Impact of dose-capping chemotherapy in concurrent chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients.

The study evaluated the effect of chemotherapy dose-capping on disease recurrence, toxicity and survival of rectal cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). 601 consecutive rectal cancer patients treated with concurrent CRT were retrospectively analysed. Dose-capped patients were defined as having a body surface area (BSA) ≥2.0 m The median follow-up time was 7.54 years. The rate of disease recurrence was significantly higher in dose-capped patients (35%) compared to those without dose-capping (24%, Rectal cancer patients treated with dose-capped CRT were at increased risk of disease recurrence. Patients dosed by actual BSA did experience excessive toxicity compared to dose-capped group. We recommend that chemotherapy dose-capping based on BSA should not be practiced in rectal cancer patients undergoing CRT.