Long-term Quality of Life and Functional Outcome of Patients With Rectal Cancer Following a Watch-and-Wait Approach

Petra A. Custers, Marit E. van der Sande, Brechtje A. Grotenhuis, Femke P. Peters, Sander M. J. van Kuijk, Geerard L. Beets, Stephanie O. Breukink*, Dutch Watch & Wait Consortium

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

152 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

IMPORTANCE A watch-and-wait approach for patients with rectal cancer and a clinical complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy is associated with better quality of life and functional outcome. Nevertheless, prospective data on both parameters are scarce.OBJECTIVE To prospectively evaluate quality of life and functional outcome, including bowel, urinary, and sexual function, of patients following a watch-and-wait approach. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 278 patients with rectal cancer and a clinical complete response or near-complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy were included in 2 prospective cohort studies: a single-center study (March 2014 to October 2017) and an ongoing multicenter study (from September 2017). Patients were observed by a watch-and-wait approach. Additional local excision or total mesorectal excision was performed for residual disease or regrowth. Data were analyzed between April 1, 2021, and August 27, 2021, for patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Quality of life was evaluated with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30), EORTC-QLQ-CR38, or EORTC-QLQ-CR29 and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. The score for the questionnaires and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey ranges from 0 to 100. For some scales, a high score indicates a high level of functioning, and for others it indicates a high level of complaints and symptomatology. Functional outcome was assessed by the Low Anterior Resection Syndrome score, Vaizey incontinence score, International Prostate Symptom Score, International Index of Erectile Function, and Female Sexual Function Index.RESULTS Of 278 patients included, 187 were male (67%), and the median age was 66 years (range, 34-85 years). In the first 24 months, 221 patients (80%) were observed by a watch-and-wait approach without requiring surgery, 18 patients (6%) underwent additional local excision, and 39 patients (14%) underwent total mesorectal excision. In general, patients observed by a watch-and-wait approach reported good quality of life, with limited variation over time. At 3 months, 56 of 221 patients (25.3%) reported major bowel dysfunction; at 12 months, 53 patients (24.0%) reported it; and at 24 months, 55 patients (24.9%) reported it. At 24 months, 48 of 151 male patients (31.8%) reported severe erectile dysfunction. For female patients, sexual satisfaction and overall sexual function decreased during follow-up. Patients who underwent local excision reported more major bowel dysfunction (10 of 18 patients [55.6%]) compared with those without additional surgery. Quality-of-life scores, however, were comparable. After total mesorectal excision, patients scored significantly worse on several quality-of-life subscales. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this study suggest that patients with rectal cancer who were observed by a watch-and-wait approach had good quality of life, with some patients reporting bowel and sexual dysfunction. Quality of life and functional outcome deteriorated when patients required surgery. These data will be useful in daily care to counsel patients on what to expect from a watch-and-wait approach.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere230146
Number of pages10
JournalJAMA Surgery
Volume158
Issue number5
Early online date1 Mar 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • TOTAL MESORECTAL EXCISION
  • CLINICAL COMPLETE RESPONDERS
  • SHORT-COURSE RADIOTHERAPY
  • LOW ANTERIOR RESECTION
  • PREOPERATIVE RADIOTHERAPY
  • ORGAN PRESERVATION
  • BOWEL FUNCTION
  • OPEN-LABEL
  • EUROPEAN-ORGANIZATION
  • NEOADJUVANT THERAPY

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Long-term Quality of Life and Functional Outcome of Patients With Rectal Cancer Following a Watch-and-Wait Approach'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this