Abstract
Prospective randomized clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of combined adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical resection of rectal cancer. To assess toxicity of this therapy, prospective data were collected from 236 Asian rectal cancer patients treated with combined 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery. Almost 82% of patients completed planned therapy. Grade 3 and 4 diarrhea, stomatitis, and granulocytopenia occurred in approximately 18-21% of patients. There were two treatment-related deaths from granulocytopenia and sepsis. With median follow-up of 3.5 years, median disease-free and overall survival was 75 and 88 months, respectively. In conclusion, combined adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical resection of rectal cancer is tolerable in Asian patients with moderate toxicity.
MeSH terms
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Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
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Adenocarcinoma / mortality
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Adenocarcinoma / radiotherapy
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Adenocarcinoma / surgery
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Agranulocytosis / chemically induced
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Agranulocytosis / mortality
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Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / adverse effects
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Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use*
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Chemotherapy, Adjuvant*
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Diarrhea / chemically induced
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Disease-Free Survival
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Drug Evaluation
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Female
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Fluorouracil / adverse effects
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Fluorouracil / therapeutic use*
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Humans
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Leucovorin / therapeutic use
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Life Tables
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Lymph Node Excision
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Neoplasm Metastasis
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Postoperative Period
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Prospective Studies
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Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
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Rectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Rectal Neoplasms / mortality
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Rectal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Rectal Neoplasms / surgery
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Sepsis / etiology
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Sepsis / mortality
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Singapore / epidemiology
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Stomatitis / chemically induced
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Survival Analysis
Substances
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Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
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Leucovorin
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Fluorouracil