Cohort study of temporal trend in overall survival after treatment failure among patients with rectal cancer

Oncologic outcomes among patients with rectal cancer after developing local recurrence and/or distant metastasis are poorly studied. A cohort study based on results of three phase 2 or 3 studies conducted in Germany included 483 patients who experienced treatment failure after neoadjuvant fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with or without oxaliplatin or with total neoadjuvant treatment. Overall survival after treatment failure was significantly improved over 3 generations of trials (1995-2002, 2006-2010, and 2015-2018). The authors conclude that implemented surveillance programs and multidisciplinary approaches should further be evaluated within clinical trials to improve salvage strategies for overall survival after treatment failure for patients with rectal cancer.