Dose-Effect Relationship in Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Radiation Doses (original) (raw)

This was a prospective randomized trial of 248 locally advanced rectal cancer patients comparing 2 radiation doses and concurrent chemotherapy. The tumor dose was increased by endorectal brachytherapy (10 Gy/2 fractions). The primary endpoint, complete pathologic remission, was 18% and 18%, but the major response rate (TRG1 and TRG2) increased significantly. The results also showed that the high-dose regimen was feasible without an increase in complication rates. The final results await additional follow-up.