[A clinical study of therapy for local recurrent rectal cancer]

To evaluate the therapy for local recurrent rectal cancer, we examined clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses of 54 local recurrent rectal cancer patients. The cumulative 5 year survival rate was 20.3%, 3-year survival rate was 74% for a curative surgery group, 21.8% for a non-curative surgery group and 0% for a non surgery group. There were significant differences in the rates of three year survival between the curative surgery group and non surgery group, but there were no differences between the non curative surgery group and non-surgery group. A survival analysis showed that prognoses of patients ew (-) or CEA under 10 ng/ml group were statistically better than the other group. Thirty four patients underwent operation. The mean operation time and the mean blood loss were 334.2 minutes and 1977 ml, respectively. Eighteen patients had some complications associated with the operation. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not contribute to improve survival rate, but contribute to improved symptoms. In conclusion, curative surgery is the only therapy for local recurrent rectal cancer to improve survival rates, but there are many complications associated with non curative surgery. We therefore must evaluate the indication of operation carefully.