[10 year results of preoperative radiotherapy in treatment of rectal carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
We have previously reported improvements in survival and disease-free survival at five years using preoperative radiation in the treatment of rectal cancer. The current update was undertaken to determine if these favorable results were durable with longer follow-up.


METHODS
Patients found to have resectable rectal cancer between 1972 and 1979 were treated with 40-45 Gy of preoperative radiation (40 patients) or resection alone (109 patients). Follow-up information beyond five years was obtained from the Tumor Registry, physician contact and a survey of the National Death Index. Of the 149 patients followed for five years, 144 were evaluable at ten years.


RESULTS
After a median follow-up of 125 months, survival of the irradiated patients was significantly better than that of controls (77 versus 57% at 5 years and 74 versus 41% at 10 years, p = 0.0044). Disease-free survival of those patients whose resection margins were free was also superior for the irradiated group (85 versus 59% at 5 years and 80 versus 45% at 10 years, p = 0.0045).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that the survival advantage for 40 to 45 Gy preoperative radiation in the treatment of rectal cancer persist at 10 years follow-up.
Reed
W P
WP
Department of Surgery, Baystate Medical Center Campus, Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.
Garb
J L
JL
Stark
A J
AJ
Chabot
J R
JR
Friedmann
P
P
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes
10-Jahres-Ergebnisse der präoperativen Radiotherapie in der Behandlung des Rectumcarcinoms.