Predictive factors for survival in neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer

Introduction Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by radical surgery is the standard approach in advanced rectal carcinoma. Tumor response is determined in histological specimen. Objective To assess predictive factors for survival in 115 patients. Patients and Method 115 patients treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by radical surgery with total mesorectal excision, in our hospital from January 2007 to December 2014. All patients received pelvic radiotherapy with concomitant chemotherapy, followed by radical surgery and in some adjuvant chemotherapy. Results In univariate analysis, distance to anal verge, radial margin, perineural invasion, and good grade regression are predictive factors for both, specific and disease free survival; and in multivariant, only radial margin and perineural invasion were predictive factors for survival. We found distance to anal verge (< 5 cm) as the only clinical factor to predict a positive margin in the histologic specimen. Conclusions Perineural invasion and positive radial margin are predictive factors for both specific and disease free survival.