Evidence and research in rectal cancer

• The main evidences of epidemiology, diagnostic imaging, pathology, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and follow-up are reviewed to optimize the routine treatment of rectal cancer according to a multidisciplinary approach. This paper reports on the knowledge shared between different specialists involved in the design and management of the multidisciplinary ESTRO Teaching Course on Rectal Cancer. The scenario of ongoing research is also addressed. In this time of changing treatments, it clearly appears that a common standard for large heterogeneous patient groups have to be substituted by more individualised therapies based on clinical-pathological features and very soon on molecular and genetic markers. Only trained multidisciplinary teams can face this new challenge and tailor the treatments according to the best scientific evidence for each patient.

Keyword

rectal cancer treatment

epidemiology

diagnostic

endorectal ultrasound

computerized tomography

magnetic resonance imaging

pathology

surgery

total mesorectal excision

local excision

combined modality therapy

radiotherapy

pre-operative treatment

post-operative treatment

radiotherapy technique

chemotherapy

concomitant radiochemotherapy

adjuvant chemotherapy

early stage

intermediate stage

advanced stage

local recurrence

acute and late toxicity

quality of life

follow-up

scenario of ongoing research

educational

randomized clinical trial

intraoperative radiotherapy

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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