxicities. Patients who underwent surgery achieve a high R0 resection and pCR rates. Early data suggest low rates of locoregional recurrence. Further follow-up and research is needed to validate and optimize the dose, method, and schedule of dose escalation.