Age‐related differences in morbidity and mortality after surgery for primary clinical T4 and locally recurrent rectal cancer

Aim Outcomes in elderly patients (>= 75 years) with non-advanced colorectal cancer have improved. It is unclear whether this is also true for elderly patients with clinical T4 rectal cancer (cT4RC) or locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). We aimed to compare age-related differences in morbidity and mortality after curative treatment for cT4RC and LRRC.Methods All cT4RC and LRRC patients without distant metastasis who underwent curative surgery between 2005 and 2017 in the Catharina Hospital (Eindhoven, The Netherlands) were included. Morbidity and mortality were evaluated based on age (= 75 years) and date of surgery (2005-2011 and 2012-2017).Results Overall, 72 of 474 (15.2%) cT4RC and 53 of 293 (18.1%) LRRC patients were >= 75 years. No significant differences in the incidence of Clavien-Dindo I-IV complications were observed between age groups. However, in elderly cT4RC patients, cerebrovascular accidents occurred more frequently (4.2% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.03). Between 2005-2011 and 2012-2017, 30-day mortality improved from 7.5% to 3.1% and from 10.0% to 0.0% in elderly cT4RC and LRRC patients, respectively. The 1-year mortality during 2012-2017 was worse in elderly than in younger patients (28.1% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.001 for cT4RC and 27.3% vs. 13.8%, P = 0.06 for LRRC). In elderly cT4RC and LRRC patients, 44.4% and 46.2% died due to non-cancer-related causes, while only 27.8% and 23.1% died due to disease recurrence, respectively.Conclusion Although the 30-day mortality in elderly cT4RC and LRRC patients improved after curative treatment, the 1-year mortality in elderly patients continued to be high, which requires more awareness for the elderly after hospitalization

Functional Bowel Complaints and the Impact on Quality of Life After Colorectal Cancer Surgery in the Elderly

BackgroundThe Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) is commonly reported after colorectal cancer surgery and significantly impairs quality of life. The prevalence and impact of LARS in the elderly after rectal cancer as well as colon cancer surgery is unclear. We aimed to describe the prevalence of LARS complaints and the impact on quality of life in the elderly after colorectal cancer surgery. Materials and MethodsPatients were included from seven Dutch hospitals if they were at least one year after they underwent colorectal cancer surgery between 2008 and 2015. Functional bowel complaints were assessed by the LARS score. Quality of life was assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-CR29 questionnaires. Outcomes in patients >= 70 years were compared to a reference group of patients ResultsIn total 440 rectal cancer and 1183 colon cancer patients were eligible for analyses, of whom 133 (30.2%) rectal and 536 (45.3%) colon cancer patients were >= 70 years. Major LARS was reported by 40.6% of rectal cancer and 22.2% of colon cancer patients >= 70 years. In comparison, patients = 70 years was independently associated with reduced rates of major LARS after rectal cancer surgery (OR 0.63, p=0.04). Patients with major LARS reported significantly impaired quality of life on almost all domains. ConclusionElderly should not be withheld a restorative colorectal cancer resection based on age alone. However, a substantial part of the elderly colorectal cancer patients develops major LARS after surgery, which often severely impairs quality of life. Since elderly frequently consider quality of life and functional outcomes as one of the most important outcomes after treatment, major LARS and its impact on quality of life should be incorporated in the decision-making process

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy with Intra-Operative Radiotherapy for Patients with Locally Advanced or Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer and Peritoneal Metastases

Simple Summary Although relatively rare, locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer (LARC and LRRC) can metastasize. Patients whose advanced rectal cancer has metastasized to the peritoneum face a very poor prognosis. In selected patients, the prognosis might be improved by undergoing very intense treatment. This multimodality treatment, consisting of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), cytoreductive surgery, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC), is aimed at attaining a microscopic radical resection of the rectal tumor and its peritoneal metastases (PM), as this is the only option for long-term survival. The present study reports on 30 consecutive patients who have undergone this multimodality treatment. The results in terms of complications and survival are comparable to the results described in the literature on IORT and CRS-HIPEC as separate treatment entities. Thus, this multimodality treatment can be considered a treatment option for highly selected patients, provided that it is performed in a tertiary referral center. Purpose: To assess the safety and long-term outcome of a multimodality treatment consisting of radical surgery, intra-operative radiotherapy (IORT), and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) or locally recurrent rectal carcinoma (LRRC) and peritoneal metastases (PM). Methods: The present study was a single-center cohort study, including all consecutive patients undergoing this treatment in a tertiary referral center for LARC, LRRC, and PM. Postoperative complications, intensive care stay (ICU stay), and re-admission rates were assessed as well as disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 14 LARC and 16 LRRC patients with PM were included in the study. The median ICU stay was 1 day, and 57% of patients developed a severe postoperative complication. No 90-day mortality was observed. Median DFS was 10.0 months (Interquartile Range 7.1-38.7), and median OS was 31.0 months (Interquartile Range 15.9-144.3). Conclusions: As postoperative complications and survival were in line with treatments that are accepted for LARC or LRRC and PM as separate procedures, we conclude that combined treatment with IORT and CRS-HIPEC should be considered as a treatment option for selected patients with LARC or LRRC and peritoneal metastases in tertiary referral centers