Randomized trial evaluates induction CAPOX before chemoradiotherapy, showing improved survival in high-risk patients, indicating treatment effectiveness.
Key Points
This research aims to assess the long-term outcomes of induction CAPOX as part of total neoadjuvant therapy for high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer.
Retrospective review of consecutive patients with MRI-defined high-risk non-metastatic rectal cancer from two cancer centers.
Patients received four cycles of induction CAPOX followed by long-course chemoradiotherapy and subsequent surgery or watch-and-wait based on response.
Progression-free survival and overall survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and prognostic factors were evaluated with Cox regression.
Five-year progression-free survival was 59.2% at Centre1 and 78% at Centre2.
Overall survival rates were 68.2% at Centre1 and 83% at Centre2.
Pathological complete response occurred in 12%, and clinical complete response in 33% of cases, with significant downstaging observed in 46.7% of tumors.