Effect of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy with or without chemoradiation on bowel function in rectal cancer patients treated with total mesorectal excision Journal Article


Authors: Quezada-Diaz, F.; Jimenez-Rodriguez, R. M.; Pappou, E. P.; Smith, J. J.; Patil, S.; Wei, I.; Guillem, J. G.; Paty, P. B.; Nash, G. M.; Weiser, M. R.; Garcia-Aguilar, J.
Article Title: Effect of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy with or without chemoradiation on bowel function in rectal cancer patients treated with total mesorectal excision
Abstract: Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) impairs bowel function in patients with rectal cancer treated with total mesorectal excision (TME). The impact of other forms of neoadjuvant therapy such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone (NC) and induction chemotherapy followed by CRT (total neoadjuvant therapy or TNT) on postoperative bowel function has not been investigated. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 176 rectal cancer patients treated between November 1, 2011, and August 31, 2017. All patients completed the MSKCC Bowel Function Instrument (BFI), a validated bowel function questionnaire, at least 6 months after TME and/or ileostomy reversal. Differences in BFI scores were compared across four groups (surgery alone, CRT, NC, and TNT) and also according to exposure to neoadjuvant RT and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A multivariable linear regression model was used to evaluate the independent relationship between exposure to neoadjuvant RT or chemotherapy and BFI. Results: BFI total scores were significantly different between the four groups (p = 0.008). Exposure to RT correlated with worse BFI total scores (p = 0.002), and no differences were found in BFI total score after exposure to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.92). In a linear regression model, only exposure to RT (β = − 5.1; 95% CI − 8.9 to − 1.3; p = 0.008) and tumor distance from the anal verge (β = 1.23; 95% CI 0.48 to 1.97; p = 0.001) were significantly correlated with BFI total score. Conclusion: NC, whether administered alone or added to CRT, does not seem to impair bowel function. These data should be used to counsel rectal cancer patients when discussing neoadjuvant therapy options. © 2018, The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.
Keywords: neoadjuvant therapy; patient-reported outcomes; induction chemotherapy; rectal neoplasm; total neoadjuvant therapy
Journal Title: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Volume: 23
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1091-255X
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2019-04-01
Start Page: 800
End Page: 807
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s11605-018-4003-7
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6430650
PUBMED: 30350191
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Sujata Patil
    511 Patil
  2. Philip B Paty
    496 Paty
  3. Jose Guillem
    414 Guillem
  4. Martin R Weiser
    532 Weiser
  5. Garrett Nash
    261 Nash
  6. Jesse Joshua Smith
    217 Smith
  7. Emmanouil Pappou
    89 Pappou
  8. Iris Hsin - chu Wei
    64 Wei
  9. Felipe Quezada
    19 Quezada