Early-stage rectal cancer patients might not require surgery anymore
What's the story
A groundbreaking international clinical trial has suggested that patients with early-stage rectal cancer may be able to be treated without major surgery or the need for a colostomy bag. The study, led by the Universities of Leeds and Birmingham and published in Lancet Oncology, explored organ-preserving treatments using chemotherapy and radiotherapy instead of surgery. The findings were funded by Cancer Research UK.
Treatment
A look at the STAR-TREC trial
The STAR-TREC trial aimed to find out if radiotherapy and chemotherapy could spare patients from surgery while keeping their cancer under control. The results showed that a combination of these treatments could be effective in treating early-stage rectal cancer without need for major surgical procedures.
Personal stories
Participant's experience
One of the trial participants, 65-year-old Hugh Chown from Harrogate, was diagnosed with rectal cancer after experiencing occasional bleeding.
He was informed about the clinical trial two weeks after his diagnosis and chose to participate in it.
His treatment involved taking tablets twice a day and undergoing one radiotherapy session a day, five days a week for five weeks.
Despite some side effects like fatigue, Chown's cancer was completely eradicated by the treatment.
Wider impact
Results and future analysis
The STAR-TREC trial recruited over 400 patients from cancer centers across Europe.
The results showed that up to 80% of those treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy avoided major surgery for up to a year, compared to 60% with radiotherapy alone.
These findings suggest that organ-preserving treatments could be a viable option for many people with early rectal cancer.
Further analysis is ongoing, with long-term results expected in 2027.