Preoperative chemotherapy in the complex treatment of rectal cancer

The efficacy of preoperative chemoradiation therapy for 10 patients with rectal cancer was assessed. Preoperative distant gamma-therapy at a total dose of 44 Gy was administered in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy according to RIFL schedule (irinotekan, 5-fluorouracil, leukoverin). Grade I-II toxic effects were observed in 40 % of patients requiring no interruption of radiation cycle. No postoperative complications were observed. Morphological examination revealed therapeutic grade III-IV pathomorphosis in 70 % of cases.