Management of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: ASCO Guideline.

ASCO Guidelines provide recommendations with comprehensive review and analyses of the relevant literature for each recommendation, following the guideline development process as outlined in the ASCO Guidelines Methodology Manual. ASCO Guidelines follow the ASCO Conflict of Interest Policy for Clinical Practice Guidelines.Clinical Practice Guidelines and other guidance ("Guidance") provided by ASCO is not a comprehensive or definitive guide to treatment options. It is intended for voluntary use by providers and should be used in conjunction with independent professional judgment. Guidance may not be applicable to all patients, interventions, diseases or stages of diseases. Guidance is based on review and analysis of relevant literature, and is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. ASCO does not endorse third-party drugs, devices, services, or therapies and assumes no responsibility for any harm arising from or related to the use of this information. See complete disclaimer in Appendix 1 and 2 (online only) for more.PURPOSETo provide evidence-based guidance for clinicians who treat patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.METHODSA systematic review of the literature published from 2013 to 2023 was conducted to identify relevant systematic reviews, phase II and III randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and observational studies where applicable.RESULTSTwelve RCTs, two systematic reviews, and one nonrandomized study met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Expert Panel members used available evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations.RECOMMENDATIONSFollowing assessment with magnetic resonance imaging, for patients with microsatellite stable or proficient mismatch repair locally advanced rectal cancer, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT; ie chemoradiation [CRT] and chemotherapy) should be offered as initial treatment for patients with tumors located in the lower rectum and/or patients who are at higher risk for local and/or distant metastases. Patients without higher-risk factors may discuss chemotherapy with selective CRT depending on extent of response, TNT, or neoadjuvant long-course CRT or short-course radiation. For patients who are candidates for TNT, the preferred timing for chemotherapy is after radiation, and neoadjuvant long-course CRT is preferred over short-course radiation therapy (RT), however short-course RT may also be a viable treatment option depending on circumstances. Nonoperative management may be discussed as an alternative to total mesorectal excision for patients who have a clinical complete response to neoadjuvant therapy. For patients whose tumors are microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient, immunotherapy is recommended.Additional information is available at http://www.asco.org/gastrointestinal-cancer-guidelines.

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Rectal Cancer, Version 3.2024.

The determination of an optimal treatment plan for an individual patient with rectal cancer is a complex process. In addition to decisions relating to the intent of rectal cancer surgery (ie, curative or palliative), consideration must also be given to the likely functional results of treatment, including the probability of maintaining or restoring normal bowel function/anal continence and preserving genitourinary functions. Particularly for patients with distal rectal cancer, finding a balance between curative-intent therapy while having minimal impact on quality of life can be challenging. Furthermore, the risk of pelvic recurrence is higher in patients with rectal cancer compared with those with colon cancer, and locally recurrent rectal cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. Careful patient selection and the use of sequenced multimodality therapy following a multidisciplinary approach is recommended. These NCCN Guidelines Insights detail recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Rectal Cancer, including the addition of endoscopic submucosal dissection as an option for early-stage rectal cancer, updates to the total neoadjuvant therapy approach based on the results of recent clinical trials, and the addition of a "watch-and-wait" nonoperative management approach for clinical complete responders to neoadjuvant therapy.

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Treatments for Early Stage Resectable NSCLC: Consensus Recommendations From the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

Advances in the multidisciplinary care of early stage resectable NSCLC (rNSCLC) are emerging at an unprecedented pace. Numerous phase 3 trials produced results that have transformed patient outcomes for the better, yet these findings also require important modifications to the patient treatment journey trajectory and reorganization of care pathways. Perhaps, most notably, the need for multispecialty collaboration for this patient population has never been greater. These rapid advances have inevitably left us with important gaps in knowledge for which definitive answers will only become available in several years. To this end, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer commissioned a diverse multidisciplinary international expert panel to evaluate the current landscape and provide diagnostic, staging, and therapeutic recommendations for patients with rNSCLC, with particular emphasis on patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer-Union for International Cancer Control TNM eighth edition stages II and III disease. Using a team-based approach, we generated 19 recommendations, of which all but one achieved greater than 85% consensus among panel members. A public voting process was initiated, which successfully validated and provided qualitative nuance to our recommendations. Highlights include the following: (1) the critical importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation of patients with rNSCLC driven by shared clinical decision-making of a multispecialty team of expert providers; (2) biomarker testing for rNSCLC; (3) a preference for neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for stage III rNSCLC; (4) equipoise regarding the optimal management of patients with stage II between upfront surgery followed by adjuvant therapy and neoadjuvant or perioperative strategies; and (5) the robust preference for adjuvant targeted therapy for patients with rNSCLC and sensitizing EGFR and ALK tumor alterations. Our primary goals were to provide practical recommendations sensitive to the global differences in biology and resources for patients with rNSCLC and to provide expert consensus guidance tailored to the individualized patient needs, goals, and preferences in their cancer care journey as these are areas where physicians must make daily clinical decisions in the absence of definitive data. These recommendations will continue to evolve as the treatment landscape for rNSCLC expands and more knowledge is acquired on the best therapeutic approach in specific patient and disease subgroups.

Favorable outcome of neoadjuvant endocrine treatment than surgery-first in female HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients-A NCDB analysis (2010-2016).

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in female HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients. DATA AND METHODS: We identified female patients aged ≥18 years with cT1-4N0-XM0, HR(+), and HER2(-) breast cancer from the National Cancer Database. The patients who underwent surgery first were categorized as "surgery-first," while those who received NET before surgery were classified as "NET." Propensity score-matching, Cox proportional-hazard model, variance inflation factors, and interaction analysis were employed to estimate the correlation between NET and survival outcomes. RESULTS: Among 432,387 cases, 2914 NET patients and 2914 surgery-first patients were matched. Compared with the surgery-first group, the NET group received less adjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the NET group exhibited higher survival probabilities compared with the surgery-first group (3 years: 91.4% vs. 82.1%; 5 years: 82.1% vs. 66.8%). Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that NET was associated with improved OS (surgery-first vs. NET: HR 2.17, 95% CI: 1.93-2.44). Age over 55 years old, having public insurance, higher CDCC score, higher NSBR grade, ER(+)PR(-), and advanced clinical stage were related to worse OS (all p < 0.05). There was an interaction between age, race, income, and home and treatment regimen (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: NET may be a more effective treatment procedure than surgery-first in female HR-positive/HER2-negative, non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Future clinical studies with more detailed data will provide higher-level evidence-based data.

Multidisciplinary Standards and Evolving Therapies for Patients With Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a challenging disease that presents at an advanced stage and results in many symptoms that negatively influence patients' quality of life and reduce their ability to receive effective treatment. Early implementation of expert multidisciplinary care with nutritional support, exercise, and palliative care for both early-stage and advanced disease promises to maintain or improve the patients' physical, social, and psychological well-being, decrease aggressive interventions at the end of life, and ultimately improve survival. Moreover, advances in treatment strategies in the neoadjuvant and metastatic setting combined with novel therapeutic agents targeting the key drivers of the disease are leading to improvements in the care of patients with pancreatic cancer. Here, we emphasize the multidisciplinary supportive and therapeutic care of patients with PDA, review current guidelines and new developments of neoadjuvant and perioperative treatments for localized disease, as well as the treatment standards and the evolving field of precision oncology and immunotherapies for advanced PDA.

