Short course palliative radiotherapy (5x5Gy)to the pelvis in patients with symptomatic rectal tumours and with unresectable metastases may prevent palliative surgery with a good palliative outcome.The consolidating chemotherapy of XELOX may increase the efficacy of irradiation.
Patients with symptomatic rectal cancer and unresectable metastases receive 25 Gy in 5 fractions of 5 Gy over 5 days to the pelvis and XELOX consolidating chemotherapy after one week. Investigators arbitrarily assumed that palliative radiotherapy to the pelvis can replace the immediate surgery if at least 30% of patients would avoid delayed surgery until the end of their lives, or for at least 18 months in the case of long-term survival.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
5x5 Gy + XELOX 7 days after radiotherapy
M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre
Warsaw, Poland
RECRUITINGpercentage of patients not requiring palliative surgery during the follow-up
Time frame: every three months
The rate of early toxicity of radiotherapy according to the NCI CTCAE (version 3.0)
Assess prospectively by filling forms.
Time frame: 3 months
Palliative effect of radiotherapy
Assessment of radiochemotherpy effectivenes by patients using questionaire.
Time frame: every three months
Time from palliative radiotherapy to delayed palliative surgery
Time frame: 18 months
Determination of prognostic factors indicating the need for immediate palliative surgery.
Time frame: 18 months
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