Neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer

Abstract

By the beginning of the 2000s, oncologists have developed a standard algorithm for the management of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. It includes preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery 6–8 weeks after chemoradiotherapy completion. However, there was no clear evidence indicating the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in this clinical situation. In recent decades, the concept of neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced colon cancer changed due to an opportunity to perform hypofractionated radiotherapy and conduct chemotherapy in the preoperative stage. This literature review aims to summarize the results of studies analyzing neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced colon cancer, as well as to compare the efficacy and tolerability of various therapeutic options currently available for this group of patients.

Keywords

• rectal cancer
• neoadjuvant therapy
• radiotherapy
• chemotherapy