Study: Chemotherapy, Radiation Best Prior to Rectal Cancer Surgery

Treatment with chemotherapy and radiation before surgery improves outcomes for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, according to German researchers.

In a study of 823 patients with rectal cancer, half underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment four to six weeks prior to surgery, while half had essentially the same treatment following surgery to remove the cancer.

An analysis of almost 800 of the participants showed that the rate of cancer recurrence was only 6 percent in those who had chemotherapy and radiation treatment prior to surgery, compared to 12 percent in those who had chemotherapy and radiation following surgery.

The chemotherapy and radiation were also significantly better tolerated by patients who had the treatment prior to surgery, and preoperative treatment also was better at enabling patients to avoid the need for a colostomy.

The researchers concluded that preoperative chemotherapy and radiation was "extremely helpful in improving local tumor control and sphincter preservation," Dr. Rolf Saur from Strahlenklinik reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Other sources: American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology