title: Surgical adjuvant therapy of rectal cancer.
abstract: Surgery is the preferred method of curative therapy for carcinoma of the rectum. However, in spite of complete gross tumor resection, many patients with locally advanced tumors will experience recurrence of malignant disease in the pelvis and/or distant metastases. This article summarizes the roles of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, administered alone and in combination, as surgical adjuvant treatment for patients with resectable rectal cancer. A biostatistical overview is presented. It is concluded that strong evidence exists supporting the efficacy of combined postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Further clinical trials are indicated to determine the optimum chemotherapy regimen, sequence, and duration of the therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical and Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gunderson
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D005472:Fluorouracil