[Clinical research for rectal carcinoma: State of the art and objectives]. / Acquis et objectifs de la recherche clinique sur le cancer du rectum.

The treatment of rectal carcinoma is based on multidisciplinary strategy and multimodal approaches including gastrointestinal tract specialists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgery. The different objectives should be declined according to the characteristics of the tumours. The aim of the therapist would be to select the best strategy offering to the patient to be cured with as less as possible late adverse toxicity. The challenge of the treatment of small tumours is to maintain a functional anal sphincter while minimizing the risk of local recurrence. The standard treatment of locally advanced disease is aiming firstly to cure the patient and secondly to prevent late complications. Each of these clinical presentations of the disease has to be considered as a whole taking into account the new surgical techniques and a personalized approach adapted to the tumour. Nowadays they should be studied with dedicated clinical trials.

[Radio-induced oral and pharyngeal mucositis: management updates]. / Mucites radio-induites buccopharyngées : actualités sur la prise en charge.

Mucositis is a major side effect induced by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy of head and neck cancer. This toxicity impacts patient's quality of life and may compromise optimal treatments. Pathophysiology, risk factors, incidence and consequences of mucositis will be discussed in this review. Its management remains principally supportive (pain medication and nutritional support); however, in recent years several studies have revealed that the use of low level energy laser is particularly useful in the prevention and treatment of chemo- and radio-induced mucositis.