Preoperative Short-course Radiotherapy for Lower Rectal Cancer

Abstract

Preoperative short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) for lower rectal cancer has been reported to be useful for local control in Europe. SCRT was compared to long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT) in several RCTs. In those analyses, SCRT is superior to LCCRT in terms of treatment compliance and cost effectiveness. However, there was no statistical difference in local control rate, overall survival and sphincter preservation rate. In the guidelines, preoperative short-course radiotherapy or conventional chemoradiotherapy is recommended for resectable, negative circumferential margin cases, and systemic chemotherapy with short-course or long-course radiotherapy for involved circumferential margin cases.