Economic Evaluation of Neoadjuvant Versus Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In the absence of evidence on whether neoadjuvant (NAC) or adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is more beneficial for various tumor treatments, economic evaluation (EE) can assist medical decision making. There is limited evidence on their cost-effectiveness and their prospective evaluation is less likely in the future. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis about EE for NAC versus AC in solid tumor help compare these therapies from various perspectives. METHODS: Various databases were searched for studies published from inception to 2021. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines and economic-specific guidelines. The data were pooled using a random effects model when possible. RESULTS: The retrieval identified 15 EE studies of NAC versus AC in 8 types of cancer. NAC is the dominant strategy for pancreatic, head and neck, rectal, prostate cancers and colorectal liver metastases. For ovarian cancer, NAC is cost-effective with a lower cost and higher or similar quality-adjusted life-year. There were no significant differences in cost and outcomes for lung cancer. For stage IV or high-risk patients with ovarian or prostate cancer, NAC was cost-effective but not for patients who were not high risk. CONCLUSIONS: The EEs results for NAC versus AC were inconsistent because of their different model structures, assumptions, cost inclusions, and a shortage of studies. There are multiple sources of heterogeneity across EEs evidence synthesis. More high-quality EE studies on NAC versus AC in initial cancer treatment are necessary.

Evaluation of the histopathologic status of rectal adenocarcinoma and its regional lymph nodes after neoadjuvant therapy, and its relation to the duration of disease-free survival.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and has a relatively poor prognosis. Lymph node involvement is considered the most important prognostic factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a retrospective cohort study, 132 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for resectable rectal cancer from 2010 to 2015 in Sina hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis was performed and shown the clinical stage was not a representative factor for disease-free survival (P = 0.187), but Dworak Tumor Regression Grading were significantly associated with higher disease-free survival (P = 0.000) in stage II and stage III. The total number of retrieved lymph nodes and involved lymph nodes in the same clinical stage were statistically associated with higher mean disease-free survival in patients (P = 0.000 in both conditions). CONCLUSION: In the same clinical stage, increasing the Dworak Tumor Regression Grading reduced the risk of rectal cancer recurrence. Increasing total number of retrieved lymph nodes and involved lymph nodes, 2.14 times and 3.87 times increased the risk of recurrence, respectively.

Identification of DNA methylation biomarkers with potential to predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is used to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) prior to resection. Biomarkers that accurately predict a patient's response to NAC are needed to individualise therapy and avoid chemotoxicity from unnecessary chemotherapy. We performed whole-genome DNA methylation profiling on diagnostic TNBC biopsy samples from the Sequential Evaluation of Tumours Undergoing Preoperative (SETUP) NAC study. We found 9 significantly differentially methylated regions (DMRs) at diagnosis which were associated with response to NAC. We show that 4 of these DMRs are associated with TNBC overall survival (P < 0.05). Our results highlight the potential of DNA methylation biomarkers for predicting NAC response in TNBC.

The Outcome of Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer in Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Radical Hysterectomy and Primary Surgery.

Background: In recent years, before radical hysterectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been administered to patients with locally advanced cervical cancer to shrink large tumors. It has been reported that this treatment significantly reduces the need for radiotherapy after surgery. The current study aimed to assess the outcome (survival, recurrence, and the need for adjuvant radiotherapy) of locally advanced cervical cancer in patients treated with NACT followed by radical hysterectomy and primary surgery. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, the records of 258 patients with cervical cancer (stage IB2, IIA, or IIB), who referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran, Iran) from 2007 to 2017 were evaluated. The patients were assigned into two groups; group A (n=58) included patients, who underwent radical hysterectomy and group B (n=44) included those, who underwent a radical hysterectomy after NACT. The outcome measures were the recurrence rate, five-year survival rate, and the need for adjuvant radiotherapy. Results: The median for overall survival time in group A and B was 113.65 and 112.88 months, respectively (P=0.970). There was no recurrence among patients with stage IB2 cervical cancer in group B, while the recurrence rate in group A was 19.5% with a median recurrence time of 59.13 months. Lymph node involvement was the only factor that affected patients' survival. The need for postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in group B was lower than in group A (P=0.002). Conclusion: NACT before the hysterectomy was found to reduce the need for postoperative radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer according to disease stages. As a direct result, adverse side effects and the recurrence rate were reduced, and the overall survival rate of patients with stage IIB cervical cancer was increased.

