Current Trends in the Rate of Rectal Cancer Restorative Operations in the Era of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation

Purpose of Review: The following review addresses the relationship between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and the rate of restorative operations in patients with rectal cancer. Recent Findings: The rate of restorative operations performed for rectal cancer has improved over the past several decades. The relationship between this increase and the addition of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy to the treatment regimen for locally advanced rectal cancer is still being defined. Improved rates of sphincter-sparing procedures between patients who receive preoperative chemoradiation compared to those who receive treatment postoperatively have not been supported in the literature. The patients who seem to benefit from neoadjuvant therapy in terms of sphincter preservation are those with distal tumors. Better tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and longer interval to surgical intervention appear to have little if any benefit to preserving the sphincter. Summary: Increased rates of restorative operations for rectal cancer seem to be most significant among distal tumors. The reasons for the increase are likely multifactorial and include improvements in patient selection, surgical technique, imaging modalities, and patient care. The role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in this setting remains equivocal.