Advances in organ preservation for locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision is the standard treatment for stage T 3-T 4/N+ locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, proctectomy is burdened with consistent postoperative morbidity, severely affecting the quality of life. "Organ preserving" methods could achieve similar oncological outcomes in highly selected patients whose tumors demonstrate (almost) clinical complete response to neoadjuvant treatment, while maintaining the quality of life and anorectal function by keeping the anus. This article aims to summarize the strategies of organ preservation after neoadjuvant treatment of LARC, salvage treatment for regrowth or recurrence, and anorectal function after organ preservation strategies.