Effectiveness of Ozone Therapy as an Adjunct Treatment for Lower-Limb Ulcers: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of topical ozone therapy as an adjuvant treatment in the healing of lower limb ulcers through a systematic literature review. DATA SOURCES: Three databases were used to search for studies conducted in the period up to and including September 2020: PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science. STUDY SELECTION: The search identified 44 studies, 7 of which met the eligibility criteria and were evaluated. DATA EXTRACTION: Study design, study location, number of patients, patient age, type of control, wound type, intervention type, equipment used to generate ozone (ozone generation), evaluation methodology, and main results were extracted from each study. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 506 patients 18 years or older with chronic wounds, such as venous or diabetic ulcers, on the lower limbs were enrolled. The majority of studies addressed diabetic foot ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: The ozone therapy protocols demonstrated a healing effect in all included studies, and none reported adverse effects. This reinforces the need for more controlled and randomized clinical trials to determine the effectiveness of this treatment and establish clinical criteria for its use.

Optimal neoadjuvant strategy for signet ring cell carcinoma of the rectum-Is TNT the solution?

INTRODUCTION: The results of total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancers (LARC) cannot be extrapolated to signet-ring cell cancers (SRCC) that have an extremely aggressive biology. METHODS: A retrospective study comparing long course chemoradiation (CTRT) against short course radiation (SCRT) and 12 weeks of chemotherapy for high-risk LARC. Primary endpoints were treatment failure and disease-free survival (DFS) RESULTS: CTRT was given to 74 (59.7%) and SCRT/Chemotherapy to 50 patients (40.3%). Additional chemotherapy was required in 54.1% and 28%, respectively. Except for nodal staging, no other MRI parameter down-staged. Treatment failures were seen in 33.9% and 25.8% had progression. The peritoneum was the commonest site of progression (59.4%). Of the patients that were surgically explored, 63.7% had R0 resections and pathological complete response was seen in 9.7%. At a median follow-up of 35 months, 56.5% had DFS events with a 3-year DFS of 39.5%. Recurrences were noted in 45.1% after curative resections and the 3-year OS/DFS of these patients were 67.2%/56.4%. On multivariate regression, the type of preoperative therapy did not influence treatment failures or DFS. CONCLUSIONS: SRCC is a very aggressive disease and none of the treatment strategies could show superiority over the other with very high peritoneal progression rates and relapses.

Effectiveness and Safety of Apatinib Plus Chemotherapy as Neoadjuvant Treatment for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Apatinib is a novel treatment option for chemotherapy-refractory advanced gastric cancer (GC), but it has not been evaluated in patients with locally advanced GC. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of apatinib combined with S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) as a neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced GC. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, prospective, single-group, open-label, phase 2 nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted in 10 centers in southern China. Patients with M0 and either clinical T2 to T4 or N+ disease were enrolled between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2019. Statistical analysis was performed from December 1, 2019, to January 31, 2020. Interventions: Eligible patients received apatinib (500 mg orally once daily on days 1 to 21 and discontinued in the last cycle) plus SOX (S-1: 40-60 mg orally twice daily on days 1 to 14; oxaliplatin: 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1) every 3 weeks for 2 to 5 cycles. A D2 gastrectomy was performed 2 to 4 weeks after the last cycle. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was R0 resection rate. Secondary end points were the response rate, toxic effects, and surgical outcome. Results: A total of 48 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.2 [8.2] years; 37 men [77.1%]) were enrolled in this study. Forty patients underwent surgery (38 had gastrectomy, and 2 had exploratory laparotomy), with an R0 resection rate of 75.0% (95% CI, 60.4%-86.4%). The radiologic response rate was 75.0%, and T downstaging was observed in 16 of 44 patients (36.4%). The pathological response rate was 54.2% (95% CI, 39.2%-68.6%); moreover, this rate was significantly higher in patients who achieved a radiologic response compared with those who did not (12 [80.0%] vs 1 [20.0%]; P = .03) and in those who had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of 0 (20 [76.9%] vs 10 [45.5%]; P = .03) or had tumors located in the upper one-third of the stomach (16 [61.5%] vs 7 [31.8%]; P = .04). Patients who achieved a pathological response (vs those who did not) had significantly less blood loss (median [range]: 60 [10-200] mL vs 80 [20-300] mL; P = .04) and significantly more lymph nodes harvested (median [range]: 40 [24-67] vs 32 [19-51]; P = .04) during surgery. Postoperative complications were observed in 7 of 38 patients (18.4%). Grade 3 toxic effects occurred in 16 of 48 patients (33.3%), and no grade 4 toxic effects or preoperative deaths were observed. Conclusions and Relevance: This nonrandomized controlled trial found that apatinib combined with SOX was effective and had an acceptable safety profile as a neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced GC. A large-scale randomized clinical trial may be needed to confirm the findings. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03192735.

