The New England journal of medicine
The most recent articles from:
N. Engl. J. Med.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer.
Preoperative radiotherapy is recommended for selected patients with rectal cancer. We evaluated the addition of chemotherapy to preoperative radiotherapy and the use of postoperative chemotherapy in the treatment of rectal cancer. ⋯ In patients with rectal cancer who receive preoperative radiotherapy, adding fluorouracil-based chemotherapy preoperatively or postoperatively has no significant effect on survival. Chemotherapy, regardless of whether it is administered before or after surgery, confers a significant benefit with respect to local control. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00002523 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).