Results of preoperative high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy for resectable rectal cancer

One hundred and fifteen patients with middle and lower rectal cancer were treated with preoperative High-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDRIBT) and radical operation. Patients were divided into a middle-dose group (group A; 30-40 Gy; n = 94) and a high-dose group (group B; 60-80 Gy; n = 18). A control group of 115 rectal cancer patients who received no irradiation prior to radical surgery was used for comparison (group C). The rate of sphincter-saving resection was 71% in group A, 61% in group B, and 42% in group C (group A vs. group C; p < 0.0001). The local recurrence rate at 5 years was 10% in group A, 6% in group B, and 26% in group C (group A vs. group C; p = 0.005). The 5-year survival rate was similar among the three groups. These results suggest that preoperative HDRIBT contributed to the improvement of local control but not to survival after radical resection of rectal cancer. The application of HDRIBT might be useful to restore intestinal continuity for rectal cancer.