Purpose: To assess the efficacy of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for rectal carcinoma in comparison with conventional chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was done using NetMetaXL and WinBUGS. This study was registered in PROSPERO on March 3, 2022 (No. CRD-42022307867). Results: Outcomes of 2,719 patients from 10 randomized trials between 2010 and 2022 were selected. Of these 1,191 (44%) had conventional long-course CRT (50–54 Gy) and capecitabine, 506 (18%) had induction chemotherapy followed by CRT (50–54 Gy) and capecitabine (iTNT), 230 (9%) had long-course CRT (50–54 Gy) followed by consolidation chemotherapy (cTNT), and 792 (29%) undergone modified short-course radiotherapy (25 Gy) with subsequent chemotherapy (mTNT). Total pathologic complete response (pCR) was 20% in the iTNT group, 21% in the mTNT group, 22% in the cTNT group, and 12% in the CRT group. Statistically significant difference in pCR rates was detected when comparing iTNT with CRT (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.06–2.8), mTNT with CRT (OR, 1.90; 95% CrI, 1.25–2.74), and cTNT with CRT groups (OR, 2.54; 95% CrI, 1.26–5.08). No differences were found in R0 resection rates. No significant difference was found in long-term outcomes. Conclusion The early administration of systemic chemotherapy in the TNT regimen has improved short-term outcomes, though long-term results are underreported. Randomized trials with survival as the endpoint are necessary to evaluate the possible advantages of TNT modes.

Purpose: Colorectal anastomotic leakage (AL) is a life-threatening complication, which increases morbidity, hospital stay and cost of treatment. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors, including intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG FA), associated with the leak of stapled colorectal anastomosis. Methods: Four hundred twenty-nine consecutive patients underwent surgery between 2017 and 2019 for benign (n=10, 2.3%) or malignant (n=419, 97.7%) and rectal (n=349, 81.4%) or distal sigmoid (n=80, 18.6%) lesions with double-stapling technique reconstruction were included into retrospective study. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression of the tumor-, patient- and treatment-related risk factors of AL was performed. Results: An AL developed in 52 patients (12.1%). In multivariate analysis following variables were independently associated with AL; male sex (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9−7.7; P<0.01), anastomosis at ≤6.5 cm from anal verge (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3−7.5; P=0.01), and age of ≤62.5 years (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1−4.1; P=0.03). ICG FA was found as independent factor reducing colorectal AL rate (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2−0.8; P=0.02). A nomogram with high discriminative ability (concordance index, 0.81) was created. Conclusion ICG FA is a modifiable surgery-related risk factor associated with a decrease of colorectal AL rate. A suggested nomogram, which takes into consideration ICG FA, might be helpful to identify the individual risk of AL.