Short-course radiation versus long-course chemoradiation for rectal cancer.
The 2 broad approaches to preoperative therapy for rectal cancer are chemoradiation and short-course radiation. The outcomes of these 2 approaches reported in nonrandomized trials are not comparable because patients selected for treatment with short-course radiotherapy included those with cT1-3 disease, whereas patients selected for chemoradiation included those with T3 and/or N+ disease. However, more recent trials of short-course radiation have included patients with cT3 and/or N+ disease who also underwent sequential or postoperative chemotherapy, allowing a more relevant comparison with chemoradiation. This article compares the 2 preoperative approaches and addresses their emerging roles.
Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 97, Room B2.4562, Houston, TX 77030, USA. bminsky@mdanderson.org
Bruce D
BD
Minsky
Claus
C
Rödel
Vincenzo
V
Valentini
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors