We aimed to evaluate the treatment response and toxic effects of the recommended dose of raltitrexed when delivered concurrently with preoperative radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma.
METHODS
This open-labeled, prospective and non-comparative study
was conducted with 49 patients. Radiotherapy (50.4 Gy) was
delivered in 1.8 Gy daily fractions five times per week for
5-6 weeks. Single doses of 2.6 mg/m2 raltitrexed were infused
over 15 minutes 1 hour prior to radiotherapy on days 1 and
22. Treatment response and toxicity were clinically assessed
by hematological and biochemical tests and World Health Organization
performance status scoring.
RESULTS
Overall treatment response was 42.9%. Post-treatment resectability
opportunity was achieved in 67.3% patients. Raltitrexed
was found to be related to 52.6% of the total adverse events.
CONCLUSION
The combination of raltitrexed and radiotherapy appears
promising as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with inoperable
rectal cancer with higher but manageable gastrointestinal
toxicity.