Disadvantages of Preoperative Chemoradiation in Rectal Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Preoperative chemoradiation therapy for rectal cancer seems to improve local control, anal sphincter preservation, resectability, and possibly survival in patients. However, there are several adverse effects, too. The aim of this study is to analyze the disadvantages of preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 139 patients who were treated by using preoperative chemoradiation for an adenocarcinoma of the rectum between January 1995 and December 2004. All patients had fixed or locally advanced lesions, as determined by digital rectal examination. No distant metastasis was proven before preoperative chemoradiation. All of the patiedts received the full scheduled dose of radiation (range, 5,000~5,400 rad). Concurrent intravenous chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (425 mg/m2/day) and leucovorin (45 mg/day) was administered continuously on days 1~5 and 29~33. The mean interval between chemoradiation and surgery was 4~6 weeks. After preoperative chemoradiation, 117 patients underwent an operation. We reviewed the side effects of preoperative chemoradiation, postoperative complications, and distant metastases detected during the preoperative period after preoperative chemoradiation and during the operation. RESULTS: The side effects of preoperative chemoradiation were diarrhea (23%), radiation dermatitis (2.2%), fistula (0.7%), sepsis (0.7%), and rectal bleeding (0.7%). Two patients died from sepsis and rectal bleeding. The postoperative complications were bowel obstruction in 9 cases (7.7%), wound seroma in 8 cases (6.8%), wound infection in 5 cases (4.3%), anastomotic leakage in 5 cases (7.1%), rectovaginal fistula in 2 cases (2.8%), an enterocutaneous fistula in 2 cases (1.7%), and a vesicocutaneous fistula in 1 case (0.8%). Distant metastases were detected in 14 patients (10.1%) after preoperative chemoradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Although preoperative chemoradiation can be performed safely, careful management for the side effects of preoperative chemoradiation and for postoperative complications is necessary. We need a more sensitive study method for detecting distant metastasis of rectal cancer, especially during scheduled preoperative chemoradiation.