Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the role of endocavitary irradiation and wide local excision followed by irradiation in the treatment of early-stage rectal adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: Sixty-five patients with early-stage adenocarcinoma of the rectum were treated with endocavitary irradiation (n = 20) or wide local excision followed by external-beam irradiation (n = 45) between 1974 and 1994 at the University of Florida. All patients were monitored for a minimum of 2 years or until death. Results: The rates of local-regional control at 5 years were 80% after endocavitary irradiation and 86% after wide local excision and radiotherapy. The ultimate 5-year local- regional control rates were 85% and 92%, respectively. Multivariate analysis of local-regional control with sphincter preservation showed that tumor configuration (exophytic v ulcerative) significantly influenced this end point; local-regional control was decreased in patients with ulcerated cancers. Five-year cause-specific survival rates were 84% after endocavitary irradiation and 88% after wide local excision and radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor configuration significantly influenced cause- specific survival; patients with ulcerated tumors had a worse prognosis. Conclusion: Endocavitary irradiation is a highly effective treatment for properly selected patients with early-stage rectal adenocarcinoma. Patients with less favorable lesions that appear to be limited to the muscularis propria have a high chance of cure with sphincter preservation after wide local excision and external-beam irradiation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3241-3248 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Oncology |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research