Preoperative chemotherapy is very commonly used in the treatment of rectal cancer. But is there any evidence of better outcome with preoperative chemotherapy compared to post-operative chemo therapy?

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal (NEJM), chemotherapy survival rates are similar among patients with rectal cancer whether chemotherapy is given before or after surgery.

The rectum is the last portion of the large intestine. Standard treatment for rectal cancer often includes the surgical removal of as much of the cancer as possible. Unfortunately, surgery for the removal of rectal cancer may result in loss of sphincter control. In an attempt to combat this, researchers have been evaluating the effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy prior to surgery, referred to as neoadjuvant therapy.

The concept behind neoadjuvant therapy is to shrink the cancer as much as possible prior to surgery so that the cancer may be completely removed with minimal surgery, thus maintaining sphincter control.

Furthermore, chemotherapy may immediately start killing cancer cells throughout the body, versus postponing chemotherapy until the patient has healed from surgery. Most patients with rectal cancer who are to undergo surgery are treated with radiation therapy prior to surgery.


Posted by: Andria    Source

---