Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40165151›Full record

ArticleBMC gastroenterology2025

Predictors of pathological complete response after total neoadjuvant treatment using short course radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Haythem Yacoub, Yosr Zenzri, Dhouha Cherif, Hajer Ben Mansour, Najla Attia, Cyrine Mokrani, Khadija Ben Zid, Feryel Letaief, Nadia Maamouri, Amel Mezlini

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Haythem YacoubGastroenterolgy department, La Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. yacoubhaythem@hotmail.com.
Yosr ZenzriOncology department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Dhouha CherifGastroenterolgy department, La Rabta Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Hajer Ben MansourOncology department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Najla AttiaRadiotherapy department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Cyrine MokraniRadiotherapy department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Khadija Ben ZidRadiotherapy department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Feryel LetaiefOncology department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Nadia MaamouriOncology department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.
Amel MezliniOncology department, Salah Azaiez Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTotal neoadjuvant treatment (TNT) has become a standard treatment approach for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Patients achieving pathological complete response (pCR) following TNT have better outcomes (overall survival, relapse free survival). However, not all patients treated for LARC with neoadjuvant treatment achieve pCR.

aimThe aim of our study was to assess the rate and predictors of pCR. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe performed a retrospective study at medical oncology unit in a tertiary care teaching hospital. All consecutive LARC patients without any evidence of distant metastasis who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery between June 2020 and January 2023 were included in the research. Pathological response to neoadjuvant treatment was assessed using Mandard grading system and response was categorized as pCR or not‑pCR. Two different standardized protocols for the neoadjuvant treatment were used: the first group was treated with induction chemotherapy followed by short course radiotherapy and the second group was treated with the RAPIDO protocol. Correlation between different studied parameters and pCR was determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

resultsThe mean age of the 91 included patients (46 men and 45 women) was 58.53 ± 10.3 years. Twenty (22%) were found to have a pCR (Mandard TRG1) in the operative specimen. In univariate analysis, patients less than 60 years, continuation of chemotherapy and patients treated with the induction chemotherapy followed by short course radiotherapy showed a better pCR as compared to patients treated with Rapido protocol (p = 0.043, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.021 respectively). Patients with mucinous component had low pCR rates (p = 0.021). On logistic regression analysis, chemotherapy continuation (OR = 10.27, 95% CI = 2,14-49.32), and absence of mucinous component (OR = 12.6, 95% CI = 3.1-40.32) were significant predictors of pCR. The median survival was 37.7 months.

conclusionMucinous component and chemotherapy interruption are associated with lower pCR rates. Integrating these factors into personalized treatment algorithms may help optimize therapeutic strategies and improve outcomes for patients with LARC.

Indexed as

Neoadjuvant TherapyRectal NeoplasmsAgedChemoradiotherapy, AdjuvantFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeChemotherapyLocally advanced rectal cancerPathological complete responseRadiotherapyTotal neoadjuvant treatment

Identifiers

PMID40165151
PMCPMC11956259

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