Objective：To evaluate the role of regional chemotherapy via internal iliac artery pump, systemic chemotherapy and total mesorectum excision (TME)  in the treatment of rectal cancer.
Methods：A total of 193 patients with rectal carcinoma divided into 2 groups: The observation group, included 98 cases who underwent TME, regional chemotherapy through internal iliac artery pump and systemic chemotherapy.The other 95 cases, as control group, were treated with systemic chemotherapy after TME. The local recurrence rate, metastasis rate and survival rate were compared between the two groups.
Results：The local recurrence rate and metastasis rate of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The local recurrence rate at 1-,3- and 5-year was significantly lower in the observation group［0，2.5%(2/81) and 3.8%(3/79) respectivvely］than that in the control group ［1.1%(1/95),11.4%(9/79) and 16.2%(11/68) respectively］(P＜0.05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year distant metastasis rate in the observation group was 1%(1/98)，6.2%(5/81) and 12.7%(10/79) respectively, while that in the control group was 2.1%(2/95),24.1%(19/79),30.9%(21/68) respectively, which showed significant differences between the two groups(P＜0.05).The 3-and 5-year survival rate of the observation group (79.0%,73.4% respectively)was higher than that of the control group (57.0%,52.9% respectively)(P＜0.05).
Conclusions：Regional perfusion via internal iliac artery pump and systemic chemotherapy with TME has proved to be a safe and effective treatment that could reduce local recurrence rate and distance metastasis rate, and is an effective method to improve the survival rate of rectal cancer patients.