In treating rectal cancer, the main objective is to provide the best functional results with minimal risk of treatment failure. The choice of appropriate management depends primarily on the stage of the primary tumor at diagnosis. The trimodal treatment approach, including neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, represents a classical treatment option. However, distant metastasis remains a devastating issue of failure especially in locally advanced disease.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge on research strategies in rectal cancer, bringing together different specialties that are involved in patient management. Original research, perspectives, mini reviews, commentaries and opinion articles are welcomed on the following topics (but not limited to):
- experimental approaches in in-vivo and in-vitro research
- new frontiers in diagnostic technologies
- the challenges in defining a more effective systemic cytotoxic therapy
- the role of new radiation therapy (RT) strategies, in terms of technique, dose and fractionation schedules, and planning systems
- the determination of optimal temporal sequencing of treatment modalities
- progress in the modalities of surgery:
o state of the art and new perspectives of robotic surgery
o what surgical approach for rectal cancer: open versus laparoscopic versus robotic
o the impact of fluorescence angiography on anastomotic leak following proctectomy
o transanal or transabdominal total mesorectal excision?
o what is the role of transanal endoscopic microsurgery in the treatment of rectal cancer?
o what is the optimal timing of proctectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiation?
In treating rectal cancer, the main objective is to provide the best functional results with minimal risk of treatment failure. The choice of appropriate management depends primarily on the stage of the primary tumor at diagnosis. The trimodal treatment approach, including neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, represents a classical treatment option. However, distant metastasis remains a devastating issue of failure especially in locally advanced disease.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge on research strategies in rectal cancer, bringing together different specialties that are involved in patient management. Original research, perspectives, mini reviews, commentaries and opinion articles are welcomed on the following topics (but not limited to):
- experimental approaches in in-vivo and in-vitro research
- new frontiers in diagnostic technologies
- the challenges in defining a more effective systemic cytotoxic therapy
- the role of new radiation therapy (RT) strategies, in terms of technique, dose and fractionation schedules, and planning systems
- the determination of optimal temporal sequencing of treatment modalities
- progress in the modalities of surgery:
o state of the art and new perspectives of robotic surgery
o what surgical approach for rectal cancer: open versus laparoscopic versus robotic
o the impact of fluorescence angiography on anastomotic leak following proctectomy
o transanal or transabdominal total mesorectal excision?
o what is the role of transanal endoscopic microsurgery in the treatment of rectal cancer?
o what is the optimal timing of proctectomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiation?