In some cases of inoperable rectal cancer, radiation is a good alternative --


Yahoo! News - Radiation Alone OK for Some Cases of Rectal Cancer

Cancer vaccine produces immune response in Stage IV colorectal cancer patients and increase survival times -- (ACURIAN) August 26, 2002 -- A clinical trial of 77 patients with advanced colorectal cancer showed that 56 responded to Avicine, a vaccine against hCG (human chorionic gonadotropic hormone). Overall survival of patients in the trial was 34 weeks, those who developed an immune response survived 45 weeks, and patients who developed an immune response to two segments of hCG had an average survival of 66 week.

Avicine is very well tolerated and appears to produce at least equivalent survival, in those patients who respond, to irinotecan treatment with improved quality of life.

Clinical trials combining avicine with chemotherapy are also underway.

Read it here on Yahoo! Health News.