Locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma: Are preoperative short and long course radiotherapy truly equivalent?

Preoperative short- vs. long-course chemoradiotherapy with delayed surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer

PURPOSE To compare the clinical outcomes between short-course chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and long-course CRT with delayed surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer patients. RESULTS From 2010 to 2015, 19 patients were treated with short-course CRT and 53 patients were treated with LCRT. The sphincter-saving rate (89.5% vs. 94.3%, short-course CRT vs. long-course CRT), pathologic complete remissi...

An Update on Preoperative Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Even in patients undergoing an optimal surgical technique (e.g., total mesorectal excision), radiotherapy provides a significant benefit in the local control of rectal cancer. Compared with postoperative treatment, chemoradiotherapy given preoperatively has been shown to decrease local recurrence rates and toxicity. Additionally, preoperative chemoradiotherapy permits the early identification o...

Upfront systemic chemotherapy and preoperative short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer with distant metastases

BACKGROUND Choosing the most effective approach for treating rectal cancer with mesorectal fascia (MRF) involvement or closeness and synchronous distant metastases is a current clinical challenge. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine if upfront systemic chemotherapy and short-course radiotherapy (RT) with delayed surgery enables R0 resection. METHODS Between March 2009 and Oct...

Preoperative radiotherapy of locally advanced rectal cancer: clinical outcome of short-course and long-course treatment with or without concomitant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Preoperative radiotherapy is considered to be standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer. The timing and dosage of radiotherapy with or without preoperative chemotherapy remain controversial issues. The objective of this study was to evaluate relevant clinical outcomes of two preoperative radiotherapy regimens - the short-course and -long-course radiotherapy with or withou...

Preoperative short-course radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: the attitude on how to use radiotherapy in rectal cancer is changing.