Clinical outcome of patients having neo-adjuvant therapy(NAT) for rectal cancer: a case control study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: From July i 999 we have employed NAT on a selective basis in the management of rectal cancer. OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of NAT in patients with rectal cancer in the short term. To study the effect of Neo Adjuvant Therapy for rectal carcinoma in the short term. METHODS: Two abdomino perineal resections and 24 anterior resections were done in the NAT group and 5 and 2 l in the no NAT group. There were 2 perioperative deaths in NAT group and one in the no NAT group (P 0.75). There were 7 Cancer related deaths in the NAT group and 6 in the no NAT group (P = l). The survival was 15 month (5 -45) for the NAT group and 16 (3 -54) for the non NAT group (P = I). There were no difference in the recurrences (2 vs 4 P ""0.67) metastasis (4 vs 4 P = 1) or complication (8 vs 2 p =0.08) abdomino perineal resections were performed in 2 patients in the NAT group and 5 in the no NAT group. Anterior resections were performed in 24 patients and 24 patients in NAT and no NAT groups. CONCLUSION: Overall there was no significant difference in the clinical out come between those given NAT and those not given.