[Rectal cancer radiotherapy: Therapeutical strategy and perspective]

Standard treatment consisting of chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery with total mesorectal excision, resulting in good oncologic local control but high morbidity and poor functional results. The same treatment applied to all patients presenting with low or mid T3-4 rectal tumors could result in overtreatment of small tumors. However, it remains insufficient (or unsatisfactory?) for locally advanced tumors regarding metastatic recurrence rate. Treatment is decided by a multidisciplinary board on the basis of initial staging, including MRI which allows for resection margin prediction and post-treatment response evaluation. The therapeutic strategy is changing towards upfront chemotherapy and therapeutic desescalation omitting radiotherapy or surgery in a rectal preservation strategy. Moreover, tumor response leads to new multidisciplinary board discussion and treatment adaptation.