The individualized strategy for lateral pelvic lymph node dissection in advanced rectal cancer

Abstract

Recently, with the development and widespread application of total mesorectal excision and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, the long-term overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with middle & low rectal cancer have been greatly improved. Moreover, there are also researches in minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopy and robotic surgical system in the radical rectal surgery, as well as the combination of tumor molecular targeting markers and gene sequencing technology. Nowadays, the treatment of rectal cancer has entered a new era of individualized precise medicine. However, there are still some controversies in lateral lymph node dissection. The criteria of diagnosis and treatment, neoadjuvant therapy, indications of lateral lymph node dissection, the area of dissection and neuroprotection are still unsatisfactory. It is necessary to explore the personalized treatment strategies of lateral lymph node dissection in the precise medical era.