Three dimensional-conformal radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer

Objective To study the outcome of locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer treated by three dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT) combined with chemotherapy(CT). MethodsTwenty-four patients with locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer were irradiated by external beam radiotherapy to a total dose of 44 Gy,then randomized to receive 3D-CRT plus CT (combined group) or 3D-CRT alone (control group),with 11 patients in the former and 13 in the latter. The chemotherapy regimen included 5-Fu and CF. ResultsThe pain-alleviation rates were 90.9% and 84.6%,while the overall response(CR+PR) rates were 90.9% and 69.2% in the combined and control group,with the difference insignificant(P0.05). Yet,for the combined and control groups,the 2-year survival rates were 63.6% and 38.5%,with the difference significant (P= 0.013 ). The 2-year local control rates were 72.7% and 61.5%,with the difference insignificant (P=0.053). The 2-year distant metastasis rates were 36.3% and 61.5%,with the difference significant (P=0.007). The side effects were similar in the two groups (P0.05). ConclusionsConventional radiotherapy plus three dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy may significantly improve the survival rate and reduce the distant metastasis rate of locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer.