MRI-defined high-risk rectal cancer patients: comparison of treatment response and survival outcomes between total neoadjuvant therapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy-a propensity score matched analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

This study evaluated whether total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), compared to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), improves response and prognosis in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined high-risk patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study ultimately included 791 patients with pathologically confirmed rectal cancer who underwent baseline rectal MRI at our institution between 2015 and 2022. Independent MRI-based prognostic risk factors were identified through multivariable Cox regression analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding variables, followed by survival and treatment response analyses between groups.

Results

The Cox model revealed that MR-based T4 stage and extramu

SUBMITTER: Li R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12672846 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature