title: Can we predict pathologic complete response before surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiation therapy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pathologic complete response has been proven to have oncological benefits for locally advanced rectal cancer treated with chemoradiation therapy. The aims of this study are to analyze and determine the factors to predict pathologic complete response for patients treated with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with biopsy-proven, locally advanced rectal cancer were treated neoadjuvantly followed by radical surgical resection. Tumors were re-assessed after completing chemoradiation, including pelvic magnetic resonance images, colonoscopic examination, and re-biopsy. The results of examination were compared with the final pathologic status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A retrospective chart review of 166 patients was conducted. Twenty-five patients (15.1%) had pathologic complete response after chemoradiation. The 5-year overall survival rates were better in the complete response group than the residual tumor group (91.1% vs. 70.8%; P = 0.047), and there were also significant differences in the 5-year disease-free survival rates between these two groups (91.1% vs. 70.2%; P = 0.027). The prediction rates for pathologic complete response by re-biopsy, magnetic resonance images, and colonoscopy were 21.4%, 33.3%, and 53.8%, respectively. In addition, when we further combine the results of colonoscopic findings and re-biopsy, the prediction rate for pathologic complete response reached 77.8% (P = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combining the results of the re-biopsy and post-treatment colonoscopic findings, we can achieve a good prediction rate for pathologic complete response. Post-treatment magnetic resonance images are not useful tools in predicting tumor clearance following chemoradiation.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Jen
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Jeng-Fong
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Cheng-Jeng
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Chun-Chao
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ching-Huei
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Sey-En
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chin-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Weu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ka-Wai
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Hung-Chia
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hung-Hua
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yu-Jia
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Po-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
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