Radiation and chemotherapy improve rectal cancer outcomes

Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) drastically reduces the risk of distant metastasis in locally advanced rectal cancer compared to traditional methods.

5-year locoregional recurrence rate is only 6%, and distant metastasis rate is 25%.
Among 109 patients with clinical complete response (25%), there were no locoregional recurrences and just 13% had distant metastasis.

Rethink patient selection and consider TNT to optimize surgical outcomes in advanced rectal cancer cases.

Distal resection margins (DRM) ≤10 mm occurred in just 8% of patients after sphincter-saving procedures.

© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of BJS Foundation Ltd.

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