ABSTRACT
In 1990, the National Institutes of Health consensus statement for the treatment of rectal cancer concluded that ``combined postoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy improves local control and survival in stage II and III patients and is recommended.'' Following the publication of this consensus statement, the conventional treatment for rectal cancer was bowel resection followed by adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. In the years that followed, however, several new findings have been published and a multitude of issues has arisen. This article will attempt to succinctly focus on the best current evidence in the literature. Where possible, we include only Level I evidence (i.e., evidence from randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Since the role of adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer is continuing to be modified, the purpose of this article is to describe and interpret the most current literature.
KEYWORD
Rectal cancer - radiation therapy - chemotherapy - chemoradiation therapy
