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Adjuvant chemotherapy in the patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical resection — YES
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Abstract
At the moment there are some scientific data supporting the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgical treatment. The paper below presents some arguments for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in the above clinical situation. The majority of deaths in patients with rectal cancer are caused by the presence of distant metastases, therefore there are significant grounds for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in this group of patients. Summarising, there is no clear or scientific evidence against the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. In order to make a conclusive statement about the lack of any benefits from adjuvant therapy, it is necessary to carry out randomised studies on a homogeneous and standardised group of patients. Therefore, it seems appropriate to apply this therapy especially for patients with the N (+) features (with a tumour location between 10 cm and 15 cm), similar to colon cancer cases.
Abstract
At the moment there are some scientific data supporting the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgical treatment. The paper below presents some arguments for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in the above clinical situation. The majority of deaths in patients with rectal cancer are caused by the presence of distant metastases, therefore there are significant grounds for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in this group of patients. Summarising, there is no clear or scientific evidence against the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. In order to make a conclusive statement about the lack of any benefits from adjuvant therapy, it is necessary to carry out randomised studies on a homogeneous and standardised group of patients. Therefore, it seems appropriate to apply this therapy especially for patients with the N (+) features (with a tumour location between 10 cm and 15 cm), similar to colon cancer cases.
Keywords
rectal cancer, preoperative chemoradiotherapy, surgical treatment, adjuvant chemotherapy
About this articleTitle
Adjuvant chemotherapy in the patients with rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical resection — YES
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Pages
152-156
Published online
2018-11-26
Page views
856
Article views/downloads
885
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2018;68(3):152-156.
Keywords
rectal cancer
preoperative chemoradiotherapy
surgical treatment
adjuvant chemotherapy
Authors
Rafał Stec