Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation and Local Excision for T2-3 Rectal Cancer

Background Local excision (LE) of T1 low-risk (G1–2/L0/V0) rectal cancer is an established approach with local recurrence (LR) rates of ∼5%, whereas LE of ≥T2 high-risk tumors or inadequate resections (R1/RX/R ≤1 mm) showed high recurrence rates. Because of the favorable results after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and radical surgery of disease that completely responds (CR) with almost absent LR even of T3–4 tumors, an extension of the indication for LE is controversially discussed, and therefore, we assessed this therapeutic option.