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Histological tumour response to pre‐operative combined modality therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer
Author(s) -
Morgan M. J.,
Koorey D. J.,
Painter D.,
Findlay M.,
Tran K.,
Stevens G.,
Solomon M. J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
colorectal disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.029
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1463-1318
pISSN - 1462-8910
DOI - 10.1046/j.1463-1318.2002.00330.x
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , grading (engineering) , radiation therapy , biopsy , radiology , cancer , nuclear medicine , civil engineering , engineering
Background Pre‐operative combined modality therapy (CMT) is used in locally advanced rectal cancer. Its use affects the clinicopathological staging based on the resected specimen. Assessment of the tumour response in the resected specimen may provide prognostic information. This study was undertaken to determine the histological response to pre‐operative chemoradiation and to assess the interobserver reliability of a newly developed tumour response grading system for rectal cancer. Methods Pre‐operative biopsy specimens and the resected specimens of 21 patients with low rectal cancer were assessed. The patients underwent pre‐operative CMT consisting of radiotherapy (45 Gy) with 5‐FU either as a continuous infusion or as a bolus intravenous infusion with leucovorin. After four to six weeks tumour response was assessed by comparing pre‐operative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) findings (uT1‐4, uN0‐1) with postoperative histopathological assessment (pT1‐4, pN0‐1) using UICC TNM characteristics. Tumour response was defined as a decrease in T status. The histological response to CMT was based on the tumour regression grade (TRG) and ranged from fibrosis extending through the rectal wall with no residual cancer (TRG 1), to no evidence of tumour response (TRG 5). Inter‐observer reliability was assessed using weighted and unweighted kappa statistics. Results Local downstaging was demonstrated in 11/21 (52%) of patients. Three of 21 patients had a TRG 1 response. Thirteen of 21 (62%) patients had TRG 1–3 responses to CMT. There was no significant correlation between local downstaging and TRG. The interobserver correlation coefficient for assessment of TRG was 0.88 (unweighted kappa). Conclusions Local downstaging by pre‐operative CMT can be demonstrated if pre‐operative TRUS staging is compared to standard pathology staging in patients with rectal cancer. Local downstaging is not directly related to histologic response as assessed by TRG. Inter‐observer reporting of tumour regression grade (TRG) is reliable.