Prognostic Significance of the Diameter of Superior Rectal Vein for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the association between the diameter of the superior rectal vein (dSRV) and prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods: This study included 420 LARC patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression models were used for determining the relationship between superior rectal vein diameter and survival. Results: Patients whose dSRV >3.60 mm had better 3 years disease-free survival (85.50 vs 64.2%, p < 0.001) and overall survival (91.90 vs 82.20%, p = 0.005). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the dSRV was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Conclusion: The dSRV measurement is valuable in predicting the prognosis of patients with LARC, and the prognosis of patients with a smaller dSRV seems to be poor.

Plain language summary

What is this summary about?

The superior rectal vein is the main drainage vein of the rectum, and when the rectum undergoes changes due to disease, the diameter of the superior rectal vein may be altered. Can this change reflect the outcome of patients with rectal cancer? Our article reviews data from our institution over a period of more than 3 years to answer this question.

What were the results?

We found that patients whose superior rectal vein had a diameter of larger than 3.60 mm had better survival.

What do the results mean?

We should be concerned about the diameter of the superior rectal vein before treatment, and patients with smaller diameters of the superior rectal vein should be more aware of the need for regular follow-up.

Tweetable abstract

The diameter of the superior rectal vein (dSRV) measurement is valuable in predicting the prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, and the prognosis of patients with a smaller dSRV seems to be poor.

Keywords::

• locally advanced rectal cancer
• metastasis-free survival
• overall survival
• superior rectal vein

Author contributions

Contributions to the study conception or design: B Xu, A Li. Contribution to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Y Hong, R Chen. Drafting of the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content: Y Hong, A Li. Final approval of the version to be published: all authors. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: all authors.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the patients and their families and caregivers for their participation.

Financial disclosure

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, China (2022J02037) and Fujian provincial health technology project (No. 2021CXA011). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

Although patient consent was not specifically obtained for this analysis, all information was retrospectively extracted in the context of compliance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committees and with the principles of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Patient medical records were analyzed retrospectively, with no individual patient identifiable information used. Thus, the Fujian Medical University Union Hospital Ethics Review Board deemed patient consent unnecessary.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, China (2022J02037) and Fujian provincial health technology project (No. 2021CXA011). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.