Abstract | PURPOSE: To evaluate preoperative infusional chemoradiation for patients with operable rectal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Preoperative chemoradiation therapy using infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), (300 mg/m2/day) together with daily irradiation (45 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks) was administered to 77 patients with clinically Stage T3 rectal cancer. Endoscopic ultrasound confirmed the digital rectal exam in 63 patients. Surgery was performed approximately 6 weeks after the completion of chemoradiation therapy and included 25 abdominoperineal resections and 52 anal-sphincter-preserving procedures. RESULTS: Posttreatment tumor stages were T1-2, N0 in 35%, T3 N0 in 25%, and T1-3, N1 in 11%; 29% had no evidence of tumor. Local tumor control after chemoradiation was seen in 96% (74 out of 77); 2 patients had recurrent disease at the anastomosis site and were treated successfully with abdominoperineal resection. Overall, pelvic control was obtained in 99% (76 out of 77). The survival after chemoradiation was higher in patients without node involvement than in those having node involvement (p = n.s.). More patients with pathologic complete responses or only microscopic foci survived than did patients who had gross residual tumor (p = 0.07). The actuarial survival rate was 83% at 3 years; the median follow-up was 27 months, with a range of 3 to 68 months. Acute, perioperative, and late complications were not more numerous or more severe with chemoradiation therapy than with traditional radiation therapy (XRT) alone. CONCLUSIONS: Excellent treatment response allowed two-thirds of the patients to have an anal-sphincter-sparing procedure. Gross residual disease in the resected specimen indicates a poor prognosis, and therapies specifically targeting these patients may improve survival further.
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Authors | T A Rich, J M Skibber, J A Ajani, D J Buchholz, K R Cleary, R A Dubrow, B Levin, P M Lynch, S H Meterissian, L D Roubein |
Journal | International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
(Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys)
Vol. 32
Issue 4
Pg. 1025-9
(Jul 15 1995)
ISSN: 0360-3016 [Print] United States |
PMID | 7607922
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adenocarcinoma
(drug therapy, mortality, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Fluorouracil
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Preoperative Care
- Rectal Neoplasms
(drug therapy, mortality, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
- Survival Rate
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