Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly Patient: The Role of Neo-adjuvant Therapy.

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has a significant role in downstaging cancer. It improves the local control of the disease and can make conservative resection of rectal cancer possible.

METHODS

We enrolled 114 patients with subperitoneal rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradio-therapy and radical excision with total mesorectal excision (TME). The primary endpoint was oncological outcomes and the secondary endpoint was surgical outcomes.We evaluate the experience of a multidisciplinary team and the role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in integrated treatment of cancer of the subperitoneal rectum.

RESULTS

Surgical procedures performed were abdominal perineal resection in 4 cases (3.5%), anterior resection in 89 cases (78%), Hartmann's procedure in 5 cases (4.4%), and ultralow resection with coloanal anastomosis and diverting stoma in 16 patients (14%).Local recurrence occurred in 6 patients (5.2%), the overall survival was 71.9% at 5 years and disease-free survival was about 60%.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of pathological downstaging amounted to 58.8%, including cPR. The pathologic complete remission occurred in 8.8% of cases.The outcomes of neoadjuvant therapy can be achieved when this treatment is associated with correct surgical technique with TME and the prognosis is defined by an anatomopathological examination performed according to Quirke's protocol.