Recurrent Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Aggressive, curative intent treatment approaches in patients with local or regional relapse after resection of primary rectal or colon cancers are often not considered. A growing body of evidence supports an aggressive approach combining external beam irradiation (EBRT) ± chemotherapy, resection, and intraoperative irradiation (IORT) in conjunction with systemic chemotherapy. Data will be presented in this chapter summarizing disease control and survival results with IORT-containing regimens from US and European institutions including the impact of prognostic factors on results and the results in previously irradiated patients. IORT tolerance and future potential as a component of treatment will be discussed.