Emerging Role of Brachytherapy in the Non-operative Management of Rectal Cancer

AbstractPurpose of reviewThe non-operative management of rectal cancer is an area of active research. Dose-escalated radiotherapy may improve sustained local control but toxicity is a concern. Brachytherapy is emerging as a promising boost technique that may confer dosimetric advantages over external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) –based boosts.Recent findingsPreliminary findings from two multicenter prospective randomized phase II/III trials suggest high rates of sustained 2-year local control with a combination of EBRT and either contact X-ray brachytherapy or high dose rate endorectal brachytherapy compared with an EBRT boost.SummaryBrachytherapy is a promising technique in the non-operative management of patients with rectal cancer. Further research will be needed to characterize long-term oncologic and toxicity outcomes.
Source: Current Colorectal Cancer Reports - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research