Predictive factors of tumour response after neo-adjuvant chemo-radiation for locally advanced rectal cancer and correlation of these factors with survival

Purpose. - neo-adjuvant chemo-radiation followed by surgery is the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to correlate tumour response to survival and to identify predictive factors for tumour response after chemo-radiation. Patients and methods. - From 1998 to 2008, 168 patients with histologically-proven locally advanced adenocarcinoma treated by preoperative chemo-radiation before total meso-rectal excision were retrospectively studied. They received a radiation dose of 45 Gy with a concomitant 5-fluoro-uracil-based chemotherapy. Analysis of tumour response was based on the lowering of T stage between pre-treatment endorectal ultrasound and pathologic specimens. Overall and progression-free survival was correlated with tumour response. Tumour response was analysed with predictive factors. (authors)