title: Adjuvant postoperative 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy combined with pelvic radiation for rectal cancer: results from an Asian population.
abstract: Prospective randomized clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of combined adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical resection of rectal cancer. To assess toxicity of this therapy, prospective data were collected from 236 Asian rectal cancer patients treated with combined 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery. Almost 82% of patients completed planned therapy. Grade 3 and 4 diarrhea, stomatitis, and granulocytopenia occurred in approximately 18-21% of patients. There were two treatment-related deaths from granulocytopenia and sepsis. With median follow-up of 3.5 years, median disease-free and overall survival was 75 and 88 months, respectively. In conclusion, combined adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical resection of rectal cancer is tolerable in Asian patients with moderate toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610. dmoeau@nccs.com.sg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seow-Choen
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoe
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015993:Life Tables; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil