title: Induction therapy for rectal carcinoma.
abstract: Induction, or preoperative therapy for rectal carcinoma, is a controversial topic which appears to have clinical utility in a number of distinct settings that range from early stage to locally advanced disease. Common to all treatment scenarios is the intent of reducing the likelihood of recurrence in the pelvis following surgery. An additional and evolving role is a reduction in the extent of surgery following a complete or partial clinical response to the induction regimen. While radiation as a single modality can lead to downstaging and, perhaps, a reduction in local recurrence, combined modality with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and radiation appears to have a greater therapeutic benefit that may be further enhanced by the administration of leucovorin.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. Busse@JCRT.harvard.edu
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Recht
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil