A breakthrough study from Uppsala University reveals a novel treatment for rectal cancer that significantly reduces the need for surgery and recurrence rates, offering new optimism for many patients.
A transformative approach to treating locally advanced rectal cancer has been validated in a comprehensive study from Uppsala University, showing promise in reducing the need for invasive surgery and minimizing recurrence risks.
The study, which has been published in eClinicalMedicine, showed that many patients can completely avoid surgery, retaining normal rectum and rectal functions while also reducing the likelihood of metastases.
“The tumor disappears completely more often, thereby increasing the chance of avoiding surgery and retaining normal rectum and rectal function. Moreover, there are fewer metastases,” Bengt Glimelius, professor of oncology at Uppsala University and senior consultant at Uppsala University Hospital, said in a news release.
Rectal cancer often requires patients to undergo a grueling regimen of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, followed by surgery. The new method involves administering all radiotherapy and chemotherapy up-front, potentially eliminating the need for surgical intervention altogether if the tumor disappears as a result of the treatment.
“If the tumor disappears completely during treatment, surgery is not required. This means that the rectum is preserved and the need for a stoma and a new rectum is eliminated,” Glimelius added. “When part of the rectum is surgically removed, the new rectum does not quite understand that it should be able to refrain from frequently sending a signal to the brain that you need to use the toilet.”
Spanning four years and involving 461 patients, the study leveraged data from the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry (SCRCR). It builds on a previous randomized study that initially introduced a shortened period of chemotherapy post-radiotherapy, revealing a significant reduction in tumor presence and fewer cases of distant metastases.
“With the old treatment, the randomized study failed to find any tumor in 14% of patients who underwent surgery. The new model doubled that figure to 28%,” Glimelius added. The new Swedish study had the same results, but without an increase in local recurrence rate after almost five years of follow-up. It is important to show that experimental treatments also work in everyday health care.”
This research marks a pivotal moment for those battling rectal cancer, as the new treatment model suggests a future where surgery and its accompanying complications, such as needing a stoma, might become less prevalent for many.
The findings not only provide a robust endorsement of this novel methodology in everyday health care settings but also point toward a future with improved quality of life for rectal cancer patients, reducing both physical and emotional burdens.