Evaluation of Inflammatory Markers in LARC Patients

Evaluation of Pretreatment Inflammatory Markers in Predicting Response to nCRT and Prognosis in LARC Patients

Introduction: In locally advanced rectal cancers (LARC), TNM staging is far from optimal. We aimed to investigate the value of previously described circulating biomarkers as predictors of prognosis.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 245 LARC patients diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2022, who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery at two centers. A Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients diagnosed pathologically with rectal adenocarcinomas, located within 12cm from the anal verge (measured by MRI), clinically staged T3-4 and/or N+ and treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by radical surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• evidence of distant metastasis at diagnosis, emergent or palliative surgery, local excision or "watch and wait" approach and evidence of inflammatory or hematological disorders