Combination preoperative radiation and chemotherapy in adenocarcinoma of the rectum

Abstract

The plausibility of preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with carcinoma of the rectum is demonstrated. The finding of specimens with no tumor along with a higher proportion of Dukes'' A lesions than expected was most encouraging. Whether this is a false impression because of the small number of patients, or whether it demonstrates upgrading of pathologic staging by preoperative adjuvant therapy, remains to be determined.