Complications following postoperative combined radiation and chemotherapy in adenocarcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid: A randomized trial that failed

Abstract
A randomized multicenter trial was started to evaluate the effect of irradiation combined with 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate on survival after surgery for rectal and rectosigmoidal carcinoma, Dukes' stages B and C. The trial was terminated prematurely after entrance of 34 patients due to frequent and serious complications. Three patients died as a direct consequence of the adjuvant treatment.