Long-Term Oncological Outcomes for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients with Pathological Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Turkish Oncology Group Study

Uysal M., Saglam S., Beypınar İ., Saglam E. K., Mammadov E., Ocak B., ...More

Cancer Investigation, vol.44, no.2, pp.127-135, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 44 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/07357907.2025.2595536
  • Journal Name: Cancer Investigation
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Page Numbers: pp.127-135
  • Keywords: Disease-free survival, Local advanced rectal cancer, Local recurrence, Neoadjuvant chemoradiation, Overall survival, Pathological complete response, Surgical outcome
  • Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The goal of this study was to look at the long-term survival outcomes and clinical characteristics of stage II/III locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients who acquired pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT). The clinicopathological characteristics and treatment details of 277 LARC patients with pCR, relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and locoregional and systemic recurrence rates, were assessed. The 5-year RFS and OS rates were 85.6% and 90.9%. The rates of local and systemic recurrence were 3.6% and 7.9%. Our study confirmed the favorable results in survival in patients with LARC who achieved pCR.