[Interpretation of consensus on the watch and wait strategy in rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant treatment...

Watch and wait (W&W) after neoadjuvant treatment of rectal cancer has been a focus in the field of rectal cancer in recent years. Many Chinese or international centers have accumulated valuable experience through conducting clinical research, but there are many disputes about the details of developing W&W, and there is also a problem of insufficient evidence level. Dozens of experts of gastrointestinal surgery, oncology, radiotherapy, pathology and radiology shared the experience of developing W&W and compiled the consensus on the W&W policy in rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant treatment (2020). This article further analyzes and interprets 5 issues that are likely to cause confusion in consensus, including near-cCR and prolonged waiting time, the relationship between cCR and pCR, the role of biopsy in W&W, local resection, and contact X-ray brachytherapy, and at the same time explains the adjustments in the consensus based on national conditions.