Abstract #0340

Can DCE-MRI Predict Pathological Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy in Rectal Cancer Patients? Initial Observations in 38 Patients

Giuseppe Petralia¹, Paul Summers¹, Stefano Viotti², Luke Bonello², Moreno Pasin¹, Maria Giulia Zampino³, Maria Cristina Leonardi⁴, Laura Travaini⁵, Valeria Panebianco⁶, Massimo Bellomi^1,2

¹Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy; ²School of Radiology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; ³Medical Care Unit, Medicine, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy; ⁴Radiotherapy, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy; ⁵Nuclear Medicine, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy; ⁶Radiological Sciences, Policlinico Umberto I, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy

Better long-term outcome is reported for rectal cancer patients who achieve pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT). Minimalist approaches are a reasonable alternative to radical surgery in such patients, with equivalent outcomes. Conventional T2-weighted MRI is not predictive of pCR, whilst DCE-MRI has shown potential for predicting therapy outcome. 34 patients underwent DCE-MRI before and after NACRT.