Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 142))

Abstract

Surgery is the initial treatment of choice for most patients with rectal neoplasms. The objectives are to remove of tumor and drain the primary nodes. In stage I disease the surgical approach is thought to be sufficiently effective. However, at least in the case of abdominoperineal resection, this causes considerable morbidity. Therefore, at the present time, there are efforts to reduce the extent of the resection by applying other treatment modalities in stage I disease. After curative resection in stage II/III disease a considerable number of patients suffer from local recurrence or distant metastases. In these patients adjuvant therapy is currently recommended. In locally advanced disease, primary resection is not feasible. Different treatment settings which apply combinations of all treatment modalities are possible. The article reviews the literature and shows future directions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abulafi AM, Williams NS (1994) Local recurrence of colorectal cancer: the problem, mechanisms, management and adjuvant therapy. Br J Surg 81: 7–19

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey HR, Huval WV, Max E et al (1992) Local excision of carcinoma of the rectum for cure. Surgery 111: 555–561

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balslev I, Pederson M, Teglbjaerg PS, Hanberg-Soerensen F, Bone J, Jacobsen NO, Overgaard J, Sell A, Bertelsen K, Hage E, Hansen L, Kronborg O, Hoestrup H, Noergaard-Pedersen B (1986) Postoperative radiotherapy in Duke’s B and C carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. Cancer 58: 22–28

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boring CC, Squires TS, Tong T (1992) Cancer statistics [published erratum appears in CA Cancer J Clin Mar—Apr 42:127–128]. CA Cancer J Clin 42: 19–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boulis-Wassif S, Gerard A, Loygue J, Camelot D, Buyse M, Duez N (1984) Final results of a randomized trial on the treatment of rectal cancer with preoperative radiotherapy alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil, followed by radical surgery. Cancer 53: 1811–1818

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brizel HE, Tepperman BS (1984) Postoperative adjuvant irradiation for adenocarcinoma of the rectum and sigmoid. Am J Clin Oncol 7: 679

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cedermark B, Theire NO, Rieger A (1985) Preoperative short-term radiotherapy in rectal carcinoma. A preliminary report of a prospective randomized study. Cancer 55: 1182–1185

    Google Scholar 

  • Cionini L, Papi MG (1990) Update on and perspectives of radiotherapy in the treatment of colonic carcinoma. Ann Ital Chir 61 (5): 499–507

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cummings BJ (1992) Adjuvant radiation therapy for colorectal cancer. Cancer [Suppl] 70: 1372–1383

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl O, Horn A, Morild I et al (1990) Low-dose preoperative radiation postpones recurrences in operable rectal cancer: results of a randomized multicenter trial in western Norway. Cancer 66: 2286–2294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dosoretz DE, Gunderson LL, Hedberg S et al (1983) Preoperative irradiation for unresectable rectal and rectosigmoid carcinomas. Cancer 52: 814

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emami B, Pilepich M, Willet C et al (1982) Effects of preoperative irradiation on resectability of colorectal carcinomas. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 8: 1295

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feigen M, Cummings B, Hawkins N, Keane T, O’Sullivan B, Wong S (1988) Low dose postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy for rectal cancer is ineffective. Radiother Oncol 13: 181–186

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher B, Wolmark N, Rockette H et al (1988) Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy for rectal cancer: Results from NSABP Protocal R-01. J Natl Cancer Inst 80: 21–29

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frykholm GJ, Glimelius B, Pâhlman L (1993) Preoperative or postoperative irradiation in adenocarcinoma of the rectum: final treatment results of a randomized trial and an evaluation of late secondary effects. Dis Colon Rectum 36: 564–572

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gall FP, Hermanek P (1992) Wandel und derzeitiger Stand der chirurgischen Behandlung des colorectalen Karzinoms. Chirurg 63: 227–231

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group (1985) Prolongation of the disease-free interval in surgically treated rectal carcinoma. N Engl J Med 312: 1465–1472

