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The English National Low Rectal Cancer Development Programme: key messages and future perspectives
Author(s) -
Moran B. J.,
Holm T.,
Brannagan G.,
Chave H.,
Quirke P.,
West N.,
Brown G.,
GlynneJones R.,
SebagMontefiore D.,
Cunningham C.,
Janjua A. Z.,
Battersby N. J.,
Crane S.,
McMeeking A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
colorectal disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.029
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1463-1318
pISSN - 1462-8910
DOI - 10.1111/codi.12501
Subject(s) - medicine , total mesorectal excision , colorectal cancer , general surgery , surgery , multidisciplinary team , cancer , nursing
Aim Adenocarcinoma of the lower rectum is clinically challenging because of the need to choose between a wide excision to achieve oncological clearance, on the one hand, and sphincter conservation to maintain anal function, on the other. The English National Low Rectal Cancer Development Programme ( LOREC ) was developed under the auspices of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland and the English National Cancer Action Team to improve the outcome of low rectal cancer in England. Method LOREC was initiated focusing on preoperative imaging, selective neoadjuvant therapy, optimal surgical treatment and detailed pathological assessment of the excised specimen. Its key elements were 1‐day multidisciplinary team ( MDT ) workshops, cadaveric surgical training, surgical mentoring, pathological audit and radiological workshops. Results Overall, 147 (89.6%) of 164 MDT s from 151 National Health Service ( NHS ) Trusts (some with two MDT s) in England participated in 15 workshops in Basingstoke or Leeds. In addition, 112 surgeons attended a 1‐day cadaveric training programme in Bristol, Newcastle or Nottingham, with the main focus on extralevator abdominoperineal excision and pelvic reconstruction, with input from anatomists and from colorectal and plastic surgeons. Conclusion Optimal staging, selective preoperative chemoradiotherapy and precise surgery were considered as crucial to improve the outcome for patients with low rectal cancer.