title: The multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of rectal cancer: 2015 update.
abstract: The multidisciplinary approach to the management of rectal cancer continues to evolve with developments in surgery, radiation therapy as well as systemic chemotherapy. Refinement of surgical techniques to improve organ preservation, selective use of neoadjuvant (or adjuvant) therapies, improvements in staging modalities and emerging criteria for the selection of tailored therapies are some of the advancements made over the last three decades. In addition, neoadjuvant treatment alternatives, multimodality sequencing and adaptive therapies based on treatment response continue to be a subject of clinical investigation. The current article reviews the salient topics related to the multidisciplinary treatment of resectable rectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Nasarachi E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Onyeuku
authors.forename: Diandra N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Ayala-Peacock
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: A William
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Blackstock
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: adjuvant; cancer; chemotherapy; imaging; radiation; rectal; surgery; targeted therapies