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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2014; 20(15): 4256-4262
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4256
Published online Apr 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i15.4256
Interval to surgery after neoadjuvant treatment for colorectal cancer
Nir Wasserberg, Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
Author contributions: Wasserberg N solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Nir Wasserberg, MD, Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Haim Levanon 55, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel. nirw@clalit.org.il
Telephone: +972-3-9376202 Fax: +972-3-9376202
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: November 11, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Revised: November 11, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: April 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: The traditional 6-wk interval between chemoradiation and surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer was based primarily on a single publication. There has been a trend in recent years to prolong this interval based on studies showing that it may be advantageous in terms of tumor downstaging and pathologic complete response, without increasing surgical difficulty or complications. The data so far are derived largely from retrospective studies using a wide variation of treatments. Further investigations with a higher level of evidence are required to definitively resolve this issue.