Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

Abstract Purpose To identify histological features of anastomotic margins and develop a prediction model for anastomotic failure (AF) in rectal cancer (RC) patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Methods A total of 350 pairs anastomotic “doughnuts” from RC with nCRT were randomly divided...

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Main Authors: Zhun Liu, Shenghui Huang, Meifang Xu, Qian Yu, Jianyuan Song, Zhifen Chen, Ying Huang, Pan Chi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14522-0
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author Zhun Liu
Shenghui Huang
Meifang Xu
Qian Yu
Jianyuan Song
Zhifen Chen
Ying Huang
Pan Chi
author_facet Zhun Liu
Shenghui Huang
Meifang Xu
Qian Yu
Jianyuan Song
Zhifen Chen
Ying Huang
Pan Chi
author_sort Zhun Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose To identify histological features of anastomotic margins and develop a prediction model for anastomotic failure (AF) in rectal cancer (RC) patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Methods A total of 350 pairs anastomotic “doughnuts” from RC with nCRT were randomly divided into the primary and validation cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. The histological features were identified and constructed using LASSO (Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression to develop the radiation-induced colorectal injury (RCI) score. An AF prediction mode based on the RCI score was built and evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA), and the DeLong test. Results The primary cohort consisted of 245 patients, among whom AF occurred in 26.9% of cases, while the validation cohort comprised 105 patients, with an AF rate of 24.8%. The RCI score of anastomotic margins showed a significant correlation with AF (odds ratio: 2.963; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.298–3.822; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified body mass index (BMI) < 18.5, tumor location, long-course radiotherapy, and the RCI score as independent predictors for AF. The nomogram based on the RCI score exhibited good discrimination in both the primary cohort (AUC: 0.886; 95% CI: 0.840–0.931), with a sensitivity of 86.36% (95% CI, 75.7–93.6%) and specificity of 76.54% (95% CI, 69.6–82.5%). Calibration curves revealed satisfactory agreement between the predicted and the observed probabilities. Conclusions The comprehensive nomogram incorporating the RCI score could assist physicians in predicting AF and formulating personalized treatment strategies for RC patients with neoadjuvant radiotherapy.
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spelling doaj-art-a437988c4d374cbdb438adb3a5cd542d2025-08-20T04:03:06ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-07-0125111210.1186/s12885-025-14522-0Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapyZhun Liu0Shenghui Huang1Meifang Xu2Qian Yu3Jianyuan Song4Zhifen Chen5Ying Huang6Pan Chi7Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalDepartment of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalDepartment of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalDepartment of Colorectal Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union HospitalAbstract Purpose To identify histological features of anastomotic margins and develop a prediction model for anastomotic failure (AF) in rectal cancer (RC) patients with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Methods A total of 350 pairs anastomotic “doughnuts” from RC with nCRT were randomly divided into the primary and validation cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. The histological features were identified and constructed using LASSO (Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression to develop the radiation-induced colorectal injury (RCI) score. An AF prediction mode based on the RCI score was built and evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA), and the DeLong test. Results The primary cohort consisted of 245 patients, among whom AF occurred in 26.9% of cases, while the validation cohort comprised 105 patients, with an AF rate of 24.8%. The RCI score of anastomotic margins showed a significant correlation with AF (odds ratio: 2.963; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.298–3.822; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified body mass index (BMI) < 18.5, tumor location, long-course radiotherapy, and the RCI score as independent predictors for AF. The nomogram based on the RCI score exhibited good discrimination in both the primary cohort (AUC: 0.886; 95% CI: 0.840–0.931), with a sensitivity of 86.36% (95% CI, 75.7–93.6%) and specificity of 76.54% (95% CI, 69.6–82.5%). Calibration curves revealed satisfactory agreement between the predicted and the observed probabilities. Conclusions The comprehensive nomogram incorporating the RCI score could assist physicians in predicting AF and formulating personalized treatment strategies for RC patients with neoadjuvant radiotherapy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14522-0Rectal cancerRadiotherapyNomogramRadiation-induced colorectal injuryAnastomotic failure
spellingShingle Zhun Liu
Shenghui Huang
Meifang Xu
Qian Yu
Jianyuan Song
Zhifen Chen
Ying Huang
Pan Chi
Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
BMC Cancer
Rectal cancer
Radiotherapy
Nomogram
Radiation-induced colorectal injury
Anastomotic failure
title Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
title_full Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
title_fullStr Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
title_short Development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
title_sort development and validation of a histological calculator for anastomotic margins to predict anastomotic failure among rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
topic Rectal cancer
Radiotherapy
Nomogram
Radiation-induced colorectal injury
Anastomotic failure
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14522-0
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