Long-Course Chemoradiotherapy Outperforms Short-Course Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

The study compared the oncological outcomes of long-course chemoradiotherapy (LC-CRT) and short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery (SCRT-delay) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients. The results showed that LC-CRT had higher overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years compared to SCRT-delay. Additionally, LC-CRT group had higher cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years. Unfavorable magnetic resonance imaging response indicated a poor prognosis in LARC. However, there were no significant differences in histological response rates or local recurrence rates between the treatment groups.