In a nutshell This study examined the effect of pre-surgical chemotherapy without radiotherapy in stage II/III rectal cancer. The study showed that combined targeted chemotherapy was effective in these patients. Some background Rectal cancer is a cancer of the end part of the digestive system. In stage II and III, the cancer has begun to...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the benefits of pre-surgery chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT) in patients with rectal cancer and pelvic lymph node metastasis (spread of cancer). Researchers suggested that CRT may have a beneficial impact in the disease outcomes of these patients. Some background CRT followed by surgery is the...
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In a nutshell This study compared the disease-free survival rates of patients who had a complete mesocolic excision with patients who had conventional surgery for treatment of colon cancer. Some background Patients with rectal cancer have higher survival rates than colon cancer patients. This is in part due to the type of surgery carried out. Many...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the effect of chemotherapy drug dose on the survival outcomes of stage 3 colon cancer patients. Some background Relative dose intensity (RDI) refers to the proportion of the standard drug dose received during chemotherapy. Previous studies have shown that an RDI greater than 70% is associated with better...
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In a nutshell This study looked at the usefulness of measuring the levels of a certain type of white blood cell in cancer tissue as a method of predicting the progression of rectal cancer. Some background Neoadjuvant therapy is when patients are given an initial treatment before their main cancer treatment. For example,...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of adding nimotuzumab (TheraCIM, Theraloc) to radiotherapy plus capecitabine (Xeloda; chemotherapy) for locally advanced rectal cancer. Some background Locally advanced rectal cancer indicates that the tumor has spread to the outer layers of the rectum or has invaded the lymph nodes....
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In a nutshell This study investigated which surgical technique for colon cancer is safest when lymph nodes are also being dissected. Some background The two main surgeries for treating colon cancer are open surgery and laparoscopic surgery. Open surgery is the original technique involving a large incision to remove part of the bowel. Laparoscopic...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of surgical margins among rectal cancer patients. Some background Surgical removal of the tumor is the optimal treatment in the case of local rectal cancer. Removal of the intact tumor, with surrounding tissue and lymph-nodes, without leaving behind...
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In a nutshell This study evaluated p300 as a potential prognostic marker for colorectal cancer survival. Some background Survival of colorectal cancer patients is currently estimated according to cancer staging and lymph node involvement. However, both survival and the response to treatments vary widely between patients. Therefore, new molecules...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study examined whether statin use during cancer treatments can increase response rates and outcomes among rectal cancer patients before surgery. Some background Chemoradiation (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) is often used among rectal cancer patients before undergoing surgery (referred to as neoadjuvant therapy). Neoadjuvant...
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In a nutshell This review examined the prognosis of rectal cancer patients exhibiting a partial response to treatment. Some background Treatment of rectal cancer generally includes chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy before surgical removal of the tumor. Response to these treatments is measured by assessing shrinkage of the tumor on a scale referred...
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In a nutshell This review evaluated the survival of patients with rectal cancer who were treated with a total mesorectal excision (TME) and whether preoperative chemoradiation therapy or PCRT (chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery) had any influence on their survival. Some background Rectal cancer is cancer in the rectum, the last part of...
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