Neoadjuvant chemo-reirradiation followed by resection and intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy: outcomes of multimodality treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer

TL;DR

A treatment combining chemo-reirradiation, surgery, and IOERT for recurrent rectal cancer shows acceptable toxicity and good outcomes.

Contribution

This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a multimodal treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Findings

No grade 4 or 5 toxicities were observed in 40 patients.

Two-year overall survival was 75.7% and local re-recurrence-free survival was 37.2%.

Acute and late grade 3 toxicities were reported in 38% and 43% of patients, respectively.

Abstract

Chemo-reirradiation has emerged as a feasible neoadjuvant therapy to improve resectability in locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). However, its combination with surgery and intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOERT) raises concerns regarding cumulative toxicity. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate acute and late toxicity profiles, local control and survival outcomes, following this multimodal approach in our institution.

LRRC patients who underwent chemo-reirradiation and surgery with IOERT (median cumulative tumour dose of 113 Gy, α/β = 10 Gy) between September 2021 to December 2024 were retrospectively analysed. Acute and late treatment-related toxicities (CTCAE) were recorded in a prospectively maintained database. Secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and local re-recurrence-free survival (LRFS).

Among 40 patients, no grade 4 or 5 toxicities were observed. Acute cumulative treatment-related grade 3 toxicities occurred in 14/37 (38%) patients, predominantly consisting of erectile dysfunction (5/37, 14%), abscess formation (4/37, 11%) or peripheral neuropathy (2/37, 5%). Late grade 3 toxicities occurred in 13/30 (43%) patients, comprising mainly of erectile dysfunction (5/30, 17%), renal disorders (5/30, 17%) or peripheral neuropathy (2/30, 7%). After a median follow-up period of 21 months (IQR 12–32) after surgery, 2-year overall survival (OS) and local re-recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were 75.7% and 37.2%, respectively.

In previously irradiated LRRC patients, a multimodality approach combining chemo-reirradiation and extensive surgery with IOERT demonstrated acceptable treatment-related toxicities and favourable oncological outcomes for this high-risk population. Further research with longer follow-up is warranted to identify risk factors associated with treatment-related toxicity.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13014-025-02782-w.

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