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Do We Need Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Routinely in the Preoperative Setting for Rectal Cancer?

  • Therapeutic Approaches to Localized Rectal Cancer (R Glynne-Jones, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Colorectal Cancer Reports

Abstract

Preoperative radiotherapy and chemoradiation are considered standards of care for stage II and III rectal cancer patients. Pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer can lead to significant acute and late toxicity. Studies have shown that the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity is associated with the volume of small bowel exposed to radiation therapy, especially at doses around 15 Gy. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) could potentially reduce dose to small bowel and other normal structures, thereby reducing gastrointestinal and other side effects from radiotherapy. Dosimetric studies have demonstrated that IMRT could improve sparing of small bowel from radiation. However, only a limited number of clinical studies have evaluated the role of IMRT for preoperative treatment of rectal cancer.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA

    John A. Cox

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 97, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Christopher H. Crane & Prajnan Das

Authors
  1. John A. Cox
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  2. Christopher H. Crane
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  3. Prajnan Das
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Correspondence to Prajnan Das.

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Cox, J.A., Crane, C.H. & Das, P. Do We Need Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Routinely in the Preoperative Setting for Rectal Cancer?. Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep 8, 99–104 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-012-0118-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-012-0118-5

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