Adjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Survival in Rectal Cancer Patients with Pathological Complete Response
Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves overall survival in rectal cancer patients who achieve a pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery. A meta-analysis of 31,558 patients showed favorable outcomes with adjuvant therapy compared to those without it. The findings support the recommendation for clinicians to consider administering adjuvant chemotherapy in this patient population for better prognosis and clinical outcomes.
A Japanese randomized trial found that a 14-day schedule of trifluridine-tipiracil plus bevacizumab keeps patients with metastatic colorectal cancer alive as long as the standard 28-day schedule, with far less toxicity.
Five years after surgery for low rectal cancer, patients operated on robotically did as well as those operated on laparoscopically, according to a randomized trial from three Korean centres.