A study presented at the virtual 2020 meeting of the American Society of Radiation Oncology looked at 90 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who went through short-course radiation therapy and then neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the report said. About half of those patients saw a clinical complete response and could skip surgery.
The study shows potential, but there isn’t enough follow-up to see long-term side effects, Re-I. Chin, MD, a resident at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told Medscape.
“For rectal cancer, both short-course radiation therapy and nonoperative management are emerging treatment paradigms that may be more cost-effective and convenient compared to long-course chemoradiation followed by surgery, [especially since] the COVID-19 pandemic … has spurred changes in clinical practices in radiation oncology,” Dr. Chin said.
Read the full report here.
More articles on surgery centers:
5 employees of U of New Mexico outpatient surgery center test positive for COVID-19
ASC leaders on top priorities during COVID-19 pandemic
ASCs projected to take 68% of orthopedic surgeries by mid-decade — 5 insights
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
