Prognosis of Mesorectal Tumor Deposits in Patients with Rectal Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Total Mesorectal Excision

Background Tumor deposits (TDs) are associated with adverse prognostic factors and decreased survival in colon cancer. However, there is no information of their survival impact in rectal cancer with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (n-CRT). Methods Retrospective study in 223 patients with rectal cancer with n-CRT. A survival analysis of factors associated with decreased overall survival (OS) including TDs was performed. Results From 223 patients, 131 (58.7%) were men, mean age 59.8 (+/- 13.06) years, and 42 (18.8%) of them revealed TDs. Survival analysis of TDs showed no association with mortality. Factors associated with decreased 5-year OS were the histologic grade (p = 0.42), perineural invasion (p = 0.001), and mesorectal quality (p = 0.067). Perineural invasion (HR = 2.335, 95% CI = 1.198-4.552) remained as independent factor in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions TDs were not associated with mortality in rectal cancer patients treated with n-CRT. Factors associated with decreased survival were inadequate mesorectal quality and perineural invasion.