Neoadjuvant therapy of cetuximab combined with chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer: A single-arm meta-analysis of noncomparative clinical studies and randomized controlled trials

摘要

Rectalcancer isacommonmalignant tumor thatseriously threatens human health. Globalrectalcancer patientsaccounted for 10.2%ofallcancer patients in 2018, ranking third, with a mortality rate of 9.2%. [1] Patients with locally advanced rectalcancer (LARC)areat tremendous risk of metastatic diseases dueto high rates oflocaland distant recurrence. [2] Evidencefromthe previous investigations has proven theefficacy of neoadjuvantchemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in tumor downstaging and localcontrol. [3,4] Unfortunately, distantmetastases rateremains stablein the 25%to 35%range, which is the predominantmode offailure. [5] Efforts to improve preoperativetreatmentareaimed through integratingmore effectivesystemictherapy into combined-modality protocols.