Abstract:
Purpose: Quality assurance of interdisciplinary treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer UICC stage II/III. Methods: Between 1989 and 1998 203 patients (66 woman, median age 62 years and 137 male patients, median age 58 years) with rectal cancer UICC stage II (n = 64) or stage III [n = 139) have been transferred from 30 surgical departments to the Department of Radiation Oncology at Tübingen University. Tumour location from linea dentata was <4cm and >=4cm in 101 patients each, 1x unknown. A low anterior resection was done in 97 of 203 patients. Postoperative radiotherapy was delivered with a median total dose of 55.8 Gy. Bolus 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy was given according to NCI-recommendation in 130 patients, with reduced dose or a reduced number of courses in 45 patients. Median follow up of living patients was 51 months.
Results: 5-years overall survival was 61%, disease free survival 51%, and 5-years loco-regional failure rate (LF) 9.4% (first event LF 1st), LF 1st without pT4- or R1-resected tumours was 7.7%, overall loco-regional failure rate was 22% (LRR). LF 1st was significantly improved in larger surgical centres: 8% LF 1st in surgical departments with >=20 transferred patients versus 19% LF 1st <5 transferred patients (multivariate p=0.02). In the univariable analysis significantly worse LRR was observed after abdomino-perineal resection, in tumours exhibiting lymphangiosis carcinomatosa, or in postoperative treatment without chemotherapy. The median time to LRR was 22 months. 63% of LRR were located in the pre-sacral space, 91% within the irradiation portals and 9% at the field margin. Overall survival after LRR was median 11 months.
Conclusions: The outcome of patients with advanced rectal cancer, UICC stage II/III, treated in experienced centres was comparable to the results reported from randomised phase III trials, like NSABP R02. However, the observed high loco-regional failure rate in small volume departments call for improvement with surgical quality assurance.