title: [New treatment strategies for patients with primary non-resectable rectal cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) have a poor prognosis. Preoperative radiotherapy may shrink the tumour and make subsequent resection possible. The use of modern principles of preoperative radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy and an active surgical attitude increases the chance for radical surgery and cure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-institution, prospective evaluation of a new treatment strategy in patients with LARC was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1998 to 2000, 20 patients with LARC were treated with high-dose radiochemotherapy (60 Gy and chemotherapy, UFT/leucovorin), and resectability was evaluated four to six weeks after termination of radiochemotherapy. Sixty percent of the patients subsequently had microscopic radical surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with LARC should preferably be treated with high-dose preoperative radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy. Evaluation of resectability should be performed at least four weeks after termination of radiotherapy. This strategy, in combination with modern surgical techniques, increases the probability of success of radical surgery and cure.
authors.affiliation: Odense Universitetshospital, Onkologisk Afdeling. per.pfeiffer@ouh.fyns-amt.dk
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baatrup
authors.forename: Helle Anita
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kronborg
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002955:Leucovorin