Relationship of acute gastrointestinal toxicity and the volume of irradiated small bowel in patients receiving combined modality therapy for rectal cancer Journal Article


Authors: Minsky, B. D.; Conti, J. A.; Huang, Y.; Knopf, K.
Article Title: Relationship of acute gastrointestinal toxicity and the volume of irradiated small bowel in patients receiving combined modality therapy for rectal cancer
Abstract: Purpose: To determine the relationship between acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity during the combined modality segment and the volume of small bowel in the pelvic radiation field in patients who receive either preoperative or postoperative therapy for rectal cancer. Patients and Methods: The patient population was derived from four consecutive phase 1 dose-escalation trials. Combined modality therapy included fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin ([LV] bolus daily x 5, days 1 and 29), and pelvic radiation. Results: Twenty patients who received postoperative therapy a larger volume of small bowel in the pelvic radiation field as compared with 60 who received preoperative therapy (462 ± 129 v 212 ± 44 cm3, P = .002). The most significant relationship between acute GI toxicity and volume of small bowel was seen in 12 patients who were treated on the preoperative sequential low-dose LV trial, all of whom received the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of 5-FU. The volume of small bowel in patients who experienced grade 3+ toxicity was 731 ± 274 cm3, as compared with 145 ± 58 in those who experienced grade 0 to 2 toxicity (P = .005). Likewise, logistic regression analysis showed that 26 patients who received the MTD of 5-FU had the most significant association between GI toxicity and volume of small bowel (P = .036). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the volume of small bowel in the pelvic radiation field may be dose-limiting in the delivery of high-dose 5-FU when combined with LV and radiation therapy.
Keywords: clinical article; clinical trial; cancer localization; postoperative period; fluorouracil; dose response; drug megadose; gastrointestinal toxicity; multicenter study; folinic acid; surgical risk; phase 1 clinical trial; rectum cancer; maximum allowable concentration; radiation field; small intestine mucosa; human; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0732-183X
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 1995-06-01
Start Page: 1409
End Page: 1416
Language: English
DOI: 10.1200/jco.1995.13.6.1409
PUBMED: 7751886
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 28 August 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Bruce Minsky
    306 Minsky
  2. Ying Huang
    22 Huang
  3. John A. Conti
    23 Conti