[The proper opportunity of surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the proper opportunity of surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy.


METHODS
Preoperative chemotherapy was performed on 27 rectal cancer cases at Dukes stage B and C. The therapy comprised of arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2), mitomycin 15 mg/m(2) and epirubicin 30 mg/m(2) for one course. Miles' or Dixon's operation was carried out 7 to 10 days later. The effects of chemotherapy were evaluated. Dynamic changes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections.


RESULTS
Hematochezia was remitted in 19 cases. Histologically, the effects of chemotherapy were considered as slight, moderate and marked in 9, 15 and 3 cases, respectively. Side effects were slight and recovered in 4 days. There was a high expression of PCNA in rectal cancer. On the 7th to the 10th day, proliferating index was significantly higher than that of before chemotherapy (46.48 +/- 10.62)%, P < 0.05.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy plays a role in the treatment of resectable rectal cancer. It is suggested that radical surgery should be carried out 5 to 6 days after intra-arterial chemotherapy.
Xu
Z
Z
Institute of General Surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Nanjing 210002.
Li
J
J
Liu
F
F
Chen
X
X
Qi
X
X
Li
G
G
Ye
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors
D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil