Novel approaches to treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer

Abstract

Combination of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with subsequent total mesorectum excision and 6-months of adjuvant chemotherapy remains a standard approach to treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (T3 or T4 and / or N1–3; M0) for more than 15 years, which is reflected in practical guidelines of most leading oncological societies. However, recent data suggests possibilities of more individualized treatment conceptions with a potential of further improvement of long-term therapy outcomes and patient’s quality of life. In this paper we present review of results of clinical trials which investigated new approaches to treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.