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Review
. 2019 Apr;35(2):119-123.
doi: 10.1159/000499167. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Watchful Waiting after Radiochemotherapy in Rectal Cancer: When Is It Feasible?

Cihan Gani  1   2 , Andreas Kirschniak  3 , Daniel Zips  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Watchful Waiting after Radiochemotherapy in Rectal Cancer: When Is It Feasible?

Cihan Gani et al. Visc Med. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

A "watch and wait" strategy in rectal cancer is increasingly considered in patients who achieve an excellent response to radiotherapy. While a growing number of studies have shown the feasibility of this strategy in selected patients, the optimal therapeutic regimen to maximize response rates still needs to be established. Furthermore, accurate response prediction and the management of minor residual findings after radiotherapy remain a matter of debate. Finally, concerns regarding the long-term oncological safety of the "watch and wait" approach have been expressed. Therefore, the present review aims to address the open questions in the context of a "watch and wait" strategy and focuses on the diagnosis of a clinical complete response and the ideal management thereafter.

Keywords: Cancer; Complete response; Organ preservation; Radiotherapy; Rectal cancer.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Examples of a clinical complete response, a near clinical complete response, and a poor response on restaging after radiochemotherapy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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