Phase II Study of 5-Day Hypofractionated Preoperative Radiation Therapy for Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Expansion Cohort

This study is testing a condensed, 5-day radiation therapy schedule given before surgery for rectal cancer, to see if it is as effective as standard longer radiation schedules and whether it reduces recovery time and side effects without worsening outcomes. **You may be eligible if...** - You have been diagnosed with rectal cancer that requires pre-surgery radiation therapy - Your cancer is in a stage that is typically treated with radiation before surgery - You are healthy enough to receive radiation and undergo surgery - You have not yet started any radiation treatment for this cancer **You may NOT be eligible if...** - Your cancer has already spread to distant organs (metastatic disease) - You have had previous pelvic radiation - You have serious bowel conditions (such as inflammatory bowel disease) that would make radiation riskier - You are pregnant - You have had previous rectal cancer surgery Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.