May 29, 2014
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PFS similar after laparoscopic open surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer

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Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic surgery experienced similar PFS as those who underwent open resection, according to results of a randomized, controlled, open-label trial.

The trial, conducted at three centers in Korea, included 340 patients (age range, 18 to 80 years) with mid- or low-rectal cancer who had undergone preoperative chemotherapy.

Researchers assigned 170 patients to open surgery, and the other 170 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. Three-year DFS, with a non-inferiority margin of 15%, served as the primary outcome measure.

At 3 years, DFS was 79.2% (95% CI, 72.3-84.6) in the laparoscopic resection arm and 72.5% (95% CI, 65-78.6) in the open resection arm. The difference was lower than the pre-specified non-inferiority margin (-6.7%; 95% CI, -15.8 to 2.4).

Researchers reported 25 deaths in the open resection group and 20 in the laparoscopic arm; however, no deaths were related to treatment.

Disclosure: The study was funded by the National Cancer Center in South Korea.