Impact of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on Perioperative Morbidity in Combined Resection of Rectal Cancer and Liver Metastases

Background and objectives: Little is known about the relationship between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and perioperative morbidity for patients undergoing combined resection of rectal cancer and sLM. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of NAC on 30-day morbidity for patients who undergo combined resection of primary rectal cancer and sLM.

Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing combined resection of primary rectal cancer and sLM between 2016 and 2020 at participating NSQIP hospitals. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between NAC and 30-day morbidity rates.

Results: Among 878 patients who underwent combined resection of primary rectal cancer and sLM, 672 (76.54%) received NAC. There were no significant differences in the rates of 30-day overall morbidity between patients who received NAC and those who did not (37.65% vs. 37.68%, p = 0.95). On adjusted analysis, there was no association between receipt of NAC and rates of overall morbidity (adjusted OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.78-1.56, p = 0.95).

Conclusions: The receipt of NAC does not appear to be associated with increased perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing combined resection of primary rectal cancer and sLM.