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Current treatment of rectal cancer adapted to the individual patient
open access
Abstract
Preoperative radiochemotherapy and total mesorectal excision surgery is a recommended standard therapy for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, some subgroups of patients benefit more than others from this approach. In order to avoid long-term complications of radiation and chemotherapy, efforts are being made to subdivide T3N0 stage using advanced imaging techniques, and to analyze prognostic factors that help to define subgroup risk patients. Long-course radiochemotherapy has the potential of downsizing the tumor before surgery and may increase the chance of sphincter preservation in some patients. Short-course radiotherapy (SCRT), on the other hand, is a practical schedule that better suits patients with intermediated risk tumors, located far from the anal margin. SCRT is also increasingly being used among patients with disseminated disease, before resection of the rectal tumor. Improvements in radiation technique, such as keeping the irradiation target below S2/S3 junction, and the use of IMRT, can reduce the toxicity associated with radiation, specially long-term small bowel toxicity.
Abstract
Preoperative radiochemotherapy and total mesorectal excision surgery is a recommended standard therapy for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, some subgroups of patients benefit more than others from this approach. In order to avoid long-term complications of radiation and chemotherapy, efforts are being made to subdivide T3N0 stage using advanced imaging techniques, and to analyze prognostic factors that help to define subgroup risk patients. Long-course radiochemotherapy has the potential of downsizing the tumor before surgery and may increase the chance of sphincter preservation in some patients. Short-course radiotherapy (SCRT), on the other hand, is a practical schedule that better suits patients with intermediated risk tumors, located far from the anal margin. SCRT is also increasingly being used among patients with disseminated disease, before resection of the rectal tumor. Improvements in radiation technique, such as keeping the irradiation target below S2/S3 junction, and the use of IMRT, can reduce the toxicity associated with radiation, specially long-term small bowel toxicity.
Keywords
Rectal cancer; Preoperative radiotherapy; Individualized treatment
About this articleTitle
Current treatment of rectal cancer adapted to the individual patient
Journal
Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy
Issue
Pages
353-362
Published online
2013-11-01
DOI
10.1016/j.rpor.2013.08.005
Bibliographic record
Rep Pract Oncol Radiother 2013;18(6):353-362.
Keywords
Rectal cancer
Preoperative radiotherapy
Individualized treatment
Authors
Laura Cerezo
Juan Pablo Ciria
Leire Arbea
Olga Liñán
Sergio Cafiero
Vincenzo Valentini
Francesco Cellini