• Patients can be treated either with chemotherapy programs such as 5-FU alone or 5-FU combined with
leucovorin or interferon or be considered candidates for clinical trials for new chemotherapy or biological agents.
Mitomycin-C , BCNU and CCNU have been used, with a mild response.
• Palliative chemotherapy, possibly with the continuous infusion of a low daily dose of 5-FU.
• There are a number of other standard and investigational methods of treating Stage IV (Dukes' D) rectal cancer. These closely resemble those described for colon cancer, which should be consulted.
Five-Year Survival Less than 5 percent
( See Summary of Consensus Conference on Colon and Rectal Cancer )
