Background: In locally advanced rectal cancer RO-resectability is limited and outcome is combined with a relatively high rate of local recurrences. This paper focuses on experiences with preoperative (neo-)adjuvant therapy and the potential improvement of treatment results.
Patients and methods: Different therapy regimen were demonstrated under consideration of therapeutic induced side effects, treatment response (downstaging) in relation to resectability, recurrence free and overall survival.
Results: The rate of treatment induced toxicity of preoperative radio-(chemo-)therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer is acceptable with regard to the obtained treatment results. Through the pretreatment it was possible to gain a downstaging by nearly 60%. The frequency of local recurrence is significantly reduced by preoperative radiotherapy, and combined radiochemotherapy possibly increases the disease free survival. In what extent the results of treatment could be improved through hyperthermia and/or consecutive postoperative chemotherapy, is proved at present.
Conclusions: Preoperative radio-(chemo-)therapy should be increasingly introduced into the standard treatment regimen of locally advanced rectal cancer and has to be optimised within the scope of further studies.