title: The absence of an adverse effect of prolongation of radiation treatment of primary rectal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Many reports have shown a deleterious effect from the prolongation of radiation treatment duration on local control of squamous cell carcinomas in a variety of sites. To study whether a similar effect was found in adenocarcinoma of the rectum, a retrospective review was performed of 353 patients treated by external beam radiation therapy for primary adenocarcinoma of the rectum. At 4 years, the local control rate for mobile tumours was 25 percent; for fixed tumours it was 7 percent. By multiple Cox regression analysis, the only factor statistically significant for local control was tumour fixation (P=0.02). Neither treatment length (P=0.44), nor the presence of an interruption in treatment (P=0.41) was significant. The possible explanations for these observations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brierley
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors