Wait-and-See Policy for Clinical Complete Responders After Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer

Kanani, Samir P. MD

Associate Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology, George Washington University; Radiation Oncology, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA
Dr. Kanani reports no financial relationships relevant to this field of study.

Clinical Oncology Alert 28(3):p 19-21, March 2012.

SYNOPSIS:

In a prospective trial conducted from 2004-2010, 21 patients (median age 65 years) with a clinical complete response after chemoradiotherapy were followed closely per a stringent wait-and-see policy consisting of MRI, endosopies, and CT scans. These patients were compared to 20 patients prospectively who underwent surgery and were found to have a pathologic complete response. Two-year disease-free survival was not statistically different among the two groups — 89% in the wait-and-see cohort and 93% in the surgery cohort. Two-year overall survival also was similar at 100% in the wait-and-see group and 91% in the immediate surgery group. Bowel function and incontinence were superior in the wait-and-see group.

SOURCE:

Maas M, et al. Wait-and-see policy for clinical complete responders after chemoradiation for rectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 2011;29:4633-4640.