Mao JX, Gao R, Wang Y, Yan XB, Wang HH. Surgical treatment of colorectal cancer: A multidimensional review. World J Gastrointest Surg 2025; 17(8): 107785 [DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i8.107785]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hui-Hui Wang, Associate Professor, Medical College, Yangzhou University, No. 126 Jiangyang Middle Road, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China. wanghh56@yzu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Surg. Aug 27, 2025; 17(8): 107785 Published online Aug 27, 2025. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i8.107785
Surgical treatment of colorectal cancer: A multidimensional review
Jing-Xian Mao, Ran Gao, Ying Wang, Xue-Bing Yan, Hui-Hui Wang
Jing-Xian Mao, Ying Wang, Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China
Ran Gao, Hui-Hui Wang, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu Province, China
Xue-Bing Yan, Suining People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 225100, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Jing-Xian Mao and Ran Gao.
Co-corresponding authors: Xue-Bing Yan and Hui-Hui Wang.
Author contributions: Mao JX and Gao R contribute equally to this study as co-first authors; Yan XB and contribute equally to this study as co-corresponding authors; Wang HH Mao JX did the literature search, analysis and interpretation of data, created the artwork and drafted the original manuscript; Gao R did the literature search, analysis and interpretation of data; Wang Y did the literature search; Yan XB and Wang HH conceptualised, designed, and supervised the study and made critical revisions; all authors prepared the final draft and approved the final version.
Supported by Postgraduate Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province, No. KYCX23_3621.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Received: April 3, 2025 Revised: April 27, 2025 Accepted: June 19, 2025 Published online: August 27, 2025 Processing time: 150 Days and 1.3 Hours
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent malignancy worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Its global incidence increases annually, with most patients diagnosed at advanced stages. Despite substantial advancements in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immune therapy, and targeted therapy, surgical treatment remains the mainstay for CRC management. Particularly, surgery is most effective for managing early-stage and locally advanced cancers. CRC surgery has evolved from conventional subtractive surgery to modern minimally invasive and precision-based techniques. Additionally, CRC treatment strategies have expanded from a single surgical therapy to a multi-modal integrated system encompassing endoscopic therapy, perioperative therapy, molecular targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This review elucidates the evolution of CRC surgical treatment, describing its transition from early palliative surgery to radical surgery, and, finally, to functional surgery, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and personalized treatment. It reflects the transformation in CRC treatment from simplistic to complex, from generalized to precise, and from singular to comprehensive techniques, providing a holistic perspective on advancements in CRC surgical treatment.
Core Tip: This review systematically examines how colorectal cancer treatments vary across patient subgroups, exploring the historical progression of surgical interventions, evaluating technical and clinical innovations at each stage, and highlighting future directions to address unmet needs in personalized care.
