title: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by local excision in clinical T2N0 rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether preoperative chemoradiotherapy (PCRT) followed by local excision (LE) is feasible approach in clinical T2N0 rectal cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who received PCRT and LE because of clinical T2 rectal cancer within 7 cm from anal verge between January 2006 and June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. LE was performed in case of a good clinical response after PCRT. Patients' characteristics, treatment record, tumor recurrence, and treatment-related complications were reviewed at a median follow-up of 49 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients received transanal excision or transanal minimally invasive surgery. Of 34 patients, 19 patients (55.9%) presented pathologic complete response (pCR). The 3-year local recurrence-free survival and disease free-survival were 100.0% and 97.1%, respectively. There was no recurrence among the patients with pCR. Except for 1 case of grade 4 enterovesical fistula, all other late complications were mild and self-limiting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCRT followed by an LE might be feasible as an alternative to total mesorectal excision in good responders with clinical T2N0 distal rectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Byung
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Sik
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Heung Moon
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Cheon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Neoadjuvant therapy; Radiotherapy; Rectal neoplasms; Transanal endoscopic microsugery