Adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer: state of the art and future perspectives

Purpose of review The value of adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer is controversial with opinions varying from 'not be used' since randomized trials have not shown significant gains to 'be used as in colon cancer' as the need is the same and colon and rectal cancers are quite similar. This review will look upon data critically and with open eyes. Recent findings With the exception of one randomized phase II trial (ADORE) revealing a significant gain in disease-free survival using one more effective regimen (mFOLFOX) than bolus 5-fluorouracil leucovorin, no new data have been presented. However, bringing up aspects in previous trials, either considered irrelevant for the present situation or overall negative, of what adjuvant treatment can achieve, a small reduction (hazard ratio about 0.8) in the risk of recurrence is present. This reduction is not fundamentally different from that in colon cancer considering that adjuvant treatment for rectal cancer cannot be initiated as rapidly as it can after a colon cancer diagnosis. Adjuvant chemotherapy after rectal cancer surgery reduces recurrence risks but the benefit is limited and for most patients not clinically relevant. Neoadjuvant therapy can be more effective but results from randomized trials are not yet available.