    Google Scholar 

  • Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group (1992) Radiation therapy and fluorouracil with or without semustine for the treatment of patients with surgical adjuvant adenocarcinoma of the rectum. J Clin Oncol 10: 549–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerard A, Loygue J et al (1984) Final results of a randomized trial on the treatment of rectal cancer with preoperative radiotherapy alone or in combination with 5fluorouracil, followed by radical surgery. Trial by the EORTC Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Cooperative Group. Cancer 53: 1811–1818

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerard A, Berrod L, Pene F, Loygne J, Laugier A, Bruckner R, Camelot G, Arnaud JP, Metzger U, Buyse M (1985) Interim analysis of a phase III study on preoperative radiation therapy in resectable rectal carcinoma. Trial of the Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Cooperative Group of the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Cancer 55 (10): 2373–2379

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerard A, Buyse M, Nordlinger B et al (1988) Preoperative radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment in rectal cancer. Final results of a randomized study of the EORTC. Ann Surg 208: 606–614

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghossein NA, Samala EC, Alpert S, Deluca FR, Ragins H, Turner SS, Stacey P, Flax H (1981) Elective postoperative radiotherapy after incomplete resection of colorectal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 24: 252–256

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gundersson LL, Cohen AC, Dosoretz DD, Shipley WU, Hedberg SE, Wood WC, Rodkey GV, Suit HD (1983) Residual, unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer: external beam irradiation and intraoperative electron beam boost ± resection. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 9: 1597–1606

    Google Scholar 

  • Gundersson LL, Russell HJ, Llewellyn et al (1985) Treatment planning for colorectal cancer: radiation and surgical techniques and value of small-bowel films. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 11: 1379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gundersson LL, Martin JK, Beart RW, Nagorney DM, Fieck JM, Wieand HS, Martiny A, O’Connell MJ, Martenson JA, Mcllrath DC (1988) Intraoperative and external beam irradiation for locally advanced colorectal cancer. Ann Surg 207: 52–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hafström L, Domellöf L, Rudenstam CM, Norryd C, Bergman L, Nilsson T, Hansson K, Wählby L, Asklöf G, Kugelberg C, and the Swedish Gastrointestinal Tumour Adjuvant Therapy Group (1990) Adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluororacil, vincristine and CCNU for patients with Duke’s C colorectal cancer. Br J Surg 77:1345

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermanek P (1992) Prognosefaktoren nach Resektion kolorektaler Karzinome. In: Schmoll HJ, Pichlmayr R (eds) Aktuelle Therapie gastrointestinaler Tumoren. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 206–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Hermann R (1994) Systemic treatment of colorectal cancer. Eur J Cancer 30A: 404–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higgins GA, Humphrey EW, Dwight RW et al (1986) Preoperative. radiation and surgery for cancer of the rectum. Veterans Administration Surgical Oncology Group Trial II. Cancer 58: 352–359

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoskins RB, Gunderson LL, Dosoretz DE et al (1985) Adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy in carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. Cancer 55: 61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kligerman MM, Urdaneta N, Knowlton A, Vidone R, Hartman PR, Vera R (1972) Preoperative irradiation of rectosigmoid carcinoma including regional lymph nodes. AJR 114: 498–503

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kodner IJ, Gilley MT, Shemesh EI et al (1993) Radiation therapy as definitive treatment for selected invasive rectal cancer. Surgery 114: 850–857

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kollmorgen CF, Meagher AP, Wolff BG et al (1994) The long-term effect of adjuvant postoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal carcinoma on bowel function. Ann Surg 220: 676–682

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krook J, Moertel CG, Gunderson LL, Wieand HS, Collins RT, Beart RW, Kubista TP, Poon MA, Meyers WC, Mailliard JA, Twito DI, Morton RF, Veeder MH, Witzig TE, Cha S, Vidyarthi SC (1991) Effective surgical adjuvant therapy for high-risk rectal carcinoma. N Engl J Med 324: 709–715

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martenson JA Jr, Gunderson LL (1992) Colon and rectum. In: Perez CA, Brady LW (eds) Principles and practice of radiation oncology, 2nd edn. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 1000–1014

