Table 2.

Randomized trials of preoperative radiation therapy in locally advanced rectal carcinoma focusing on time of surgery after radiation therapy

Author, year published	n	Treatment arms-Time to S	Tumor down-staging rate	Overall survival
Pach et al[15], 2011	154	Arm 1 (77 patients): preoperative RT (5 Gy × 5 d) followed by TME on d 7-10 after RT	13% in Arm 1 vs	5-yr survival rate
			44.2% in Arm 2	63.0% in Arm 1 vs
		Arm 2 (77 patients): T preoperative RT (5 Gy × 5 d) followed by TME on after 4-5 wk	(P < 0.001)	73.0% in Arm 2
				(P = 0.24)
Eitta et al[16], 2010	32	Arm 1 (16 patients): preoperative SCRT (5 Gy × 5 d) followed by S on one week after SCRT	21.4% in Arm 1 vs	2-yr survival rate
			60% in Arm 2	64.0% RT + S vs
		Arm 2 (16 patients): T preoperative LCRT (45 Gy/5 wk/25 fractions) followed by S on 4-6 wk after LCRT	(P = 0.008)	66.0% S alone
				(P = 0.389)

TME: Total mesorectal excision; RT: Radiation therapy; S: Surgery; SCRT: Sort course radiation therapy; LCRT: Long curse radiation therapy.