Shifting concepts in rectal cancer management: a review of contemporary primary rectal cancer treatment strategies. CA Cancer J Clin 2012;62(3):173-202
Date
04/11/2012Pubmed ID
22488575DOI
10.3322/caac.21138Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84860796157 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 84 CitationsAbstract
The management of rectal cancer has transformed over the last 3 decades and continues to evolve. Some of these changes parallel progress made with other cancers: refinement of surgical technique to improve organ preservation, selective use of neoadjuvant (and adjuvant) therapy, and emergence of criteria suggesting a role for individually tailored therapy. Other changes are driven by fairly unique issues including functional considerations, rectal anatomic features, and surgical technical issues. Further complexity is due to the variety of staging modalities (each with its own limitations), neoadjuvant treatment alternatives, and competing strategies for sequencing multimodal treatment even for nonmetastatic disease. Importantly, observations of tumor response made in the era of neoadjuvant therapy are reshaping some traditionally held concepts about tumor behavior. Frameworks for prioritizing and integrating complex data can help to formulate treatment plans for patients.
Author List
Kosinski L, Habr-Gama A, Ludwig K, Perez RAuthor
Kirk A. Ludwig MD Chief, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
BiopsyCombined Modality Therapy
Diagnostic Imaging
Early Diagnosis
Humans
Neoplasm Staging
Patient Care Team
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Rectal Neoplasms