Wednesday, September 21, 2022 CO28: NEOadjuvant Chemotherapy, Excision and Observation for Early Rectal Cancer: The NEO Trial Recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology Kennecke HF, O'Callaghan CJ, Loree JM, Moloo H, Auer R, Jonker DJ, Raval M, Musselman R, Ma G, Caycedo-Marulanda A, Simianu VV, Patel S, Pitre LD, Helewa R, Gordon VL, Neumann K, Nimeiri H, Sherry M, Tu D, Brown CJ. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Excision, and Observation for Early Rectal Cancer: The Phase II NEO Trial (CCTG CO.28) Primary End Point Results (ONLINE). J Clin Oncol JCO, 2022. https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.22.00184 The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of chemotherapy followed by less invasive surgery on patients and their early rectal cancer. The approach of this trial will be considered a success if at least 65% of participants are able to keep the rectum. RESULTS Of 58 patients enrolled, all commenced chemotherapy and 56 proceeded to surgery. A total of 33/58 patients had tumor downstaging to ypT0/1N0/X on the surgery specimen, resulting in an intention-to-treat protocol-specified organ preservation rate of 57% (90% CI, 45 to 68). Of 23 remaining patients recommended for TME surgery on the basis of protocol requirements, 13 declined and elected to proceed directly to observation resulting in 79% (90% CI, 69 to 88) achieving organ preservation. The remaining 10/23 patients proceeded to recommended TME of whom seven had no histopathologic residual disease. The 1-year and 2-year locoregional relapse-free survival was, respectively, 98% (95% CI, 86 to 100) and 90% (95% CI, 58 to 98), and there were no distant recurrences or deaths. Minimal change in quality of life and rectal function scores was observed. CONCLUSION Three months of induction chemotherapy may successfully downstage a significant proportion of patients with early-stage rectal cancer, allowing well-tolerated organ-preserving surgery. For more information please visit the CO28 trial page.
