Table 1

Randomized trials of preoperative RT versus surgery alone in resectable rectal cancer.
Trial (reference)
 No. of patients randomized RT / no RT (analyzed)
 RT prescription*
 Biologically effective dose (Gy10)
 Compliance with RT† 0 <1 >1
 Surgical delay after RT (days)
 Median follow-up (months)
 Study quality score‡
Yale [16]
 15 (15) / 16 (16)
 45 in 25 (31) 2 fields, G
 53.1
 - 7% -
 2–42
 >60
 0.29
Toronto [17]
 60 (60) / 65 (65)
 5 in 1 (1) 2 fields, P
 7.5
 - - -
 0
 72
 0.55
MRC-I [18]
 549 (549) / 275 (275)
 5 in 1 (1) or 20 in10 (14) 2 fields, G
 7.5 or 19.8
 2% 6% -
 <7
 >60
 0.66
VASOG-II [19]
 180 (180) / 181 (181)
 31.5 in 18 (24) 2 fields, G
 26.8
 7% 11% 4%
 ~40
 60
 0.70
Norway [20]
 159 (155) / 150 (145)
 31.5 in 18 (24) 2 fields, G
 26.8
 1% - -
 <21
 54
 0.80
EORTC [21]
 236 (231) / 230 (228)
 34.5 in 15 (19) 2 fields, G
 35.2
 1% - -
 1–69
 >72
 0.67
Brazil [22]
 34 (34) / 34 (34)
 40 in 20 (25) 2 fields, P
 35.4
 - - -
 7
 120
 0.48
Hungary [23]
 171 (171) / 165 (165)
 40 in 20 (26) or 50 in 25 (33) 2 fields, P
 35.4 or 43.2
 - - -
 42
 >60
 0.44
ICRF-UK [24]
 228 (228) / 239 (239)
 15 in 3 (5–7) 2 fields, P
 22.5
 - 10% -
 <2
 60
 0.64
Stockholm-I [25]
 424 (424) / 425 (425)
 25 in 5 (5–7) 2 fields, G
 37.5
 - 12% -
 <7
 107
 0.74
MRC-II [26]
 139 (139) / 140 (140)
 40 in 20 (28) 2 fields, P
 35.4
 1% 5% 4%
 <7
 >60
 0.83
NW-UK [27]
 143 (143) / 141 (141)
 20 in 4 (4) 3 field, P
 30.0
 - 1% 3%
 <7
 96
 0.57
Sweden [28]
 583 (573) / 585 (574)
 25 in 5 (5) 3–4 fields, P
 37.5
 3% 1%§ -
 <7
 >60
 0.82
Stockholm-II [29]
 272 (272) / 285 (285)
 25 in 5 (5–7) 4 fields, P
 37.7
 -------5%------
 <7
 50
 0.88
Dutch [38]
 924 (908) / 937 (897)
 25 in 5 (5) 4 fields, P
 37.5
 3% 2% ?
 <7
 24.9
 0.81

Note: EORTC indicates European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; ICRF-UK, Imperial Cancer Research Fund United Kingdom; MRC, Medical Research Council; NW-UK, Northwest Region Rectal Cancer Group United Kingdom; VASOG, Veterans Administration Surgical Oncology Group. * Total dose in Gy, number of fractions, (duration of treatment in days), number of treatment fields, target volume (G, guitar-shaped; P, pelvic). † 0 indicates per cent of patients receiving no treatment; <1, percent receiving less than planned treatment; >1, percent receiving more than planned treatment. ‡ Based on independent assessment by five reviewers using the Detsky instrument10. § 5% of patients also received RT over >7 days, and 8% of patients received radiation through a two portal beam.

Figueredo et al. BMC Medicine 2003 1:1   doi:10.1186/1741-7015-1-1