Sermeus A, Leonard W, Engels B, De Ridder M. Advances in radiotherapy and targeted therapies for rectal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20(1): 1-5 [PMID: 24415852 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.1]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mark De Ridder, MD, PhD, Professor, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Departments of Radiotherapy, Laarbeeklaan 101, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium. mark.deridder@uzbrussel.be
Research Domain of This Article
Immunology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2014; 20(1): 1-5 Published online Jan 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.1
Advances in radiotherapy and targeted therapies for rectal cancer
Alexandra Sermeus, Wim Leonard, Benedikt Engels, Mark De Ridder
Alexandra Sermeus, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Gastroenterology, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
Wim Leonard, Benedikt Engels, Mark De Ridder, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Radiotherapy, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
Author contributions: Sermeus A. and Leonard W. equally contributed to the analysis of the literature and writing of the manuscript. Sermeus A., Leonard W. and Engels B. are major contributors to the staging and treatment, the translational studies and the clinical trials in colorectal cancer at the UZ Brussel, respectively. Prof. De Ridder M. is coordinating the research program on Translational Radiation Oncology and the treatment of digestive cancers at the UZ Brussel.
Supported by Grants from the Vlaamse Liga tegen Kanker
Correspondence to: Mark De Ridder, MD, PhD, Professor, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Departments of Radiotherapy, Laarbeeklaan 101, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium. mark.deridder@uzbrussel.be
Telephone: +32-2-4776144 Fax: +32-2-4776212
Received: September 13, 2013 Revised: November 12, 2013 Accepted: November 28, 2013 Published online: January 7, 2014 Processing time: 326 Days and 19 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: The stepwise implementation of intensity-modulated and image-guided radiation therapy enabled us to anatomically sculpt dose delivery and prescribe a simultaneous integrated boost, thus reducing treatment related toxicity. However, distant control remains unsatisfactory and indicates an urgent need for biomarkers of tumor spread. The immune landscape of colorectal cancer is now better clarified with regard to protumor N2 neutrophils and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) that emerge as useful prognostic biomarkers. The growing list of anti-MDSC agents shows promising ability to boost antitumor T-cell immunity. Therefore, integration of genetic and immune biomarkers is the next logical step towards effective targeted therapies in the context of personalized cancer treatment.
