title: The contribution of targeted therapy to the neoadjuvant chemoradiation of rectal cancer.
abstract: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy is a commonly used option aimed to make less aggressive surgery approaches and to improve quality of life allowing a high proportion of patients operated with sphincter-sparing surgical techniques in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). During the last 5 years a number of studies have tested the efficacy of more intensive chemotherapeutic approaches by combining irinotecan or oxaliplatin with fluoropyrimidines and standard radiation treatments as well as testing combined treatments with targeted agents directed against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or angiogenesis. Herein, we review the results and critiques of the published studies based on the introduction of novel targeted agents in neoadjuvant therapy of LARC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torino
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Bevacizumab; Cetuximab; Neoadjuvant-treatment; Rectal cancer; Targeted therapy