Positive surgical margin, the presence of perineural and/or lymphovascular invasion and positive nodal involvement were identified as significant independent predictors of mortality. The PRS was shown to be highly predictive of postoperative outcome.

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Introduction  In recent years, a standardized surgical approach for low rectal cancer was proposed and adopted in many centres. The extralevator abdominoperineal excision introduce an extensive resection of the pelvic floor and demonstrated superiority if the procedure is done in the prone jack-knife position, especially regarding intraoperative perforation and circumferential resections margins. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical and oncological short-term outcomes of prone extralevator abdominoperineal excision. Methods  All patients registered in our institution from January 2003 to January 2015 who underwent abdominoperineal resection or prone extralevator abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiation were retrospectively included from prospective maintained data base and were compared regarding surgical and oncological outcomes. Results  Eighty-nine patients underwent curative intent resections. Abdominoperineal resection was performed in 67 patients and prone extralevator abdominoperineal excision in 22 patients. There were no statistical significant differences between groups regarding pathological stage, median number of harvested lymph node, intraoperative perforation, circumferential resections margins involvement and recurrence rates. Surgical outcomes were statistically different between groups. Twenty-six patients (29%) developed perineal complications, 21% of the abdominoperineal resection patients and 55% of the prone extralevator abdominoperineal excision ( p < 0.001). Most of these complications were due to delayed perineal wound healing (12.4%), and wound abscesses (4.5%). However, the readmission rate and median length of hospital stay was higher in the abdominoperineal resection group ( p < 0.001). Conclusion  Prone extralevator abdominoperineal excision is comparable to standard abdominoperineal resection. It was associated to a decrease in length of hospital stay and readmission rate, although more perineal complications occurred. We cannot recommend it as a standard technique for all low rectal cancer. Notwithstanding, prone extralevator abdominoperineal excision can be considered a more radical approach when there is sphincter complex or levators muscles invasion.

BackgroundThe effectiveness of chemotherapy (CT) for select cases of metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) has been well established in the literature, however, it provides limited benefits and in many cases constitutes a treatment with high toxicity. The use of specific molecular biological treatments with monoclonal antibodies (MA) has been shown to be relevant, particularly for its potential for increasing the response rate of the host to the tumour, as these have molecular targets present in the cancerous cells and their microenvironment thereby blocking their development. The combination of MA and CT can bring a significant increase in the rate of resectability of metastases, the progression-free survival (PFS), and the global survival (GS) in MCRC patients.ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness and safety of MA in the treatment of MCRC.MethodsA systematic review was carried out with a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials comparing the use of cetuximab, bevacizumab, and panitumumab in the treatment of MCRC.ResultsSixteen randomised clinical trials were selected. The quality of the evidence on the question was considered moderate and data from eight randomised clinical trials were included in this meta-analysis. The GS and PFS were greater in the groups which received the MA associated with CT, however, the differences were not statistically significant between the groups (mean of 17.7 months versus 17.1 months; mean difference of 1.09 (CI: 0.10–2.07); p = 0.84; and 7.4 versus 6.9 months. mean difference of 0.76 (CI: 0.08–1.44); p = 0.14 respectively). The meta-analysis was not done for any of the secondary outcomes.ConclusionThe addition of MA to CT for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer does not prolong GS and PFS.

RationalIn the treatment of colorectal cancer, from 1982 Heald proposed standardization of the total mesorectal excision, with a significant reduction in the recurrence rate. But the treatment of lower rectal lesions is still a challenge.AimTo describe the association of robotic low anterior resection- TATA (Transanal Abdominal Transanal Resection), with transanal access using Transanal Endoscopic Operations - TEO in the treatment of lower rectal cancer.MethodThe TATA performs robotic abdominal approach and the TEO performs the perineal approach, developing total mesorectal excision (TME) transanally (TaETM).ResultThe TaETM technique was applied in a woman with rectal adenocarcinoma 5 cm from the anal verge that had been submitted to chemoradiation. The procedure was performed with satisfatory operative time and favorable oncological outcome (grade 3 mesorectal excision).ConclusionThis is a promising minimally invasive procedure in the armamentarium of rectal cancer treatment, specially in challenging scenarios such as narrow pelvis, obesity and very low rectal tumors.

The treatment of colon and rectal NETs is complex, because it depends of the individuality of each patient. With adequate management, the prognosis can be favorable with long survival, but it is related to the tumor differentiation degree, efficacy of the chosen treatment and to the patient adhesion to the follow-up after treatment.

The complex anatomy surrounding lower rectal cancer, as well as its aggressive biological behavior, creates surgical challenges. Furthermore, patients with lower rectal cancer have a poorer prognosis, compared to tumors in the middle and upper rectum. Thus, it is essential to adopt new strategies to optimize the results of surgical treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging has become a crucial tool for successfully selecting and completing surgery, as it provides a high anatomical resolution and the ability to define the tumor's relationship with the sphincter complex. New surgical techniques based on magnetic resonance imaging can also improve patients' oncological and functional outcomes. This review examines the mo-dern approach to treating lower rectal cancer, and aims to simplify the complex decisions that surgery currently requires. The PubMed database was searched using the terms "lower rectal cancer", "colorectal surgery", and "magnetic resonance imaging". Milestone reports from recent years have been addressed in this review.