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VIDEO: Short-course chemoradiation trial results could change standard of care in advanced rectal cancer
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SAN FRANCISCO — Daniel Chang, MD, associate professor of radiation oncology at Stanford University, discusses randomized controlled trial data presented at the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, which found that a short-course 5-day radiation regimen followed by consolidated chemotherapy prior to surgery appeared as effective as and less toxic than the standard 5-week chemoradiation course for patients with advanced rectal cancer.
“In line with the previous trial, they found that there was worse toxicity with the long-course chemoradiation,” Chang said. “Interestingly, though, they found that there was no difference in local control or disease-free survival. However, what’s most interesting is that the study found … superior overall survival with the short-course radiotherapy followed by the three cycles of chemotherapy, indicating, potentially, the benefit of adding early chemotherapy to address systemic disease.”
Disclosure: Chang reports no relevant financial disclosures.