Abstract

VALENCIA JULVE, J.; ESCO BARON, R.  and  LOPEZ MATA, M.. Single postoperative radiotherapy in rectal carcinoma. Oncología (Barc.) [online]. 2004, vol.27, n.5, pp.35-44. ISSN 0378-4835.

PURPOSE: To analyze the results associated with postoperative radiotherapy without chemotherapy in rectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with B2-C stage rectal adenocarcinoma treated between January 1994 and January 1997 were analyzed. Surgery was followed by radiotherapy alone without chemotherapy because age > 75 years, or renal, hepatic or hematotologic bad function. The median age was 71 years. All the patients received a dose of 50 Gy in the pelvic volume, with standard fractionation and a four-portal irradiation technique, by using 23 MV photon beams (42.1 %) or 60Co photons (57.9 %). Treatment planning was performed with two-dimensional dose-calculation algorithms. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 76.64 months, the actuarial cancer-specific and disease-free survival rates were 60.5 % and 58.1 %, respectively. Local control at 5 years was 66.6 %, and distant control 80.1 %. Acute toxicity incidence was 73.7 %. No grade 3-4 toxicity was produced, and it was not necessary to interrupt radiation therapy or hospitalization because of toxicity. Late grade 3 toxicity appeared in 5.3 % of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with B2-C stage rectal cancer in which chemotherapy is not possible, can receive postoperative radiotherapy alone considering its low toxicity and good results.

Keywords : Rectal carcinoma; Postoperative radiotherapy; Chemotherapy.

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