Can only chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment be applied to patients with rectal cancer who could not be operated?

Objectives: This study is aimed to evaluate patients with non-metastatic rectal cancer who could not be operated due to any reason and were treated with chemoradiotherapy alone or chemotherapy following chemoradiotherapy. Methods: Patients with locally advanced non-metastatic rectal cancer, who were treated and followed-up were evaluated. Results: Totally 263 patients with stage II and III rectal cancer were evaluated. It was determined that 14 (5.2%) of the patients with locally advanced stages received chemoradiotherapy alone or chemotherapy following chemoradiotherapy, and they were followed-up instead of undergoing operation. The baseline assessments revealed that 8 (57.1%) patients had clinical stage II, and 6 (42.9%) patients had clinical stage III diseases. Recurrence was detected in 3 (21.4%) patients. 6 (42.9%) patients died, and death due to rectal cancer progression was detected in 2 (14.3%) patients. Median progression-free survival was 25 months (8 to 68 months), median overall survival was 35 months (12 to 68 months), overall survival rates in 1, 3 and 5 years were 92.9%, 69.8% and 52.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Chemoradiotherapy alone or subsequent chemotherapy after chemoradiotherapy may be suitable for patients with non-metastatic locally advanced rectal cancer who could not be operated due to any reason. © Pioneer Bioscience Publishing Company