title: Surgical oncology issues in locally advanced rectal cancer.
abstract: The management of locally advanced (T3/4) rectal cancer is evolving. Randomized trials have shaped the current adjuvant treatment options, but yet there remain many unanswered questions. These include how best to define which patients to treat and choosing between short-course radiotherapy and long-course chemoradiotherapy. With respect to surgery, the optimal timing, the surgical approach in abdominoperineal resections and the role of laparoscopic surgery remain active areas of research. The possibility of avoiding surgery in selected patients is also a topic of great interest. A multidisciplinary team approach in managing rectal cancer patients is popular where possible and recommended in some guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Western Hospital, Gordon Street, Footscray, Vic. 3011, Australia. kck_ooi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Faragher
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome