Organ preserving strategies in rectal cancer

This research will revolve around organ preservation strategies in rectal cancer. The response to the current standard treatment of preoperative (chemo)radiotherapy followed by surgery is very heterogenous. A subset of patients will achieve a complete response after chemoradiotherapy and could be spared from surgery and the related morbidity and mortality. These patients could benefit from an organ preservation approach, stretching the need for a shift towards treatment individualisation for patients with rectal cancer. The optimal treatment schedule for organ preservation remains to be defined. This research project will further evaluate novel organ preservation strategies.