Bowel dysfunction (LARS) and quality of life after chemoradiotherapy and local excision versus total mesorectal excision in T2–T3ab, N0, M0 rectal cancer: the TAUTEM randomized clinical trial
Randomized trial compares long-term bowel function and quality of life in rectal cancer treatments, suggesting benefits of organ-preserving strategies.
Key Points
This trial aims to compare long-term bowel dysfunction and quality of life between chemoradiotherapy with local excision and total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer patients.
Compared chemoradiotherapy followed by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (CRT–TEM) and total mesorectal excision (TME) in T2–T3ab, N0, M0 rectal cancer
Long-term outcomes assessed using LARS score and EORTC QoL questionnaires at baseline and after treatment.
Global quality of life was higher after CRT–TEM (median 83.3) than TME (median 66.7; P = 0.02)
Permanent stoma rates were lower in CRT–TEM group (7.4%) compared to TME (28.4%)
Major LARS occurred less frequently in CRT–TEM group (7.7%) than TME group (36.4%; P = 0.001).