title: Clinical predictive factors of pathologic complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Predictive factors of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) are still not identified. The purpose of this study was to define them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from consecutive LARC patients treated between January 2008 and June 2014 at our Institution were included in the analysis. All patients were treated with a long course of nCRT. Demographics, initial diagnosis and tumor extension details, as well as treatment modalities characteristics were included in the univariate and logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 99 patients received nCRT, of whom 23 patients (23.2%) achieved pCR. Patients with and without pCR were similar in term of age, sex, comobidities, BMI and tumor characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that pre-treatment tumor size ≤ 5 cm was a significant predictor for pCR (p = 0.035), whereas clinical N stage only showed a positive trend (p = 0.084).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumor size at diagnosis could be used to predict pCR, and thus to individualize therapy in LARC patients management. Validation in other studies is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Felice
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musio
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Lisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Magnante
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bulzonetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Cello
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lucchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery "Pietro Valdoni", Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.|Spencer-Lorillard Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tombolini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012384:Rome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
keywords: athologic complete response; concomitant treatment; neoadjuvant; radiotherapy; rectal cancer