ArticleHistopathology2025
The tumour-stroma ratio as predictive aid towards a biopsy-based treatment strategy in rectal carcinoma.
Article in Histopathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01558921 (Randomized Multicentre Phase III Study of Short Course Radiation Therapy Followed by Prolonged Pre-operative Chemotherapy and Surgery in Primary High Risk Rectal Cancer Compared to Standard Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery and Optional Adjuvant Chemotherapy.), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Randomized Multicentre Phase III Study of Short Course Radiation Therapy Followed by Prolonged Pre-operative Chemotherapy and Surgery in Primary High Risk Rectal Cancer Compared to Standard Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery and Optional Adjuvant Chemotherapy.
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2 citing papers in PubMed.
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12 authors.
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Abstract
aimsTumour-stroma ratio (TSR) scores of biopsy material in rectal carcinoma (RC) could aid a biomarker-based, upfront and personalised treatment strategy selection for RC patients. In a large retrospective, multicentre cohort, we aimed to validate the predictive value of biopsy-scored TSR on neoadjuvant therapy response, and secondarily, disease-free and overall survival (DFS, OS). METHODS AND
resultsScanned haematoxylin and eosin-stained RC biopsy slides were collected from Leiden University Medical Center (N = 116) and from the clinical PROCTOR-SCRIPT (N = 142) and RAPIDO (N = 271) trials. TSR was scored per protocol and categorised as stroma-low (≤ 50%) or stroma-high (> 50%). Major response was defined as tumour regression grade (TRG) 1 + 2 by Mandard, including pathological complete response. Ultimately, a large and varied cohort with 373 RC patients was established. Locally advanced RC was more often stroma-high (P < 0.001). We subsequently observed significantly lower major response rates in the stroma-high RC after a neoadjuvant treatment approach (hazard ratio = 0.63, 95% confidence interval = 0.41-0.99; P = 0.044). Despite correction for well-known risk factors in Cox hazard regression analysis, such as (y)pTNM substages or residual tumour status, the TSR had no singular significant influence on DFS nor OS in multivariate analysis (P = 0.438; P = 0.934, respectively).
conclusionsBiopsy-scored TSR can predict neoadjuvant therapy efficacy, as RC patients with stroma-high biopsies show less major response. However, patient survival is multifactorial, although response is an important predictor, influenced by TSR. Scoring TSR on RC biopsy material is a reliable histological parameter, implementation of which in treatment guidelines could improve upfront selection for a watch-and-wait strategy.
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