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendenhall WM, Million RR, Bland KL, Pfaff WW, Copeland EM (1985) Preoperative radiation therapy for clinically resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Ann Surg 202 (2): 215–222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minsky BD, Rich T, Recht A (1989) Selection criteria for local excision with or without adjuvant radiation therapy for rectal cancer. Cancer 63: 1421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minsky BD, Kemeny N, Cohen AM, Enker WE, Kelsen DP, Reichman B, Saltz L, Sigurdson ER, Frankel J (1991) Preoperative high dose leucovorin/5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy for unresectable rectal cancer. Cancer 67: 2859–2866

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minsky BD, Cohen AM, Kemeny N, Enker WE, Kelsen DP, Schwartz G, Saltz L, Dougherty J, Frankel J, Wiseberg J (1993) Preoperative combined 5-FU low dose leucovorin and sequential radiation therapy for unresectable rectal cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 25: 821–827

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moertel CG, Childs DS Jr, Reitemeier RI et al (1969) Combined 5-fluorouracil and supervoltage radiation therapy of locally unresectable gastrointestinal cancer. Lancet 2: 865

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohiuddin M, Marks G (1991) High dose preoperative irradiation for cancer of the rectum, 1976–1988. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 20: 37–43

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohiuddin M, Ahmad N, Marks G (1993) A selective approach to adjunctive therapy for cancer of the rectum. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 27: 765–772

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MRC; Second Report of an MRC Working Party (1984) The evaluation of low dose pre-operative x-ray therapy in the management of operable rectal cancer: results of randomly controlled trial. Br J Surg 71: 21–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NIH Consensus Conference (1990) Adjuvant therapy for patients with colon and rectal cancer. JAMA 264: 1444–1450

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connell MJ (1994) Surgical adjuvant therapy of colorectal cancer. In: American Society of Clinical Oncology (eds) Educational book, pp 157–161

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connell MJ, Maillard J, Macdonald J, Haller D, Mayer R, Wieand H (1993) An intergroup trial of intensive course 5FU and low dose leucovorin as adjuvant therapy for high risk colon cancer. Proc ASCO 12: 190

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connell MJ, Martenson JA, Wieand HS et al (1994) Improving adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer by combining protracted-infusion fluorouracil with radiation therapy after curative resection. N Engl J Med 331: 502–507

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pdhlman L, Glimelius B (1990) Pre-or postoperative radiotherapy in rectal or rectosigmoid carcinoma. Ann Surg 211: 187–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pâhlman L, Glimelius B, Ginman C et al (1985) Preoperative irradiation of primarily non-resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. Acta Radiol Oncol 24: 35

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papillon J (1982) Rectal and anal cancers: conservative treatment by irradiation - an alternative to radical surgery. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Pujol H, Solassol C, Gary-Bobo J (1978) La radiotherapie preoperatoire des cancers du rectum, actualisation des resultats. A propos de 179 cas. Chirurgie 104: 606–611

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quirke P, Durdey P, Dixon MF, Williams NS (1986) Local recurrence of rectal adenocarcinoma due to inadequate surgical resection. Histopathological study of lateral tumour spread and surgical excision. Lancet 2: 996–999

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed WP, Gar ls L, Park WC, Stark AJ (1988) Long-term results and complications of preoperative radiation in the treatment of rectal cancer. Surgery 103 (2): 161–167

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reis Neto JA, Quilici FA, Res JA Jr (1989) A comparison of nonoperative versus preoperative radiotherapy in rectal carcinoma: a 10-year randomized trial. Dis Colon Rectum 32: 702

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rich T, Gunderson LL, Lew R, Galdabini JJ, Cohen AM, Donaldson G (1983) Patterns of recurrence after potentially curative surgery. Cancer 52: 1317–1329

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rider WD, Palmer JA, Mahoney LJ, Robertson CT (1977) Preoperative radiation in operable cancer of the rectum: report of the Toronto trial. Can J Surg 20: 335–338

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rockette H, Deutsch M, Petrelli N et al (1994) Effect of postoperative radiation therapy (RTX) when used with adjuvant chemotherapy in Duke’s B and C rectal cancer. Results from NSABP R-02. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 13: 193

