Downstaging After Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Is There More (Tumor) Than Meets the Eye? Downstaging after chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: is there more (tumor) than meets the eye?

Abstract

Patients with a mural pathologic complete response have a low rate of positive lymph nodes. These findings may have implications for the management strategies of these patients, including the use of local resection or a watch-and-wait policy. When the response to chemoradiotherapy is not complete, radical surgery should remain the treatment based on high rates of lymph node involvement.