Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer of the large bowel and rectum.

Forty patients with invasive regional-stage adenocarcinoma of the large bowel and rectum received adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy combined with doses of radiation below the maximal tissue tolerance level. This treatment was reserved for patients with stage B2, C1, and C2 lesions, with only two exceptions. The treatment was well tolerated. It appeared to result in a longer disease-free interval when compared with population-based results for patients with sigmoid cancer who had surgery alone. Our results paralleled those of the Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group (GITSG) for combined adjuvant therapy of rectal cancer, who also indicated an advantage for long-term survival. Patients who received additional extended chemotherapy had at least the same percentage of favorable outcomes. Tumors above the peritoneal reflection also appeared to share the same improved results. We believe a multicenter randomized study should be performed to evaluate this group of patients.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes