title: [Clinical and oncological results of the pathological complete response in rectal cancer after neoadjuvant treatment].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for rectal cancer in order to reduce local recurrence. Patients with a pathological complete response (PCR) have a better prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of PCR on the oncological outcomes in our patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with stage ii/iii rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and radical resection between 2007 and 2011 were identified from a prospective database, and grouped based on whether they achieved PCR or not (non-PCR). Clinical, histological and oncological outcome data were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 162 patients were included (62% men), with a mean age of 65 years. In terms of pre-operative TNM staging, 82 patients (50%) were T2, 75 (46%) were T3, and 5 (3%) were T4. Forty-two patients (25%) were N1, and 87 (53%) were N2. Low anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection were performed in 125 (77%) and 25 (15%) patients. Forty-three patients (26.5%) had postoperative morbidity. PCR was achieved in 19 patients (11.7%). After a median follow-up of 26 months, there are no recurrences in the PCR group, and in the non-PCR group, local recurrence was 1.4% (P=.78), and distant metastasis was 8.4% (P=.21). Overall survival (P=.39) and survival free of diseases (P=.23) were better in the PCR group, but the differences were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with pathological complete response have better oncological outcome.
authors: Unidad de Coloproctología, Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Girona Dr. J. Trueta, Gerona, España. acodinac.girona.ics@gencat.cat
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Codina Cazador
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Farres Coll
authors: Francesc
authors: F
authors: Olivet Pujol
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Martin Grillo
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Pujadas de Palol
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Gómez Romeu
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Julia Bergkvist
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Ortiz Duran
authors: Ester
authors: E
authors: Diez Gómez
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cáncer de recto; Oncological results; Pathological complete response; Rectal cancer; Respuesta patológica completa; Resultados oncológicos