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Omission of concurrent chemoradiation after a response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer with a synchronous liver metastasis: a note of caution

¹ Cookridge Hospital, Hospital Lane, Leeds LS16 6QB, ² York District Hospital, Wigginton Road, York YO31 8HE, UK

Correspondence: Dr David Sebag-Montefiore, Cookridge Hospital, Hospital Lane, Leeds LS16 6QB, UK. E-mail: David.sebag-montefiore{at}leedsth.nhs.uk

There is clear evidence to support the use of pre-operative concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer. In the UK, most patients are selected for treatment if the resection margin is predicted to be involved. The selection criteria used includes primary tumours that threaten the resection margins on high-resolution pelvic MRI and low tumours requiring abdominoperineal excision. There is no consensus, however, to guide the treatment of patients who present with advanced rectal disease and synchronous, potentially resectable, metastatic disease. This case illustrates the potential risk of omitting radiation following a good response to neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy.