Can we increase the chance of sphincter saving surgery in rectal cancer with neoadjuvant treatments: lessons from a systematic review of recent randomized trials

Purpose: A common hypothesis is that neo-adjuvant treatment in rectal cancer, is able to increase sphincter saving surgery. This review studies data relevant to this question.

Study selection: A total of 17 randomized trials were analysed.

Results: Since 1976, the rate of sphincter saving surgery increased from 20% to 75%. In none of the 17 trials it was possible to demonstrate a significant benefit of the neo-adjuvant regimens on the rate of sphincter saving surgery. There was a reduction in the risk of 5-year local recurrence partly due to these neo-adjuvant treatments. These neo-adjuvant regimens had no significant impact on the overall 5-year survival.

Conclusions: None of the neo-adjuvant treatments tested was able to demonstrate an increase in the rate of sphincter saving surgery. The improvement in conservative surgery is mainly due to technical changes in surgery. Organ preservation after complete clinical response appears as an interesting hypothesis to test.