Innovative bowel cancer research published by team at Cabrini Health

A team of researchers from Cabrini Health including Dr Simon Wilkins (Research Fellow at the Cabrini Institute), Karen Oliva (Database Manager), Cabrini colorectal surgeons Paul McMurrick, Peter Carne, Stephen Bell and clinicians from the Alfred and William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre have recently published an article in the medical journal Diseases of the Colon and Rectum May edition (Vol 59 Issue 5 361-368).

Entitled "Complete Pathological Response After Neoadjuvant Long-Course Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer and Its Relationship to the Degree of T3 Mesorectal Invasion" investigated the long term survival of patients who were influenced by the degree of penetration of the cancer through the wall of the rectum at diagnosis.

Researchers found that the chance of patients having no viable tumour cells in pathology samples after chemoradiotherapy treatment – known as a complete pathological response – decreased by around 35% with each 1mm increase of cancer invasion beyond the bowel wall at diagnosis.

Overall, 22% of patients receiving radiotherapy prior to surgery had a complete pathological response. The group with less tumour invasion had their response rate rise to 35%, and overall patients who had a complete pathological response had a 93% chance of surviving for 5 years or more along with a much lower risk of cancer recurrence.

According to research leader and Cabrini colorectal surgeon Stephen Bell, "The results of this study will help us determine the best course of treatment for individual bowel cancer patients, based on the stage of their cancer."

"It assists us to individualise patient treatment rather than offering the same treatment regimen to all patients," said Mr Bell.

The Cabrini Monash University Department of Surgery research team continually strive to provide excellent chances of cure to a significant proportion of our patients.