Primary Tumor Resection Before Systemic Therapy in Patients With Colon Cancer and Unresectable Metastases: Combined Results of the SYNCHRONOUS and CCRe-IV Trials.

Purpose: Chemotherapy is established as primary treatment in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer and unresectable metastases. Data from nonrandomized clinical trials have fueled persistent uncertainty if primary tumor resection (PTR) before chemotherapy prolongs survival. We investigated the prognostic value of PTR in patients with newly diagnosed stage IV colon cancer who were not amenable to curative treatment.

Determining the optimal interval between neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and surgery in rectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: In locally advanced rectal cancer, the optimal interval between completion of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RT-ChT) and surgical resection remains unclear due to contradictory data on the benefits of extending this interval. Therefore, the aim of this retrospective study was to determine the impact of this interval on outcomes in patients treated for rectal cancer at our center.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 382 consecutive patients treated for stage II/III rectal cancer between October 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017.

Prognostic factors for complications after loop ileostomy reversal.

Background: Defunctioning ileostomy creation and closure are both associated with morbidity. There is little data available about complications after ileostomy closure. The aim of this study was to evaluate morbidity related to loop ileostomy closure (LIC) and to determine if patients with postoperative complications in primary surgery suffer from more postoperative complications during stoma closure.

Short-course radiotherapy in stage IV rectal cancer with resectable disease.

Introduction: Stage IV rectal cancer with resectable disease presents challenging issues, as the radical treatment of the whole disease is difficult. Surgery and chemotherapy (CT) play an unquestionable role, but the contribution of pelvic radiotherapy (RT) is not very clear.

Methods: In 2009, we established a prospective treatment protocol that included CT, short-course preoperative radiotherapy (SCRT) with surgery of the primary tumour and all metastatic locations.