Table 1.
Clinical and biological characteristics of locally advanced rectal cancer patients (n = 39) before and after treatment (radiochemotherapy) administered prior to surgery.
| Clinical Features | Pre-Treatment | Post-Treatment | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) * | 69 (39–88) | 69 (39–88) | NS |
| Gender Female Male |
11 (28%) 28 (72%) |
NA NA |
NA |
| Tumor Size (cm) * | 4 (1–5) | 1.92 (0–4) | 0.02 |
| Localization in the rectum Lower Medium Upper |
4 (10%) 20 (51%) 15 (39%) |
NA NA NA |
NA |
| TNM T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 |
0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (2%) 26 (67%) 12 (31%) |
5 (13%) 3 (8%) 14 (36%) 17 (43%) 0 (0%) |
<0.0001 |
| N0 N1 N2 |
8 (20%) 30 (77%) 1 (3%) |
27 (69%) 10 (26%) 2 (5%) |
<0.0001 |
| M0 M1 |
39 (100%) 0 (0%) |
38 (97%) 1 (3%) |
NS |
| Tumor stage Stage 0 Stage I Stage II Stage III Stage IV |
0 (0%) 1 (3%) 6 (15%) 32 (82%) 0 (0%) |
4 (10%) 15 (39%) 8 (20%) 11 (28%) 1 (3%) |
<0.0001 |
| Dworak regression grade G0 G1 G2 G3 G4 |
NA NA NA NA NA |
3 (8%) 13 (33%) 13 (33%) 5 (13%) 5 (13%) |
NA |
| Type of surgery APR AR |
NA NA |
13 (33%) 26 (67%) |
NA |
| Type of tumor resection R0 R1 R2 |
NA NA NA |
36 (92%) 1 (3%) 2 (5%) |
NA |
| CEA serum levels ≤5 ng/mL ≥5 ng/mL |
23 (59%) 16 (41%) |
34 (87%) 5 (13%) |
0.005 |
|
KRAS mutation Wild-type Mutated G12D G12V G13D |
26 (67%) 1 (3%) 3 (8%) 4 (10%) 5 (12%) |
NA NA NA NA NA |
NA |
| Local recurrence | NA | 2 (5%) | NA |
Results are expressed as number (percentage) of cases or, where indicated with *, as the median (range). Pre-treatment tumor size and TNM pre-treatment status were determined by image techniques; TNM post-treatment status was determined by histopathology after preoperative radiochemotherapy (RCT). The response was measured on the Dworak regression grading system: grade 0, no regression; grade 1, dominant tumor mass with obvious fibrosis and/or vasculopathy; grade 2, dominantly fibrotic changes with few tumor cells or groups of tumor cells; grade 3, very few tumor cells in fibrotic tissue, with or without mucous substance, and; grade 4, no tumor cells, only fibrotic mass (total regression or response). APR: abdominoperineal resection; AR: anterior resection. R0: distal and circumferential verges without tumor cells; R1: distal or circumferential verges with tumor cells; R2: distal and circumferential verges with tumor cells. CEA: carcinoembryonic antigen. NA: not applicable. NS: not statistically significant (p > 0.05).