title: The evaluation of low dose pre-operative X-ray therapy in the management of operable rectal cancer; results of a randomly controlled trial.
abstract: 824 patients with operable rectal carcinoma were randomly allocated to be treated by surgery alone, 2000 rad in 10 daily fractions and 500 rad as a single fraction. No difference has been demonstrated in the actuarial survival rates to 5 years. The local recurrence-free and metastasis-free rates are similar in all groups. There is also no evidence that the pre-operative radiotherapy benefited patients in subgroups by Dukes' stage. The complication rates were also similar in the three treatment groups.
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011897:Random Allocation; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors