CURRENT INDICATIONS AND MODALITIES OF RADIATION-THERAPY ALONE OR WITHCHEMOTHERAPY IN CANCER OF THE RECTUM

Radiation therapy plus chemotherapy has almost completely superseded r adiation therapy alone in the postoperative treatment of cancer of the rectum. Although presurgical radiation therapy has been shown to redu ce local recurrence rates and to improve survival rates as compared to surgery alone and to surgery plus postsurgical radiation therapy, the optimal dose and dose fractionation regimen are not agreed on. The mo dalities and value of presurgical radiation therapy plus chemotherapy are still under study. Also being evaluated is the role of radiation t herapy in patients whose surgical treatment included the new technique of complete removal of the rectal mesentery.