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Controversies in the Management of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Nodes in Patients With Advanced Rectal Cancer: East or West?

ABSTRACT: The presence of lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLN) in advanced rectal cancer entails challenges with ongoing debate regarding the role of prophylactic dissection vs. neoadjuvant radiation treatment. This article highlights the most recent data of both approaches: bilateral LPLN dissection in every patient with low rectal cancer (Rb) as per the Japanese guidelines, vs. the developing approach of neoadjuvant radiotherapy as per Eastern countries. In addition, we also accentuate the importance of a combined approach published by Sammour et al. where a simple "one-size-fits-all" strategy should be abandoned. Rectal cancer treatment is well-established in Western countries. Patients with advanced rectal cancer will undergo radiation ± chemo neoadjuvant therapy followed by TME. In the Dutch TME trial, TME plus radiotherapy showed that the presacral area was the most frequent site of recurrence and not the lateral pelvic wall. Supporting this data, the Swedish study also concluded that LPLN metastasis is not an important cause of local recurrence in patients with low rectal cancer. Therefore, Western approach is CRM-orientated and prophylactic LPLN dissection is not performed routinely as the NCCN guideline does not recommend its surgical removal unless metastases are clinically suspicious. The paradigm in Eastern countries differs somewhat. The Korean study demonstrated that adjuvant radiotherapy without lateral lymph node dissection was not enough to control local recurrence and LPLN metastases. The Japanese Trial JCOG 0212 demonstrated the effects of LPLN dissection in reducing local recurrence in the lateral pelvic compartment. We agree with Sammour and Chang on the fact that rather than a mutual exclusivity approach, we should claim for an approach where all available modalities are considered and used to optimize treatment outcomes, classifying patients into 3 categories of LPLN: low risk cT1/T2/earlyT3 (and Ra) with clinically negative LPLN on MRI; Moderate risk (cT3+/T4 with negative LPLN on MRI) and high risk (clinically abnormal LPLN on MRI). Treatment modality should be based on detailed pretreatment workup and an individualized approach that considers all options to optimize the treatment of patients with rectal cancer in the West or the East.

SUBMITTER: Otero de Pablos J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6979275 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Controversies in the Management of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Nodes in Patients With Advanced Rectal Cancer: East or West?

Otero de Pablos Jaime J Mayol Julio J

Frontiers in surgery 20200117

The presence of lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLN) in advanced rectal cancer entails challenges with ongoing debate regarding the role of prophylactic dissection vs. neoadjuvant radiation treatment. This article highlights the most recent data of both approaches: bilateral LPLN dissection in every patient with low rectal cancer (Rb) as per the Japanese guidelines, vs. the developing approach of neoadjuvant radiotherapy as per Eastern countries. In addition, we also accentuate the importance of a ...[more]

PMID: 32010707

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Project description:ImportanceRectal cancers occupy the eighth position worldwide for new cases and deaths for both men and women. These cancers have a high tendency to form metastases in the mesorectum but also in the lateral lymph nodes. The therapeutic approach for the involved lateral lymph nodes remains controversial.ObjectiveWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of metastatic lateral lymph nodes in patients with lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) for rectal cancer, which seems to be a fundamental and necessary criterion to discuss any possible indications for LLND.MethodsData sources-study selection-data extraction and synthesis-main outcome and measures. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE from November 1, 2018, to November 19, 2018, for studies reporting the presence of metastatic lateral lymph nodes (iliac, obturator and middle sacral nodes) among patients undergoing rectal surgery with LLND. Pooled prevalence values were obtained by random effects models, and the robustness was tested by leave-one-out sensitivity analyses. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Q-test, quantified based on the I2 value and explored by subgroup analyses.ResultsOur final analysis included 31 studies from Asian countries, comprising 7599 patients. The pooled prevalence of metastatic lateral lymph nodes was 17.3% (95% CI: 14.6-20.5). The inter-study variability (heterogeneity) was high (I2 = 89%). The pooled prevalence was, however, robust and varied between 16.6% and 17.9% according to leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. The pooled prevalence of metastatic lymph nodes was not significantly different when pooling only studies including patients who received neoadjuvant treatment or those without neoadjuvant treatment (p = 0.44). Meta-regression showed that the pooled prevalence was associated with the sample size of studies (p < 0.05), as the prevalence decreased when the sample size increased.ConclusionThe pooled prevalence of metastatic lateral lymph nodes was 17.3% among patients who underwent rectal surgery with LLND in Asian countries. Further studies are necessary to determine whether this finding could impact the therapeutic strategy (total mesorectal excision with LLND versus total mesorectal excision with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy).

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Controversies in the Management of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Nodes in Patients With Advanced Rectal Cancer: East or West?

Publications

Controversies in the Management of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Nodes in Patients With Advanced Rectal Cancer: East or West?

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