Which tumour factors preclude organ preservation in patients with rectal cancer?

Background: cT3cdT4, cN2, mesorectal nodes > 8 mm, clinically positive lateral nodes, extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) and mesorectal fascia threatening (MRF+) have been utilized as exclusion criteria in several studies on the watch-and-wait (w&w) strategy. Here, our aim was to validate these criteria through a post hoc analysis of two pooled prospective studies on w&w following routine radio(chemo)therapy.

Methods: A review of baseline magnetic resonance imaging was performed in a subgroup of 223 patients treated at a single institution.

Image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy as the method of choice in medically inoperable early-stage endometrial cancer patients.

Purpose: About 3-9% of patients with endometrial cancer are unable to undergo surgery due to medical comorbidities, including morbid obesity, or age-related frailty syndrome. An alternative curative option is irradiation. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICBT) treatment in such patients.