Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy Versus Radiotherapy With Boost in Locally Advanced Unresectable Rectal Cancers
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2009-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
At Tata Memorial Hospital 50% of the patients present in the locally advanced stage which is
technically unresectable, or that is beyond the realm of a potentially curative surgical
resection. The evaluation of treatment approaches for these tumors is hampered by the absence
of any substantial randomized studies and the heterogeneous nature of the tumors at
presentation.
The management of these tumors has changed over the years, there is emphasis on neoadjuvant
chemoradiation therapy, trying to convert a tumor that is initially unresectable to one that
is potentially curable by surgery. But only 70-80% of the patients are able to complete this
treatment without any significant treatment breaks.
Dose escalated treatment with radiotherapy in locally advanced and unresectable rectal
cancers have been tried in many small series with good results and lesser toxicity.
Comparison outcome between the two arms will indicate the relative efficacy and toxicity of
neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation vs boosted radiotherapy alone in downstaging of
advanced cancers.