Optimal Adjuvant Therapy for Patients with Resecte

Authors: Francine Aubin Charles D Blanke

Publish Date: 2010/08/05

Volume: 6, Issue: 4, Pages: 180-182

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Abstract

Until fairly recently patients with stage II and III rectal adenocarcinomas were routinely administered postoperative combined chemoradiotherapy which was associated with a significant survival benefit over surgery alone and surgery plus irradiation More recently preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by resection and postoperative chemotherapy was shown to offer better local control and less toxicity than purely postoperative treatment and it became standardofcare therapy for those clinically staged with II/III disease at least in parts of North America and Europe 1 The postoperative component particularly in those achieving pathologic complete remission pCR following preoperative treatment was never specifically shown to be required to achieve best results although its use is considered a standard Even if necessary or at least optimal the ideal postoperative chemotherapy regimen has not yet been defined

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