PhD defence Kim van den Berg

Keywords: Colon cancer, Rectal cancer, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy

"Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced colorectal cancer: Optimising treatment strategies"

Based on the results of this thesis and other studies, chemotherapy prior to surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) for extensive colon and rectal cancer without metastases appears to contribute to improving short- and long-term outcomes. The challenge here is to select the right patients who will benefit from this additional treatment, thereby preventing both over- and under-treatment. This thesis therefore provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with colon and rectal cancer. In addition, proposals are made to improve treatment for this group of patients, including discussing patients in a team prior to treatment and establishing new criteria for selecting patients for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (personalized treatment). A study on neoadjuvant chemotherapy in extensive rectal cancer is currently underway, with initial results expected shortly.

Click here for the live stream.