Radical resection of rectal cancer primary tumor provides effective local therapy in patients with stage IV disease

Background The optimal use of radical surgery to palliate primary rectal cancers presenting with synchronous distant metastases is poorly defined. We have reviewed stage IV rectal cancer patients to evaluate the effectiveness of radical surgery without radiation as local therapy. Methods Eighty stage IV patients with resectable primary rectal tumors treated with radical rectal surgery without radiotherapy were identified. Sixty-one (76%) patients received chemotherapy; response information was available for 34 patients. Results Radical resection was accomplished by low anterior resection (n=65), abdominoperineal resection (n=11), and Hartmann’s resection (n=4). Surgical complications were seen in 12 patients (15%), with 1 death and 4 reoperations. The local recurrence rate was 6% (n=5), with a median time to local recurrence of 14 months. Only one patient received pelvic radiotherapy as salvage treatment. One patient required subsequent diverting colostomy. Median survival was 25 months. On multivariate analysis, the extent of metastasis and response to chemotherapy were determinants of prolonged survival. Conclusions For patients who present with distant metastases and resectable primary rectal cancers, radical surgery without radiotherapy can provide durable local control with acceptable morbidity. The extent of metastatic disease and the response to chemotherapy are the major determinants of survival. Effective systemic chemotherapy should be given high priority in the treatment of stage IV rectal cancer.