Changes in and challenges regarding the surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in China.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with a high morbidity and mortality in China and elsewhere in the world. Due to its tumor heterogeneity and distant metastasis, patients with HCC often have a poor prognosis. A surgical treatment such as a radical hepatectomy is still the treatment of choice for patients with HCC in current clinical practice. However, the high rate of recurrence and rate of metastasis after surgery diminishes the survival of and prognosis for these patients. In an era of targeted therapy and immunotherapy, the surgical treatment of HCC must change. This review focuses on the definition, feasibility, and criteria with which to evaluate neoadjuvant therapy for HCC in order to provide a new perspective on surgical treatment of HCC.

Neoadjuvant hormone therapy for patients with high-risk prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to identify the pathological outcomes and survival benefits of neoadjuvant hormone therapy (NHT) combined with radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (RT) administered to patients with high-risk prostate cancer (HRPCa). We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for studies comparing NHT plus RP or RT with RP or RT alone, administered to patients with HRPCa. We used a random-effects model to compute risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and quantified heterogeneity using the I "2" statistic. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. We selected 16 studies. NHT before RP significantly decreased lymph node involvement (risk ratio [RR] = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.56-0.87) and increased the rates of pathological downstaging (RR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.22-5.61) and organ-confinement (RR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.54-3.25), but did not improve overall survival and biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS). The administration of NHT before RT to patients with HRPCa was associated with significant benefits for cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.39-0.68), disease-free survival (HR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.44-0.60), and bPFS (HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.46-0.64). Short-term NHT combined with RT administered to patients with HRPCa conferred significant improvements. Although the advantage of local control was observed when NHT was administered before RP, there was no significant survival benefit associated with HRPCa. Therefore, short-term NHT combined with RT is recommended for implementation in standard clinical practice but not for patients who undergo RP.

Real-world anticancer medications for reproductive-age women with breast cancer by using a claims database in Japan.

Aim: To describe real-world breast cancer medications among reproductive-age women. Patients & methods: Using data from a Japanese claims database, anticancer prescriptions were classified into seven categories of amenorrhea risk based on fertility preservation guidelines. Results: We identified 2999 women with records of breast cancer and anticancer prescription from 2005 to 2018. The proportions of prescriptions were as follows: high, 4.1-12.9%; intermediate: 6.0-16.3%; low: 0.4-2.3%; very low/no: 0.3-12.2%; unknown: 33.9-45.5%; unlisted combination: 12.2-23.4%; and unlisted drug: 12.5-26.7%. The common drugs in the unknown category were trastuzumab (n = 1527), docetaxel (n = 1014), and paclitaxel (n = 995). For medications unlisted in the guidelines, various drugs and drug combinations were observed. Conclusion: Numerous anticancer drugs are currently being prescribed with insufficient evidence regarding amenorrhea risk.

Lay abstract The ability to have children for breast cancer patients is one of the key issues of cancer survivorship, especially because recent progress in anticancer treatments has enabled patients to achieve longer survival. The fertility preservation guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (2006) introduce some anticancer treatments that carry potential risks to future fertility. In this study, the anticancer prescriptions of 2999 patients with breast cancer aged between 15 and 49 years were examined. Results showed that several medications are prescribed despite the lack of information on the risk of infertility. This suggests that further research is required to fill the evidence gap, and that decision aid through adequate counseling should be undertaken.

