title: Long-term results of a randomised trial of short-course low-dose adjuvant pre-operative radiotherapy for rectal cancer: reduction in local treatment failure.
abstract: A prospective randomised multicentre trial compared pre-operative radiotherapy followed by surgery with surgery alone for rectal cancer < or = 12 cm from the anal verge. Of 468 patients (mean age 67 years, range 31-94, 273 males) who met the entry criteria, 228 were randomised to radiotherapy (3 x 5 Gy over 5 days within 2 days of operation) followed by surgery, and 239 to surgery alone. Randomisation was unknown in 1 patient. Follow-up to death or 5 years was achieved in 454 (97%) patients. 31 (7%) of the 468 patients died within 30 days of operation (radiotherapy and surgery 21 [9%], surgery alone 10 [4%]; P < 0.05). Cardiovascular and thromboembolic complications were more common after radiotherapy and surgery (30, 13%) than after surgery alone (8, 3%; P < 0.005). Of the 280 patients who had curative surgery, 52% of those who had radiotherapy and surgery and 56% of those who had surgery alone survived 5 years (P = 0.88). 395 patients attended outpatients clinics at least once. Local treatment failure was identified during follow-up in 82 patients [31/185 (17%) radiotherapy and surgery; 51/210 (24%) surgery alone; P < 0.05]. It occurred in 33 of the 258 patients who had a curative resection and attended outpatients [radiotherapy and surgery, 11/120 (9%), surgery alone, 22/138 (16%); P = 0.08]. Long-term survival was unaffected, but long-term local recurrence was reduced by the addition of low-dose radiotherapy to surgery. Peri-operative mortality was, however, increased.
authors.affiliation: St Marks Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grimsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D010166:Palliative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D017211:Treatment Failure