title: Renaissance of contact x-ray therapy for treating rectal cancer.
abstract: Contact x-ray therapy (CXRT) with 50 kV has proven to be an efficient radiation therapy technique to achieve local control and rectal preservation for early rectal adenocarcinoma. Despite these results, CXRT has not been used due to the shortage of the no longer manufactured Philips RT 50™ unit. Recently, a new CXRT machine (Papillon 50™) became available on the market. This machine delivers a beam of 50 kV with a dose rate close to 15 Gy/min and has a percentage depth dose of 50% at 6-7 mm. The applicator size varies from 2-3 cm in diameter. Due to the original design of the main tube, treatment delivery is quick and more comfortable for the patients. An online viewing system incorporated in the tube allows a good visualization of the tumor with improved accuracy of radiation delivery. An international collaborative trial (Contact Endoscopic Microsurgery [CONTEM]) was set up to accrue approximately 300 cases of rectal adenocarcinoma staged T1, T2 or early T3 tumors in the UK, France, Denmark and Sweden. This trial should confirm the role of CXRT in curative treatment with organ preservation for early rectal cancers.
authors: Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, 33 Avenue de Valombrose, Nice Cedex 2, France. jean-pierre.gerard@nice.fnclcc.fr
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Gérard
authors: Arthur Sun
authors: AS
authors: Myint
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Croce
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: Lindegaard
authors: Anie
authors: A
authors: Jensen
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Myerson
authors: Jean-Michel
authors: JM
authors: Hannoun-Lévi
authors: Serge
authors: S
authors: Marcie
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014964:X-Ray Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards