Short-term and long-term effects and safety of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer

Abstract

Objective To compare and analyze the short-term and long-term effects and safety of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of 118 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer admitted to Anyang Cancer Hospital from August 2013 to August 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. And patients were divided into IMRT group (IMRT plus chemotherapy) and 3D-CRT group (3D-CRT plus chemotherapy) according to the postoperative treatment methods, with 59 cases in each group. Dosimetric indicators in target volume, short-term efficacy, adverse reactions and long-term efficacy were compared between the two groups. Results The planning target volumes (PTV) 95% of the two groups were 100%, reaching the prescription dose requirement. The PTV 100% and PTV boundary dosage in IMRT group were significantly lower than those in 3D-CRT group (P 0.05). After radiotherapy, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no difference in local recurrence rate or overall survival rate between the two groups at 1, 2, 3 years after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions IMRT and 3D-CRT have no significant difference in the short-term or long-term efficacy, and they have similar safety of locally advanced rectal cancer, but IMRT has better uniformity of target volume. Key words: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy; Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy; Locally advanced rectal cancer; Short-term and long-term efficacy; Safety