Beyond Oncologic Cure in Rectal Cancer: From Survival to Functional Preservation
A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Gastrointestinal Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 196
Special Issue Editors
Interests: rectal cancer surgery; functional preservation; low anterior resection syndrome (LARS); robotic colorectal surgery; sphincter-preserving surgery; quality of life and survivorship; perioperative management; Stoma-related complications; regenerative medicine; artificial intelligence in colorectal surgery
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Recent advances in multimodal treatment strategies for rectal cancer, including total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, and sphincter-preserving procedures, have significantly improved oncologic outcomes and survival rates worldwide. As a result, increasing attention is now being directed toward long-term functional outcomes and survivorship after treatment. In contemporary rectal cancer care, successful treatment is no longer defined solely by oncologic cure, but also by the preservation of bowel, urinary, sexual, and psychosocial function, as well as overall quality of life.
At the same time, the growing number of rectal cancer survivors has highlighted major clinical challenges such as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), stoma-related complications, chronic bowel dysfunction, and difficulties in shared decision-making regarding treatment strategies. Emerging technologies and concepts, including artificial intelligence, digital health, navigation surgery, rehabilitation, and regenerative medicine, are opening new opportunities to optimize patient-centered care and functional preservation while maintaining oncologic safety.
This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the latest advances related to perioperative therapies, survivorship, and functional preservation in rectal cancer. We welcome original articles, reviews, and perspective papers addressing current challenges, innovative strategies, and future directions in this evolving field.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Functional preservation after rectal cancer treatment.
- Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS).
- Quality of life and survivorship.
- Sphincter-preserving surgery and intersphincteric resection.
- Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT).
- Robotic, laparoscopic, and transanal rectal surgery.
- Stoma-related quality of life and complications.
- Shared decision-making and patient-centered care.
- Artificial intelligence and digital health in colorectal surgery.
- Bowel rehabilitation and pelvic functional recovery.
- Regenerative medicine and future therapeutic strategies.
- Multidisciplinary perioperative management.
Dr. Yuji Nishizawa
Dr. Keiji Koda
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- rectal cancer
- functional preservation
- low anterior resection syndrome
- quality of life
- survivorship
- sphincter-preserving surgery
- total neoadjuvant therapy
- robotic surgery
- shared decision-making
- regenerative medicine
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