Liangting Qiu,1 Jianjun Li2 

1Department of Oncology, The People’s Hospital of Tongnan District Chongqing City, Chongqing, 402660, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Jianjun Li, Department of Oncology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), No. 29 Gaotan Yanzheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400038, People’s Republic of China, Email jianjunli@tmmu.edu.cn Liangting Qiu, Department of Oncology, The People’s Hospital of Tongnan District Chongqing City, No. 189, Jianshe Road (Weicheng Road), Dafo Street, Tongnan District, Chongqing, 402660, People’s Republic of China, Email qiu_liangting@outlook.com, ltq8910@163.com

Abstract: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and sphincter-preserving total mesorectal excision (TME) effectively control tumor growth in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, associated complications can impair the quality of life (QoL) of the patients. Neoadjuvant therapies, such as consolidation neoadjuvant therapy and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), can improve tumor regression, potentially achieving a complete response and allowing organ preservation. Emerging clinical data suggest that these approaches can promote long-term cancer control in patients with LARC.

Keywords: preoperative chemoradiotherapy, locally advanced rectal cancer, organ-preservation, consolidation neoadjuvant therapy, total neoadjuvant therapy