title: 5-fluorouracil and weekly oxaliplatin combined with radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: surgical complications and long-term results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We undertook this study to evaluate early surgical complications and long-term results after preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy (RCT) using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin (OXA) for rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty six TNM stage II-III rectal cancer patients were studied, who were given preoperative RT (50.4 Gy/28 fractions) combined with 5-FU (200-225 mg/m(2)/day by continuous venous infusion) and weekly OXA (25-60 mg/m(2)). Major complications and reoperations were recorded overall, whereas outcome analyses were performed only for patients who received the recommended regimen dosage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty three patients (M:F, 25:18; median age 59 years) were available for analysis. All patients received the planned RT dose. There were no postoperative deaths; seven patients had early major surgical complications, four requiring re-operation. One additional patient had a second surgical procedure due to a duodenal fistula complicating the resection of an aortic aneurysm performed concomitantly with rectal cancer surgery. At a median follow-up of 49 months, two of the 23 patients treated at the recommended doses developed recurrence (one local, and one local and distant), and two died of cancer progression. Following the Kaplan-Meier method, the estimated 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 92 and 89%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preoperative RCT regimen used in the present study incurs a low rate of recurrence with an acceptable surgical morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Chirurgica II, Dipartimento di Scienze Oncologiche e Chirurgiche, Policlinico, Padova, Italy. puc@unipd.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pucciarelli
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: DeSalvo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aschele
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Friso
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rugge
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toppan
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruttocao
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Benito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lonardi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frego
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Finco
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lise
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil