title: Adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. A retrospective analysis of locoregional control, survival, and prognostic factors on 178 patients.
abstract: Results are presented of a retrospective study on 178 patients receiving adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy after curative surgery for adenocarcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. Tumorstages according to Gunderson-Sosin were B2: 67, B3: 5, C1: 9, C2: 94, and C3: 3. Median total dosage was 50 Gy (range: 10-66 Gy), with a median dose per fraction of 2.0 Gy, 5 fractions per week. The censored overall 5-year survival rate was 42%, and 5-year disease-free survival rate was 37%. The respective rates for stage B2 patients (n = 67) were 59% and 53%, and for stage C2 patients (n = 94), 25% and 25%. Recurrences occurred in 89% within 3 years, 8% in the fourth, and 1% in the fifth year of follow-up. Five-year local relapse rates were 27% for the stage B2 tumors and 40% for the stage C2 tumors. For survival, stage (P = .006), grade (P = .02), fixation at surgery (P = .03), and gender (P = .03) were independent prognostic factors. With local relapse-free probability (LRFP) as endpoint, grade (P < .02) was an independent prognostic factor. Dose of radiation was not of prognostic significance, neither for survival (P = .63) nor for LRFP (P = .61). Since improvement should be made in locoregional control, initiatives are taken to start preoperative radiotherapy; furthermore, the key role of surgery is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Catharina Ziekenhuis, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martijn
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: de Neve
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lybeert
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crommelin
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ribot
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis