Preoperative irradiation for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid colon: reportof a National Veterans Administration randomized study.
In 1964 the Veterans Administration Surgical Adjuvant Group (VASAG) initiated a large-scale, controlled, randomized protocol to study the role of low-dose preoperative irradiation (2000-2500 rads/10fractions/12 days) in patients with operable adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon and rectum.  This report analyzes the data in 700 patients, all at 5-year risk.  There appears to be a definate benefit to irradiated patients who undergo abdominoperineal resections, when compared with the controls.  This advantage is reflected in improvement of 5-year survival, and reduction in lymph node invasion, local recurrence, and distant metastases.  A second protocol has been initiated in 30 VA hospitals employing a higher dose (3150 rads) to extended portals (toL2) to male patients who require abdominoperineal resections.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery