The standard treatment for stage III rectal cancer is chemoradiation followed by radical surgery. Recent trials have recommended a 'watch and wait' approach for patients who achieve a complete clinical response. A new study reports that 51% of patients who achieved a sustained complete clinical response did not require radical surgery.
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Minsky, B. Is 'watch and wait' a safe option for rectal cancer?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 10, 698–700 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.201
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2013.201
