What is it about?
This research summarizes the 5-year results of Krakow Rectal Cancer Trial - the second trial conducted in Poland (after Polish Trial) on combined rectal cancer treatment.The 5-year survival rate in patients operated on 7-10 days after irradiation was 63%, whereas in those operated on after 4-5 weeks, it was 73%-the difference was not statistically significant (log rank, p = 0.24). A statistically significant increase in 5-year survival rate was observed only in patients with downstaging after radiotherapy-90% in comparison with 60% in patients without response to neoadjuvant treatment (log rank, p = 0.004). A lower rate of systemic recurrence was observed in patients operated on 4-5 weeks after the end of irradiation (2.8% vs. 12.3% in the subgroup with a shorter interval, p = 0.035). No differences in local recurrence rates were observed in both subgroups of irradiated patients (p = 0.119). The longer time interval between radiotherapy and surgery resulted in higher downstaging rate (44.2% vs. 13% in patients with a shorter interval, p = 0.0001).
Featured Image
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Why is it important?
It is one of the first studies on long-term interval between short-course preoperative radiotherapy and surgery (5x5 Gy). The other trial that focuses on this topic is Stockholm III Trial. Our study compares short (7-10 days) and long interval (4-5 weeks) between the end of radiotherapy and surgery (total mesolectal excision).
Perspectives
The long follow-up (10-years) results of the study are now summarised and will be published soon.
Dr Radoslaw Pach
Jagiellonian University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Randomized clinical trial on preoperative radiotherapy 25 Gy in rectal cancer—treatment results at 5-year follow-up, Langenbeck s Archives of Surgery, December 2011, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s00423-011-0890-8.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
