Irradiation with and without razoxane in the treatment of incompletely resected or inoperable recurrent rectal cancer. Results of a small randomized multicenter study.
OBJECTIVE
In an earlier phase II study, irradiation together with razoxane was shown to improve local control in recurrent rectal cancer. Therefore, the Austrian Society of Radiooncology (OGRO) initiated a randomized controlled trial in 1992 to compare this combined treatment versus radiation therapy alone.


METHODS
Between 1992 and 1999, 36 patients with localized recurrences of rectal cancer were randomized to receive radiotherapy without (group A) or with razoxane (group B). The prognostic variables of the two groups were similar except for a longer median latency period from initial surgery to local recurrence in group A. High-energy photons with daily fractions between 170 and 200 cGy were used. The median total radiation dose was 60 Gy in each group. The patients in group B received a median razoxane dose of 9.6 g (range, 5-12 g). Main outcome measures were local control, overall survival, and toxicity.


RESULTS
The combined treatment with razoxane increased the local control rate compared to radiotherapy alone (39% vs. 8%; p = 0.05). The median survival time was not different between the groups (20 months each). No patient in arm A but four of 18 patients in arm B survived 5 years. Acute toxic effects were of moderate degree in both groups. There were no substantial differences as to late side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiotherapy together with razoxane is superior to radiation treatment alone in recurrent rectal cancer as far as local control is concerned. In some patients, long-term survival was achieved with razoxane and radiotherapy.
Rhomberg
Walter
W
Department of Radiooncology, General Hospital, Feldkirch, Austria. walter.rhomberg@gmx.at
Hammer
Josef
J
Sedlmayer
Felix
F
Eiter
Helmut
H
Seewald
Dieter
D
Schneider
Barbara
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001317:Austria; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D011929:Razoxane / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011929:Razoxane