    Google Scholar 

  • Roswit B, Higgins GA, Keehn J (1975) Preoperative irradiation for carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid colon: report of a National Veterans Administration randomized study. Cancer 35: 1597–1602

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sack H, Bamberg M, Budach V (1990) Adjuvante Strahlentherapie beim Rektumkarzinom. Langenbecks Arch Chir [Suppl II] (Kongreßbericht 1990 ): 169–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Schild SE, Martenson JA jr, Gunderson LL, Dozois RR (1989a) Long-term survival and patterns of failure after postoperative radiation therapy for subtotally resected rectal adenocarcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 16: 459–463

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schild SE, Martenson JA jr, Gunderson LL et al (1989b) Postoperative adjuvant therapy of rectal cancer: an analysis of disease control, survival, and prognostic factors. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 17 (1): 55–62

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlag PM, Slisow W (1995) Operatives Konzept beim Rektumkarzinom. Onkologe 1: 18–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Second Report of an MRC Working Party (1984) The evaluation of low dose preoperative X-ray therapy in the management of operable rectal cancer: results of a randomly controlled trial. Br J Surg 71: 21–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shumate CR, Rich TA, Skibber JM, Ajani JA, Ota DM (1993) Preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy for locally advanced primary and recurrent rectal carcinoma. A report of surgical morbidity. Cancer 71: 3690–3696

    Google Scholar 

  • Sischy B, Graney MJ, Hinson EJ (1984) Endocavitary irradiation for adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Ca-A Cancer J Clin 34: 333–339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Slisow W, Seifert W, Marx G (1991) Stellenwert der lokalen Exstirpation von kleinflächigen tiefsitzenden Rektumkarzinomen mit kurativer Zielsetzung. Zentralbl Chir 116: 1245

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens KR, Allen CV, Fletcher WS (1976) Preoperative radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid. Cancer 37: 2866–2874

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stockholm Rectal Cancer Study Group (1990) Preoperative short-term radiation therapy in operable rectal carcinoma. A prospective randomized trial. Cancer 66: 49–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Tepper JE, Cohen AM, Wood WC et al (1986) Intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy in the treatment of unresectable rectal cancer. Arch Surg 121:421

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tepper JE, Cohen AM, Wood WC, Orlow EL, Hedberg SE (1987) Postoperative radiation therapy of rectal cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 13:5–10

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tobin RL, Mohiudon M, Marks G (1991) Preoperative irradiation for cancer of the rectum with extrarectal fixation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 21:1127–1132

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaughn DJ, Haller DG (1993) Adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer. Adv Oncol 9(2):22–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigliotti A, Rich TA, Romsdahl MM, Withers HR, Oswald MJ (1987) Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 13: 999–1006

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willet CG, Shellito PC, Tepper JE, Eliseo R, Convery K, Wood WC (1991) Intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy for primary locally advanced rectal and rectosigmoid carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 9: 843–849

    Google Scholar 

  • Willet CG, Compton CC, Shellito PC et al (1994) Selection factors for local excision or abdominoperineal resection of early-stage rectal cancer. Cancer 73: 2716–2720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Withers HR, Cuasay L, Mason KA, Romsdahl MM, Saxton J (1981) Elective radiation therapy in the curative treatment of cancer of the rectum and rectosigmoid colon. In: Stroehlein JR, Romsdahl MM (eds) Gastrointestinal cancer. Raven, New York, pp 351–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittekind C, Tannapfel A (1995) Ätiologie, Pathogenese und Pathologie des Rektumkarzinoms. Onkologe 1: 4–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Zucali R, Gadani G, Lattuada A (1987) Adjuvant irradiation after radical surgery of cancer of the rectum and rectosigmoid colon. Radiother Oncol 8: 19

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Budach, V., Schlenger, L., Feyer, P. (1996). Preoperative and Postoperative Radiotherapy in Rectal Carcinoma. In: Kreuser, ED., Schlag, P.M. (eds) New Perspectives in Molecular and Clinical Management of Gastrointestinal Tumors. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 142. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80035-1_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80035-1_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-80037-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-80035-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics