The synchronization of chemotherapy to circadian rhythms and irradiation in pre-operative chemoradiation therapy with hyperthermia for local advanced rectal cancer. Abbreviations: 5-FU 5-fluorouracil LV Leucovorin APR abdomino-perineal resection

Abstract

Purpose: The therapeutic and adverse effects of pre-operative chrono-chemoradiation with local hyperthermia for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were evaluated.

Materials and methods: Pre-operative radiation therapy of a total dose of 40 Gy (n = 10) or 50 Gy (n = 19) on the whole pelvis and hyperthermia once a week during the radiation therapy for 1 h were performed for patients with T2–T4 rectal adenocarcinoma. Chemotherapy consisted of 5-FU (250 mg m⁻² per day) and LV (25 mg m⁻² per day) administered by continuous infusion in the night for 5 days a week in the second and fourth weeks of radiation.

Results: Grade 3+ toxicities were seen only in two patients (6.9%). A significant down staging was seen in 41.4% of all cases and 52.6% of cases with a radiation dose of 50 Gy. Of the patients who had received surgical resection of a tumour, three (11.1%) had no residue pathologically in the specimen and eight (29.6%) had microscopic lesions.

Conclusions: These results yielded a high response rate with minimal toxicities for advanced low-rectal adenocarcinoma. The administration of 5-FU during the sleeping time before irradiation might have an advantage not only as a chronotherapy but also as a radiation sensitizer.

• Chemoradiation therapy
• circadian rhythms
• hyperthermia
• rectal cancer