Anemia may influence the outcome of patients undergoing neo-adjuvant treatment of rectal cancer

Beradi, R. et al. (2006) Anemia may influence the outcome of patients undergoing neo-adjuvant treatment of rectal cancer. Annals of Oncology, 17(11), pp. 1661-1664. (doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdl285) (PMID:16968873)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

Background: We hypothesized that anemia could represent one of the major factors influencing the outcome of patients undergoing neo-adjuvant treatment of rectal cancer. Patients and methods: This analysis included all the consecutive patients who underwent neo-adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) before surgery for rectal cancer in three oncology/radiotherapy departments from June 1996 to December 2003. Results: Three hundred and seventeen patients were eligible for our analysis. Median age at diagnosis was 64 years (range 26–88 years); male/female ratio was 184/133. Two hundred and eighty-five patients (89.9%) were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, while 32/317 (10.1%) with mucinous adenocarcinoma. Neo-adjuvant treatments carried out were as follows: radiotherapy alone in 75/317 patients (23.7%), radiotherapy plus chemotherapy in 242/317 patients (76.3%). At univariate and multivariate analysis, only the hemoglobin (Hb) level (group 1: ≤12 g/dl versus group 2: >12 g/dl) resulted in a significant factor for disease-free survival. The role of the Hb level seemed to be confirmed further by the clinical downstaging obtained in ∼55% of patients in group 2, in comparison with 35% of the patients achieving a significant downstaging in group 1. Conclusion: Our results indicated that anemia could represent an important parameter able to influence the outcome in patients receiving neo-adjuvant treatment of rectal cancer.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Braconi, Professor Chiara
Authors: Beradi, R., Braconi, C., Mantello, G., Scartozzi, M., Del Prete, S., Luppi, G., Martinelli, R., Fumagalli, M., Valeri, G., Bearzi, I., Marmovale, C., Grillö-Ruggieri, F., and Cascinu, S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Annals of Oncology
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0923-7534
ISSN (Online):1569-8041
Published Online:12 September 2006

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record