title: A perspective on the current treatment strategies for locally advanced rectal cancer.
abstract: The introduction of total mesorectal excision (TME) and preoperative multimodality treatment have substantially improved the management of rectal cancer reducing local recurrence and increasing sphincter-saving surgery; distant metastases however remain a clinical challenge. Besides, although surgery remains the mainstay for cure of rectal cancer with the multimodality approach (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery) being the standard of care for the majority of rectal cancer patients, there is a need of individualized risk-adapted treatment schemes based on clinico-pathological features because of treatment-induced morbidity and quality of life deterioration. This short viewpoint describes the emerging strategies addressing all these issues.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori 'Fondazione Giovanni Pascale' - IRCCS, Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: a.avallone@istitutotumori.na.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine Unit, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori 'Fondazione Giovanni Pascale' - IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloj
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University and General Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aprile
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, S. Carlo Hospital, Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori 'Fondazione Giovanni Pascale' - IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budillon
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Adjuvant treatment; Consolidation chemotherapy; Induction chemotherapy; Organ-preservation; Preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (CRT); Rectal cancer; Short-course radiotherapy (SCRT)