Preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy for locally advanced primary and recurrent rectal carcinoma. A report of surgical morbidity.
BACKGROUND
Complete surgical resection of locally advanced primary and recurrent rectal cancer is often incomplete. Improved tumor downstaging may improve resection rates and local control if postoperative morbidity is not increased.


METHODS
The clinical and pathologic records of 119 patients with locally advanced primary and recurrent rectal carcinoma were reviewed to determine the effect of preoperative chemoradiation on postoperative morbidity compared with a control group treated with external beam radiation therapy alone. Group I (56 patients) was treated with 45 Gy of external beam radiation therapy. Group II (63 patients) received 45 Gy of external beam radiation therapy with continuous-infusion cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, or both.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients (73.2%) in Group I and 48 in Group II (76.1%) underwent surgical resection. Anal-sparing procedures were performed more frequently in Group II (25%) than in Group I (5.3%, P < 0.05). The overall complication rate for Group I was 51% versus 44% for Group II (P < 0.05) or 1.17 complications per patient in Group I and 0.58 complications per patient in Group II. One patient in each group died of treatment-related septic complications.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that the addition of chemotherapy to radiation to treat rectal carcinoma does not result in an increased operative morbidity and may contribute to a higher proportion of patients being treated with anal-rectal-conserving surgical procedures.
Department of General Surgery, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
C R
CR
Shumate
T A
TA
Rich
J M
JM
Skibber
J A
JA
Ajani
D M
DM
Ota
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil