Irradiation of Very Locally Advanced and Recurrent Rectal Cancer

Adjuvant therapy with chemoradiation or short-course radiation in addition to improvements in surgical technique has led to improved outcomes for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Local recurrence rates of less than 10% and 5-year survival rate of 60% or higher is expected. However, for patients with very locally advanced primary or locally recurrent disease in whom surgical resection is likely to be associated with incomplete resection, survival and disease control rates are poor and standard doses of adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation are relatively ineffective.
Source: Seminars in Radiation Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research