[Indications for neoadjuvant therapy in rectal carcinoma]

Pre- and postoperative adjuvant treatments for locally advanced, operable (R0 resection) rectum carcinoma have led to improved results. In principle, according to the interdisciplinary consensus of the German Cancer Society, the recommended treatment for rectum carcinoma (T3/4; N0; M0; any T stage; N+; M0) is still postoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy. In the meantime, however, based on the good results obtained from various clinical trials preoperative adjuvant treatment is favored internationally. Not only does this treatment scheme show a comparably better compliance of the patients but it also seems to be better tolerated. One treatment option for resectable T3 tumors immediately followed by surgery is the sole hypofractionated preoperative 3-4 field external beam radiotherapy. An additional benefit can be expected from protracted preoperative radiochemotherapy (single dose 2 Gy, total dose >40 Gy, chemotherapy based on 5-FU) followed by operation several weeks later. For T4 tumors with expected R1 or R2 resection, preoperative treatment is urgently recommended. A further aim in compliance with the surgical approach (R0 resection!) and multimodal treatment may be for individual cases the preservation of continence.