[Total pelvic exenteration - strategy and extent of surgery].

Introduction: Pelvic exenteration is an essential part of complex treatment of advanced tumours of the small pelvis. The strategy of surgery is well known and consensual. However, the optimal extent of lymphadenectomy is still under discussion.

Durable Complete Response of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis after Biochemotherapy.

Background: Resection of the metastatic site is indicated but not always possible in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who achieve a partial or complete response (CR) to induction systemic treatment. CR after systemic treatment alone is uncommon, and even patients with radiologic CR after induction chemotherapy harbour persistent macroscopic or microscopic residual disease in more than 80% of cases. Occasionally, some metastatic lesions disappear radiologically but others persist after induction systemic treatment.

Monitoring of Circulating Tumor Cells by a Combination of Immunomagnetic Enrichment and RT-PCR in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgery.

Background: The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTC) has been reported in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Monitoring CTC (also known as a liquid-biopsy) has recently become the center of interest for low-invasive monitoring of cancer progression and predictive biomarkers testing. Along with high-cost technology and a complex methodology, a straightforward method based on magnetic beads enrichment followed by RT-PCR is set to allow for routine CTC analysis in colorectal cancer patients.

[Quality of life after extensive pelvic surgery].

Introduction: Multiorgan resections in the small pelvis are standard procedures in oncosurgery and some indications have no alternative. In advanced pelvic cancer, pelvic exenteration with en bloc resection of the involved organs and structures, including portions of the bony pelvis, is indicated. The 5-year survival rate is fairly good, around 50%, but little is known about the long-term quality of life.

[Total pelvic exenteration - strategy of the surgery].

Introduction: Total pelvic exenteration (TPE) has a key role in the complex treatment of advanced T4 tumours of the small pelvis, which cannot be radically removed by a less invasive procedure. The aim of this work is to summarize the strategy of TPE, perioperative care of the patients, complications of the intervention and their management.

Methods: Overview of the current literature and the authors experience, based on our own group of 37 patients after TPE performed during the period 1999-2012.