Zheng YZ, Yan FF, Luo LX. Feasibility and limitations of combined treatment for lateral pelvic lymph node metastases in rectal cancer. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15(5): 591-593 [PMID: 38835841 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i5.591]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Lian-Xiang Luo, PhD, Associate Professor, The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, No. 2 Wenming East Road, Xiashan District, Zhanjiang 524000, Guangdong Province, China. luolianxiang321@gdmu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Cell Biology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
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 Clin Oncol. May 24, 2024; 15(5): 591-593 Published online May 24, 2024. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i5.591
Feasibility and limitations of combined treatment for lateral pelvic lymph node metastases in rectal cancer
Ying-Zi Zheng, Fang-Fang Yan, Lian-Xiang Luo
Ying-Zi Zheng, Fang-Fang Yan, The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, Guangdong Province, China
Lian-Xiang Luo, The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Zheng YZ, Yan FF, and Luo LX wrote the editorial; Luo LX conceived and designed the editorial, reviewed the paper, and provided comments; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest for this article.
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/
Corresponding author: Lian-Xiang Luo, PhD, Associate Professor, The Marine Biomedical Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, No. 2 Wenming East Road, Xiashan District, Zhanjiang 524000, Guangdong Province, China. luolianxiang321@gdmu.edu.cn
Received: December 12, 2023 Revised: April 6, 2024 Accepted: April 16, 2024 Published online: May 24, 2024
Abstract
Colorectal cancer ranks among the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally, and is associated with a high rate of pelvic recurrence after surgery. In efforts to mitigate recurrence, pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is commonly advocated as an adjunct to radical surgery. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) is a therapeutic approach employed in managing locally advanced rectal cancer, and has been found to increase the survival rates. Chua et al have proposed a combination of NACRT with selective PLND for addressing lateral pelvic lymph node metastases in rectal cancer patients, with the aim of reducing recurrence and improving survival outcomes. Nevertheless, certain studies have indicated that the addition of PLND to NACRT and total mesorectal excision did not yield a significant reduction in local recurrence rates or improvement in survival. Consequently, meticulous patient selection and perioperative chemotherapy may prove indispensable in ensuring the efficacy of PLND.
Core Tip: Management of lateral pelvic lymph node metastases in rectal cancer patients who receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and selective pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND), can be effective in reducing recurrence rates and extending survival. However, meticulous patient selection and aggressive perioperative chemotherapy are crucial factors contributing to the success of PLND in this context.
