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Combined
chemotherapy and radiation following rectal cancer surgery,
which is now the standard of care for locally advanced rectal
cancer in the United States, also would benefit elderly patients
with stage III rectal cancer, according to New York researchers.
Dr. Alfred
I. Neugut of New York Presbyterian Hospital reported in the
Journal of Clinical Oncology on his review of more than 1,800
patients over age 65 with stage II or III rectal cancer who
underwent surgery between 1992 and 1996.
He said
approximately one-third of the patients received both chemotherapy
and radiation following their surgeries.
"Combined
chemotherapy and radiation therapy was associated with improved
survival for stage III, but not for stage II rectal cancer,"
Neugut and colleagues reported.
"In
the absence of data from well-designed randomized controlled
trials, our observational data support efforts on the part
of clinicians to make appropriate referrals and provide combined
treatment for elderly patients with stage III rectal cancer,"
the researchers concluded.
Source:
Colorectal
Cancer Week of June 9, 2002
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