Breast conservation and axillary management after primary systemic therapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer: the Lucerne toolbox.

Primary systemic therapy is increasingly used in the treatment of patients with early-stage breast cancer, but few guidelines specifically address optimal locoregional therapies. Therefore, we established an international consortium to discuss clinical evidence and to provide expert advice on technical management of patients with early-stage breast cancer. The steering committee prepared six working packages to address all major clinical questions from diagnosis to surgery. During a consensus meeting that included members from European scientific oncology societies, clinical trial groups, and patient advocates, statements were discussed and voted on. A consensus was reached in 42% of statements, a majority in 38%, and no decision in 21%. Based on these findings, the panel developed clinical guidance recommendations and a toolbox to overcome many clinical and technical requirements associated with the diagnosis, response assessment, surgical planning, and surgery of patients with early-stage breast cancer. This guidance could convince clinicians and patients of the major clinical advancements purported by primary systemic therapy, the use of less extensive and more targeted surgery to improve the lives of patients with breast cancer.

Updates in Neoadjuvant Therapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer refers to systemic therapy administered prior to definitive surgery. It was originally developed for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (stage III) with the intention of downstaging unresectable tumors, and decreasing the extent of surgical intervention, including axillary lymph node dissection. For patients with inflammatory breast cancer, neoadjuvant therapy is considered a standard of care. Increasingly, the neoadjuvant setting is being utilized to accelerate drug development and approval in triple negative breast cancer, a diverse and aggressive subgroup for which no approved targeted therapies are currently available. This review discusses the use of pathologic complete response as a clinical trial endpoint, the use of imaging and biomarkers to predict response to therapy, and standard of care treatment for triple negative breast cancer. Finally, we review novel targets and drug trials in the neoadjuvant setting.

Radiotherapy management of rectal cancer in the backdrop of the COVID pandemic.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 outbreak was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Over the last 3 months, the pandemic has challenged the diagnosis and treatment of all cancer, including rectal cancer. Constraints in resources call for a change in the treatment strategy without compromising efficacy. RECENT FINDINGS: Delivery of shorter treatment schedules for radiotherapy offers advantages like short overall treatment time, improved throughput on the machine, improved compliance and reduced risk of transmission of COVID 19. Other strategies include delaying surgery, reducing the intensity of chemotherapy and adoption of organ preservation approach. CONCLUSION: The curative treatment of rectal cancer should not be hindered during the COVID pandemic, and modifications in the multi-modality treatment will help achieve quality care.

Clinical and Histological Basis of Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Pancreas: A 30-year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) of the pancreas is a rare form of malignancy with a poor prognosis. We herein report our case series with review of the contemporary literature. METHODS: With institutional review board approval, we identified 23 patients with pancreatic ASC. RESULTS: ASC was more common in women (61%), with a median age of 73 y at presentation. The tumor was in the head of the pancreas in 65% of cases. Six cases (26%) had resectable disease, three (13%) were borderline resectable, and eight (34.7%) were locally advanced or metastatic. First-line treatment included pancreatic resection in eight cases (34.8%), concurrent neoadjuvant chemoradiation in three (13%), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in two (8.7%). Most resected tumors had pathological T3 stage (80%). Pathological nodal disease was demonstrated in 60%, and margins were positive in three cases. Complete pathological response was not observed, although fibrosis presented in only one case (10%). Eventually, twenty patients developed metastatic disease. Overall survival is 11.5 [95% confidence interval 6, 14.5] months. CONCLUSIONS: ASC demonstrates a more aggressive malignant phenotype and carries a worse prognosis. Oncological resection is the mainstay of treatment. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is an emerging approach in the management of ASC that has been extrapolated from the adenocarcinoma neoadjuvant trials.