Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy Followed by Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery for T1-T2 Extraperitoneal Rectal Cancer

Study design: This is a single centre case series pilot study which oncologic results will be compared to historical data collected consisting of patients treated by anterior resection (AR) or total mesorectal excision (TME) with or without abdomino-perineal resection (APR) with no neoadjuvant radiotherapy.

Study population: Patients with T1sm2-3 and T2, N0, G1-G2, located between 2 and 12 cm from the anal verge, in a health condition that permits general anesthesia.

Interventions: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy at a dose of 25 Gy (5 Gy per day for 5 consecutive days) is administered to the patient. Within 10 days after the end of radiotherapy TEM will be performed.

Primary Endpoint: incidence of recurrence at 36 months

Primary outcome measure (for non-inferiority):

Local recurrence of neoplasia, defined as the presence of histologically proven neoplastic tissue in either visible recurrent lesions or in random biopsies, taken at surveillance endoscopies after the intervention strategy has been completed. Patients will undergo surveillance endoscopies at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months by an independent endoscopist. During each surveillance endoscopy local recurrence will objectively be defined by the Higaki criteria for recurrence: tumor appearing within a clear resection scar; tumors with convergent folds; and tumors nearby a clear resection scar (within 5 mm) (39). Targeted biopsies will be taken for histological confirmation; in case of an apparently healed normal scar without evidence of recurrence, biopsies will be taken from the basis and 3 from the edges of the scar to detect occult recurrent neoplasia.

Loco-regional recurrence will be investigated by MRI (CT when MRI contraindicated) which will be performed at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. Distant metastases will be investigated by standard follow-up according to local policy.

Additional outcome measures:

1. Complications: subdivided into procedural (during treatment) and delayed complications (after ending the procedure); and further subdivided into major (requiring additional surgery) and minor (requiring endoscopic or medical intervention) complications. During admission patients will be monitored for complications. The following standardized discharge criteria will be applied: normal intake of nutrition; normal mobility; absence of fever (<38°C); and stable hemoglobin level during 1 day (<1 mmol/L) in case of rectal blood loss. Two weeks after the intervention, a research fellow will contact the patient by telephone again and ask for occurred complications.
2. Generic and disease-specific health related quality of life will be measured at baseline, 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 and year follow-up by the SF-36, EORTC Q30, EORTC Q38 and Wexner score (for incontinence) questionnaires.
3. Measurement of anorectal functional outcome by anal manometry and rectal volumetry (barostat) before and 3 months after treatment.

Sample size: As a pilot study, sample size is not available

Economic evaluation: A cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analysis of neoadjuvant RT followed by TEM for extraperitoneal rectal cancer with respectively the costs per recurrence free patient and the cost per quality adjusted life year as primary outcome measures, compared to the historical series of patients who underwent surgery without neoadjuvant radiotherapy, will be performed.

Time schedule: 36 months for inclusion (June 1st 2011 - May 31st 2014), 36 months minimum follow-up.