What will be major breakthroughs in colorectal cancer treatment in near future? One of them is treatment of rectal cancer without surgery. Chemotherapy alone can eradicate cancer in some patients with rectal cancer. Why comprehensive molecular profile of tumor must be tested in every patient?

Colorectal cancer treatment and, in particular, metastatic colon cancer treatment has made huge progress in the last decade. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. What are the most important advances in the next 5 to 10 years that will make the most impact on colorectal cancer treatment in the future? One interesting development is in rectal cancer treatment. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. I recently spoke at meeting of general practitioners about it. It is about treatment of rectal cancer without surgical resection of primary tumor in the rectum. This is important consideration for patients with rectal cancer. Some patients might high risk for losing anorectal function after the surgery. In patients with a low location of rectal cancer. There are patients with a good response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. They have biopsy-proven "complete response" of rectal cancer tumor to treatment. Such patients with rectal cancer should not have surgery to remove primary tumor. They should have "wait and see" follow-up after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. To see what happens with this local tumor. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy alone can eradicate rectal cancer tumor. it is a new method for rectal cancer treatment. To reduce the amount of chemotherapy. to reduce the number of patients who have resection of rectum. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. Sometimes they who risk the loss of anorectal sphincter function. this is an important step. To adapt the surgical steps, radiation steps to the patient where it is really necessary. We reduce the amount of treatment to improve the quality of life of the patient with colorectal cancer. Our goal is to prolong the life for colon cancer patients. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. To improve the outcome with optimal treatment of colon cancer. we need more effective chemotherapy combinations. We do not totally understand how to find new treatment medications. But new molecular classification of colorectal cancer is important for this goal. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. All clinical trials for colorectal cancer must use molecular characterization of the tumor. we speak the same language when we compare results. This is extremely important to make a centralized access and comparison of all data from clinical trials. We have hundreds of thousands of patients with colorectal cancer in clinical trials now. Data sharing is absolutely necessary. It is happening now, but there are financial problems. also cooperation problems between medical centers. the third important direction in colon cancer therapy is clinical development of the new targeted medications. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. We have to focus on clinical information of efficacy of available targeted treatments. We have to know this medications help specific molecular subgroups of colon cancer patients. We have to find efficacy of various targeted chemotherapy medications in early treatment of colon cancer patients. Dr. Anton Titov, MD. This system will give us rapid information this medications are active in this subgroup of colon cancer patients. This is what we need. Thank you very much! Professor Schmoll, I very much appreciate your time and sharing your expertise with our viewers around the world. that our conversation will be very useful for patients with colorectal cancer and all patients who are interested. thank you very much! Dr. Anton Titov, MD. We will revert to you in the future to learn more about advances in colon cancer and the rectal cancer treatment. Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Schmoll, MD. Thank you! It was my pleasure to speak with you. How to avoid Surgery in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer. Future trends in colorectal cancer treatment. Molecular profile of tumors must be done on all colorectal cancer tumors. Skipping Surgery May Work for Some Rectal Cancer patients. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can eradicate rectal cancer tumor. Therefore, Surgery May Not Be Necessary for Some Patients With rectal cancer at early stages. We are moving Toward Curing Rectal Cancer without Surgery for select patients. Some patients have excellent response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy in rectal cancer. They have biopsy-proven “complete response” of rectal cancer tumor to treatment. Our goal is to prolong the life for colorectal cancer patients.