Non-operative management of rectal cancer: understanding tumor biology.

ABSTRACT: The management of locally-advanced rectal cancer involves a combination of chemotherapy, chemoradiation, and surgical resection to provide excellent local tumor control and overall survival. However, aspects of this multimodality approach are associated with significant morbidity and long-term sequelae. In addition, there is growing evidence that patients with a clinical complete response to chemotherapy and chemoradiation treatments may be safely offered initial non-operative management in a rigorous surveillance program. Weighed against the morbidity and significant sequelae of rectal resection, recognizing how to best optimize non-operative strategies without compromising oncologic outcomes is critical to our understanding and treatment of this disease.

SUBMITTER: Wei IH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6252165 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature