Maintenance Chemotherapy After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Distal Rectal Cancer

Research has shown that low rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (54Gy concurrent with 3 cycles of 5-FU/Leucovorin) followed by 3 additional cycles of 5FU/Leucovorin, followed by close follow-up (every 4-6 weeks for one year)has had good success in achieving complete clinical response, avoiding surgical intervention. If at follow-up remaining disease is found or if there is recurrent disease, surgery can be performed.