Organ Preservation for Rectal Cancer Patients

Locally advanced rectal cancer treatment had two major objectives, oncologic cure and reestablishment of enteral continuity with preservation of anal sphincter function for normal defecation. There is a delicate balance among these components, and it is not always easy to achieve satisfactory results in all of them together. Organ preservation is an emerging new goal in rectal cancer treatment. A more “radical” approach for organ preservation was proposed by Habr-Gama et al in 1998. They suggested a watch-and-wait policy for patients who develop complete or near complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Also, minimally invasive procedures for local excision contribute to organ preservation.

The response of the rectal tumor after neoadjuvant treatment could improve a patient's selection in order to get better rates of clinical complete response, survival and oncological outcomes. New technologies for organ preservation remains a challenge.

This Research Topic welcomes submissions related, but not limited to, to novel surgical interventions and the following areas of research:
- Watch and wait
- Local excision
- Contact radiation
- New technologies
- Imaging strategies
- Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)