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©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2013; 19(46): 8489-8501
Published online Dec 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i46.8489
Published online Dec 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i46.8489
Neo-adjuvant radiotherapy in rectal cancer
Bengt Glimelius, Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, SE-751 85, Sweden
Author contributions: Glimelius B contributed to the manuscript.
Supported by Swedish Cancer Society
Correspondence to: Bengt Glimelius, MD, Professor of Oncology, Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, S-75105 Uppsala, SE-751 85, Sweden. bengt.glimelius@onkologi.uu.se
Telephone: +46-18-6115513 Fax: +46-18-6111027
Received: September 10, 2013
Revised: October 17, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: December 14, 2013
Processing time: 98 Days and 13.8 Hours
Revised: October 17, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: December 14, 2013
Processing time: 98 Days and 13.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Neo-adjuvant radiotherapy is beneficial to many rectal cancer patients since it reduces the risk of a local failure. Provided surgery is optimized, it does not substantially improve overall survival. This review describes the results of the randomized trials that form the basis for the present treatment recommendations. It also pinpoints reasons for differences in the care of rectal cancer patients seen worldwide. Finally, the concept of organ preservation is critically discussed.