title: Radiation plus chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.
abstract: The most common neo-adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer is chemotherapy and concurrent radiation therapy. In general, it is delivered pre-operatively for patients with clinical evidence of T(3-4) disease or post-operatively in patients who have undergone surgery and have T(3) and/or N(1-2) disease. This chapter reviews the rationale and results for neo-adjuvant therapy, the selection process for pre-operative versus post-operative treatment, and new approaches and controversies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Minsky
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome