[New trends in the therapy of colorectal cancer]

Cancers the sigmoid colon and rectum are detected in an increasing frequency within the population of German Democratic Republic. 6 groups of improvements in prophylaxis and therapy are discussed: modern staging, typing and grading as basis of planning of treatment; purposeful prophylaxis of developing cancers by endoscopic surgery; systematizing of screening examinations; improvements of the preoperative care; innovations of operative technique and finally the possibilities of adjuvant tumortherapy. This survey is based on own experiences in 63 patients with colonic carcinomas and 139 patients with rectal cancers in Greifswald in the years 1977 to 1983, inclusively 55 patients with preoperative irradiation.