High Dose Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Rectal Cancer
High Dose Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Rectal Cancer
While surgery remains the standard treatment for rectal cancer, some patients still firmly
 refuse surgery for various reasons. Here, we conducted this retrospective observation study
 to discuss the feasibility of high-dose radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in treating
 rectal cancer We retrospectively collect data of rectal cancer patients who were treated with
 high-dose radiotherapy plus chemotherapy in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from April
 1st, 2006 to July 30th, 2017. Patients gave up surgery before any treatment would have
 received one course of high dose radiotherapy (GTV60-70Gy/30-35f). Patients with tumor
 residual after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy but insisted non-operative treatment would have
 received 2 courses of radiotherapy (1st: GTV 45-50Gy/25f, 2nd: GTV 30/15f). The chemotherapy
 regimens included Capox, FOLFOX, or capecitabine at the discretion of the treating physician.

 After treatment, patients were followed every 3 months for the first two years, at least
 every 6 months in the year thereafter. Recurrence, early and late toxicity were recorded.

 Analyses were performed using SPSS software, version 19.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). Local
 recurrence and distant metastasis rate, progression free survival, and overall survival were
 calculated using the Kaplan Meier Method and were compared by log-rank test.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. pathologically confirmed diagnosis of rectal adenocarcinoma located within 15cm from
 the anal verge;

 2. pelvic radiation with a total dose ≥60Gy for the treatment of rectal cancer;

 3. refused surgery as the initial treatment;

 4. a complete set of clinical information and follow-up data.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. patients with terminal cancer who received palliative treatment;

 2. patients received any treatment before admission to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer
 Center;

 3. patients with second primary cancer.