Can multidisciplinary approach win the battle against metastatic rectal cancer?

Abstract

Introduction Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men and women worldwide. The contemporary multidisciplinary approach has decreased rates of local recurrence and improved outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer. We present a case of a primarily metastatic rectal cancer patient who underwent multidisciplinary planned treatment and showed complete response with now three years disease-free survival.

Case outline A 61-year-old female was diagnosed with a T4N2M1a rectal adenocarcinoma at the age of 58. She underwent six cycles of systemic chemotherapy capecitabine-oxaliplatin plus bevacizumab with partial response confirmed by diagnostic imaging procedures. According to multidisciplinary board decision, preoperative radiotherapy treatment was administered with concomitant capecitabine-based chemotherapy. A 50.4 Gy total dose was delivered with 1.8 Gy fraction dose. After concomitant chemoradiotherapy treatment, two more cycles of systemic chemotherapy capecitabine-oxaliplatin plus bevacizumab were administered. One month after completion of systemic chemotherapy, primary rectal cancer was operated with a complete response on histopathologic specimens. Six weeks following previous surgery, metastasectomy of lung deposits was performed; histopathology confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of colorectal origin. Three more cycles of postoperative chemotherapy capecitabine-oxaliplatin plus bevacizumab were administered.

Conclusion On regular follow-up, no evidence of disease was shown, with disease-free survival of three years. The treatment improved the patient’s quality of life.

Keywords: chemotherapy; radiotherapy; rectal cancer; stage IV; surgical treatment