Patient- and physician-reported radiation-induced toxicity of short-course radiotherapy with a prolonged interval to surgery for rectal cancer.

Aim: A prolonged interval (>4 weeks) between short-course radiotherapy (25 Gy in five fractions) (SCRT-delay) and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer has been associated with a decreased postoperative complication rate and offers the possibility of organ preservation in the case of a complete tumour response. This prospective cohort study systematically evaluated patient-reported bowel dysfunction and physician-reported radiation-induced toxicity for 8 weeks following SCRT-delay.

Method: Patients who were referred for SCRT-delay for intermediate risk, oligometastatic or locally advanced rectal cancer were included.

Impact of Dose-Escalated Chemoradiation on Quality of Life in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: 2-Year Follow-Up of the Randomized RECTAL-BOOST Trial.

Purpose: Dose-escalated chemoradiation (CRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer did not result in higher complete response rates but initiated more tumor regression in the randomized RECTAL-BOOST trial (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01951521). This study compared patient reported outcomes between patients who received dose-escalated CRT (5 × 3 gray boost + CRT) or standard CRT for 2 years after randomization.

Pathological Complete Response Following Different Neoadjuvant Treatment Strategies for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is associated with better survival, less local recurrence, and less distant failure. Furthermore, pCR indicates that the rectum may have been preserved. This meta-analysis gives an overview of available neoadjuvant treatment strategies for LARC and analyzes how these perform in achieving pCR as compared with the standard of care.

The effect of neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy and delayed surgery versus chemoradiation on postoperative outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer patients - A propensity score matched nationwide audit-based study.

Objective: To investigate differences in postoperative outcomes between short-course radiotherapy and delayed surgery (SCRT-delay) and chemoradiation (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Background: Previous trials suggest that SCRT-delay could serve as an adequate neoadjuvant treatment for LARC. Therefore, in frail LARC patients SCRT-delay is recommended as an alternative to CRT.

The effect of time interval from chemoradiation to surgery on postoperative complications in patients with rectal cancer.

Background: A prolonged time interval between chemoradiation and total mesorectal excision (TME) may render more rectal cancer patients eligible for organ-sparing approaches but may also cause more pelvic fibrosis and surgical morbidity. We estimated the effect of time interval on postoperative complications and other surgical outcomes in rectal cancer patients.

Methods: This is a population-based cohort study using data of the Dutch Colorectal Audit.

Comparison of pathological complete response rates after neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy or chemoradiation followed by delayed surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Introduction: Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who are unfit for chemoradiation (CRT), are often offered short-course radiotherapy followed by delayed surgery (SCRT-delay). This entails a lower radiation dose, no chemotherapy and a shorter treatment period. This may lower their chances for complete tumor response and, as such, organ-sparing approaches.

Rotterdam Advanced Multiple Plate: a novel method to measure cold hyperalgesia and allodynia in freely behaving rodents.

Background: To investigate the pathophysiology of temperature hypersensitivity in neuropathic pain rodent models, it is essential to be able to quantify the phenotype as objective as possible. Current temperature sensitivity measuring paradigms are performed during exposure to external factors, i.e.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of re-innervation and hyperinnervation patterns by uninjured CGRP fibers in the rat foot sole epidermis after nerve injury.

The epidermis is innervated by fine nerve endings that are important in mediating nociceptive stimuli. However, their precise role in neuropathic pain is still controversial. Here, we have studied the role of epidermal peptidergic nociceptive fibers that are located adjacent to injured fibers in a rat model of neuropathic pain.