Efficacy and Toxicity of Total Neoadjuvant Sandwich Treatment Via Short Course Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Stage II and III Rectal Cancer Patients
Several trials showed that total neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) in stage II/III rectal cancer patients had better outcomes when compared with standard neoadjuvant long-course radiotherapy (CRT). Recently, based on the RAPIDO and POLISH II trials a short course radiotherapy (SCRT)-including TNT strategy had better oncologic outcomes and comparable toxicities. Moreover, cost-effectively, an SCRT-including TNT strategy is more convenient than a CRT-based TNT approach. In addition, systemic chemotherapy is often used to treat occult or micrometastatic disease in intermediate and locally advanced rectal cancer. However, the timing of chemotherapy delivery remains a topic of debate. In this context, and since rapid access to radiotherapy treatment is limited, especially in developing countries, a TNT strategy whereby adjuvant chemotherapy is replaced by systemic chemotherapy delivered before and after SCRT according to a sandwich treatment can avoid delays in treatment start with equivalent outcomes.
• · Patients aged 18 years old till 70 years old.
‣ Pathologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma of low or mid rectum (less than 16 cm from the anal verge on endoscopy)
⁃ Stage II and stage III by imaging (T3 N any M0 or T1-2 N+ve M0) \[29\]; staged with MRI rectal protocol or EUS.
⁃ The disease was staged with CT imaging of chest, abdomen and pelvis pretreatment.
⁃ Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status= 0-2.
⁃ The following laboratory results are required: absolute neutrophilic count of 1.5 × 10⁹ cells per L or higher, platelet count of 100 × 10⁹ per L or higher, a clinically acceptable haemoglobin level, a creatinine level indicating renal clearance of 50 mL/min or higher, and bilirubin level below 2 mg/dL.
⁃ Written informed consent.