A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY ON LOCALLY ADVANCED RECTAL CARCINOMA TREATED WITH PRE-OPERATIVE SHORT-COURSE RADIOTHERAPY VERSUS LONG-COURSE RADIOTHERAPY WITH CONCOMITANT CHEMOTHERAPY

Objective: In locally advanced non-metastatic rectal carcinoma, pre-operative radiotherapy is an acceptable alternative over post-operative radiation to improve locoregional control after radical surgery. There are two regimens of – short-course (25 Gy/5 fractions/1 week) and long-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (50.4 Gy/28 fractions/5.5 weeks). Our study aimed compare the pathological response, margin negative surgery rates, treatment-related acute toxicities between these approaches. Methods: Patients with histologically proven advanced, adenocarcinoma were randomized into group received followed by 7–10 days completion weeks) concurrent capecitabine 4–6 weeks radiotherapy. Histopathology reports studied in both groups for determination response tumor surgical status. All patients adjuvant chemotherapy 6 months oxaliplatin capecitabine. For assessment toxicities, examined during entire course treatment. Results: Overall (complete response+partial response) was 81.25% arm 86.66% arm. Complete rate 15% 25% Margin rates higher CRT than (90% vs. 82%), but it statistically insignificant. Radiation-induced skin reactions (less Grade 2) significantly (p=0.003). Conclusion: no significant difference concomitant terms efficacy toxicity profile. Thus, our limited resources huge patient load, can be used as CRT.