title: Combination preoperative radiation and chemotherapy in adenocarcinoma of the rectum: preliminary report.
abstract: The plausibility of preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with carcinoma of the rectum is demonstrated. The finding of specimens with no tumor along with a higher proportion of Dukes' A lesions than expected was most encouraging. Whether this is a false impression because of the small number of patients, or whether it demonstrates upgrading of pathologic staging by preoperative adjuvant therapy, remains to be determined.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D005472:Fluorouracil