Can pathological complete response in the primary tumour following pre-operative pelvic chemoradiotherapy for T3–T4 rectal cancer predict for sterilisation of pelvic lymph nodes, a low risk of local recurrence and the appropriateness of local excision?

The article focuses on a study which examined whether a pathological complete response in the primary tumor following pre-operative chemoradiation (CRT) for T3-T4 rectal cancer can predict a response within the perirectal lymph nodes, a low risk of local recurrence and the appropriateness of local excision. The characteristics, treatment details and outcome of patients undergoing preoperative CRT for rectal carcinomas considered unresectable between November 1993 and August 2003 were recorded. Patients were reassessed after completing CRT. Planned surgical resection was carried out after treatment. 68 patients did not proceed to surgery due to preoperative death, inoperable disease and patient refusal or concurrent medical problems.