[Effect of the duration of time between chemo-radiotherapy and surgical intervention on the results of the combined treatment of rectal cancer].

Complex treatment included preoperative radiochemotherapy (fractionated TTD of 47 Gy), 5-FU 2.75-3.5 g, cisplatin 90 mg, surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (XELOX). The radiochemotherapy/ surgery interval ranged 21-72 days (average--40; median--41.2 +/- 7.9). Patients were divided into two groups: those operated on within days 21-40 (1) and days 41-72 (2) to evaluate the impact of the interval between surgery and completion of radiochemotherapy. The intervals longer than 40 days were not followed by longer sphincter-saving operations, higher intraoperative blood loss or postoperative complication incidence, as compared with the 21-40 day interval. Besides, radiochemotherapy-related alterations in tumor tissues arising more than 40 days after exposure were more pronounced, yet unaccompanied by significantly better end results.