The evaluation of low dose pre-operative X-ray therapy in the management of operable rectal cancer; results of a randomly controlled trial.

824 patients with operable rectal carcinoma were randomly allocated to be treated by surgery alone, 2000 rad in 10 daily fractions and 500 rad as a single fraction. No difference has been demonstrated in the actuarial survival rates to 5 years. The local recurrence-free and metastasis-free rates are similar in all groups. There is also no evidence that the pre-operative radiotherapy benefited patients in subgroups by Dukes' stage. The complication rates were also similar in the three treatment groups.