Trial of Chemotherapy and Radiation for Rectal Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Yasui Masayoshi, Ikeda Masataka, Sekimoto Mitsugu, Yamamoto Hirofumi, Takemasa Ichiro, Ueda Takafumi, Shimizu Junzo, Fukunaga Mutsumi, Suzuki Osamu, Inoue Takehiro, Monden Morito
Primary Institution: Osaka University, Japan
Hypothesis
Can irinotecan combined with UFT and leucovorin improve treatment outcomes for locally recurrent rectal cancer?
Conclusion
The combination of irinotecan, UFT, and radiotherapy was not feasible due to significant diarrhea in patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Four out of six patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities, primarily grade 3 diarrhea.
- One patient had a partial response and underwent radical surgical resection.
- The median progression-free survival for local recurrence was 320 days.
Takeaway
Doctors tried a new medicine combination to help patients with rectal cancer, but it made some patients very sick.
Methodology
Patients received escalating doses of irinotecan along with fixed doses of UFT and leucovorin, combined with radiation therapy.
Limitations
The study was limited by the high incidence of diarrhea, which affected treatment feasibility.
Participant Demographics
All participants were male, aged 50 to 66, with a performance status of 0.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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