POLISH-I

Regimen

Experimental
Short-course radiotherapy 25 Gy in 5 fractions (5×5 Gy) → immediate surgery
Control
Long-course CRT 50.4 Gy + bolus 5-FU/LV → surgery 4–6 weeks later

Population

Clinical T3 or T4 resectable rectal cancer (N=312); comparing short-course vs long-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy strategies.

Key finding

4-year OS: short-course RT 67.2% vs long-course CRT 66.2% (P=0.960); DFS 58.4% vs 55.6% (P=0.820); local recurrence 9.0% vs 14.2% (P=0.170, not significant). Early toxicity higher with CRT. No significant OS or local control difference. Short-course 5×5 Gy shown to be non-inferior alternative.

Source: PMID 16983741

Timeline

    Guideline citations

    • NCCN Rectal (p.154)