Preoperative intensity-modulated chemoradiation therapy with simultaneous integrated boost in rectal cancer: 2-year follow-up results of phase II study

Jasna But-Hadzic; Vaneja Velenik

doi:10.1515/raon-2018-0007

Abstract

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of experimental fractionation using intensity modulated radiation therapy with a simultaneous integrated boost (IMRT-SIB) to shorten the overall treatment time without dose escalation in preoperative radiochemotherapy of locally advanced rectal cancer.

Patients and methods

Between January 2014 and November 2015, a total of 51 patients with operable stage II-III rectal adenocarcinoma were treated. The preoperative treatment with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and a pelvic dose of 41.8 Gy and simultaneously delivered 46.2 Gy to T2/3 and 48.4 Gy to T4 tumour in 22 fractions, with standard concomitant capecitabine, was completed in 50 patients out of whom 47 were operated. The median follow-up was 35 months.

Results

The rate of acute toxicity G ≥ 3 was 2.4%. The total downstaging rate was 89% and radical resection was achieved in 98% of patients. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was observed in 25.5% of patients, with 2-year local control (LC), disease free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) of 100% for this patient group. An intention-to-treat analysis revealed pN to be a significant prognostic factor for DFS and OS (P = 0.005 and 0.030, respectively). LC for the entire group was 100%, and 2-year DFS and OS were 90% (95 % CI 98.4–81.6) and 92.2% (95% CI 99.6–84.7), respectively.

Conclusions

The experimental regime in this study resulted in a high rate of pCR with a low acute toxicity profile. Excellent early results translated into encouraging 2-year LC, DFS, and OS.

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