Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41743382›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in medical oncology2026

Clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with early-onset locally advanced rectal cancer.

Andrea Pretta, Riccardo Giampieri, Pina Ziranu, Andrea Bottelli, Clelia Donisi, Elisa Tiberi, Erika Cimbro, Giovanni Randon, Matteo Fraschini, Dario Spanu and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in medical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Andrea PrettaMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, SS554 km 4,500 bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, Cagliari 09042, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0262-9270
Riccardo GiampieriClinica Oncologica e Centro Regionale di Genetica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Pina ZiranuMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Andrea BottelliMedical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy.
Clelia DonisiMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Elisa TiberiClinica Oncologica e Centro Regionale di Genetica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Erika CimbroMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Giovanni RandonMedical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0244-445X
Matteo FraschiniDipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica ed Elettronica, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Dario SpanuMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Luca DidaciDipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica ed Elettronica, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Veronica Dell'UtriMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Gianluca PrettaScience Department, King's School Hove, Hangleton Way, Hangleton, East Sussex, UK.
Stefano MarianiDipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Marco PuzzoniDipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Valeria PuscedduMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Rossana BerardiClinica Oncologica e Centro Regionale di Genetica Oncologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Filippo PietrantonioMedical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy.
Gavino FaaDipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Sanità Pubblica, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Mario ScartozziMedical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC), defined as a diagnosis before 50 years of age, is increasing worldwide. However, its clinical characteristics and outcomes compared to average-onset colorectal cancer (AO-CRC) remain under debate, especially in the setting of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Objectives: This study aimed to compare clinical characteristics, treatment responses, and survival outcomes between patients with early-onset and average-onset locally advanced rectal cancer. Design: A multicenter retrospective cohort study. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 305 patients with stage II-III rectal cancer treated between 2012 and 2022 across three Italian oncology centrers. Patients were categorised as EO-RC (⩽50 years) or AO-RC (>50 years). All patients underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision. Pathological and radiological responses were evaluated, and survival outcomes were assessed through Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: Early-onset patients accounted for 10.5% of the cohort. Clinical and pathological characteristics were broadly similar between groups, although EO-RC patients had a higher prevalence of proficient mismatch repair status. Radiological and pathological response rates were comparable. After a median follow-up of 120 months, the 10-year overall survival (OS) was 73.3% in EO-RC and 91.9% in AO-RC (HR 7.60, 95% CI 2.22-26.06; Conclusion: Early-onset rectal cancer patients exhibit similar response rates and DFS compared to older patients, but appear to have worse OS. Further studies are needed to explore biological factors and post-recurrence treatment strategies that may influence these outcomes.

Indexed as

chemotherapychemotherapy resistancedrug resistanceearly onsetmismatch repair (MMR) deficiencyrectal cancertranslational researchyoung adult

Identifiers

PMID41743382
PMCPMC12929870

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.