OBJECTIVES:~Primary~Compare functional outcome in patients with mid- or distal rectal adenocarcinoma when treated with J-pouch coloanal anastomosis vs side-to-end coloanal anastomosis after preoperative radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision.~Secondary~Compare the quality of life of patients treated with these procedures.~Compare anorectal function in patients treated with these procedures.~OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to participating center and gender. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.~Arm I: Patients undergo total mesorectal excision followed by a J-pouch coloanal anastomosis.~Arm II: Patients undergo total mesorectal excision followed by a side-to-end coloanal anastomosis.~In both arms, patients receive a temporary ileostomy. The ileostomy is closed after 1 week provided recovery is uneventful and no radiological signs of anastomotic leakage are detected. If early closure is not possible, the ileostomy is closed after 6-8 weeks.~Functional outcome, quality of life, and anorectal function are assessed before surgery and at 4 and 12 months after surgery.~PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A minimum of 100 patients (50 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.
RATIONALE: A coloanal anastomosis may be effective in restoring bowel function after radiation therapy and surgery to remove the rectum. It is not yet known whether a J-pouch coloanal anastomosis is more effective than a side-to-end coloanal anastomosis in restoring bowel function in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who have undergone radiation therapy and surgery to remove the rectum.~PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well J-pouch coloanal anastomosis works compared to side-to-end coloanal anastomosis in treating patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who have undergone radiation therapy and surgery to remove the rectum.