In the field of rectal cancer treatment, transanal local excision techniques (such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery [TEM] and transanal minimally invasive surgery [TAMIS]) have gradually become an important therapeutic option for patients with rectal cancer at various stages, owing to their minimally invasive characteristics and organ-preserving advantages. For low-risk T1 stage tumors, local excision can achieve radical tumor control while preserving organ function. For some patients with high-risk T1 stage or T2-3 stage rectal cancer, the efficacy of combined chemoradiotherapy and local excision is expected to be comparable to that of radical total mesorectal excision (TME). In patients with advanced rectal cancer who achieve clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant therapy, local excision can confirm the pathological remission status. However, it is necessary to balance the risk of surgical complications against the potential benefits of organ preservation with the "watch and wait" strategy. Currently, transanal local excision techniques have broad application prospects, and comprehensive assessment of patients' overall condition, implementation of multidisciplinary collaboration, and conduct of long-term follow-up are crucial to ensuring the safety of treatment.
Objective: To investigate the effects of two anastomosis methods on perioperative and pathological outcomes during totally laparoscopic right hemicolectomy (TLRH). Methods: In a national multicenter snapshot study, 1,854 patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy were enrolled from 52 tertiary hospitals across China. The post-hoc analysis based on this study compared the data of 303 patients who underwent TLRH. Patients were divided into the antiperistaltic group (33 cases) and the isoperistaltic group (270 cases) according to type of anastomosis. Due to the significant difference in sample size between the two groups, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to eliminate the influence of baseline characteristic discrepancies. The matching was based on the following known confounding factors: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), history of abdominal surgery, and history of diabetes, with a caliper value of 0.2. Perioperative and pathological outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: After PSM, 33 patients were included in the antiperistaltic group and 65 patients in the isoperistaltic group. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (all P>0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of operation time, blood loss, time to first defecation, time to first oral intake, or the incidence and grading of complications either (all P>0.05). However, length of postoperative hospital stay in the isoperistaltic group was significantly shorter than that in the antiperistaltic group, however (7.0 [6.0, 9.0] days vs. 8.0 [7.0, 10.5] days, P=0.049). In terms of pathological outcomes, there were also no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the number of harvested lymph nodes or the number of positive lymph nodes (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The two digestive tract reconstruction modalities, antiperistaltic and isoperistaltic anastomosis, have comparable perioperative safety and efficacy in TLRH. The isoperistaltic group had better outcomes in terms of postoperative hospital stay.
Obesity and its related metabolic diseases have become a global public health challenge. Traditional weight loss methods have limited efficacy in patients with moderate to severe obesity, while bariatric surgery, although effective, carries a relatively high risk. Endoscopic weight loss techniques, due to their minimally invasive nature, safety, and reversibility, have gradually become an important supplement to obesity treatment. This article systematically reviews the research progress of gastric and small intestine-related endoscopic bariatric procedures, including intragastric balloon therapy, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, gastric bypass stents, and duodenal mucosal resurfacing.The authors believe that gastric-related procedures are suitable for patients whose primary goal is weight loss. Among these, the adjustable intragastric balloon offers the highest flexibility, being non-invasive and reversible with good short-term weight loss effects, making it suitable for bridging to bariatric surgery in patients with severe obesity. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty achieves weight loss effects closest to those of bariatric surgery, with favorable long-term weight loss outcomes, and is suitable for weight loss treatment in patients with contraindications to bariatric surgery. Gastric drainage procedures result in poor patient experience due to issues related to fistula tubes; moreover, the small sample size of studies on gastric-related endoscopic procedures means they are not considered representative. In contrast, small intestine-related procedures are more suitable for patients focusing on the improvement of metabolic diseases. Overall, endoscopic techniques exhibit significant short-term efficacy, but their long-term efficacy and standardization still require further research. In the future, it will be necessary to integrate artificial intelligence-assisted operations and individualized treatment strategies to optimize efficacy and expand clinical application.
The standardization of laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer has been driven by advancements in anatomy and surgical technology, but controversies persist regarding lymph node dissection (LND) extent and surgical plane selection. In the concept of LND, both D3 radical resection and complete mesocolic excision (CME) theoretically define the left side of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) as the boundary for lymphadenectomy, though their clinical values remain to be validated. China's RELARC study shows higher vascular injury rates,but it offers survival benefits in stage III patients. Regarding intestinal resection length, Japanese research confirms that most lymph node metastases are confined within 10 cm of the tumor, indicating that excessive resection may be unnecessary. Exploration of ileocecal-preserving techniques provides new directions for functional preservation. Controversies over LND boundaries focus on the left side of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) versus the left side of the SMA. Although SMA-left dissection aligns better with lymphatic drainage anatomy, high-quality evidence is lacking. The multi-center RCT (MARCH study) conducted by our team is currently investigating its value for stage III patients. In precision diagnosis and treatment, preoperative imaging features, intraoperative lymphatic tracing, and radiomics models assist in lymph node assessment, but specificity remains insufficient. The application of membrane anatomy concepts in surgical plane selection still requires embryological research to clarify the structure of fused fascia. Future research should focus on standardizing dissection ranges, improving precision in metastasis prediction, and clarifying anatomical planes to promote more precise and personalized surgical approaches.
This article systematically explores the synergistic value of endoscopic evaluation and local resection techniques in diagnosing clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer. Endoscopic techniques, including high-definition narrow-band imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, and confocal laser endomicroscopy, significantly improve the detection rate of microscopic residual lesions and provide objective evidence for clinical decision-making through standardized scoring systems. Local resection techniques, serving as both pathological verification and minimally invasive treatment, offer organ preservation opportunities for patients with cCR. The integrated three-step diagnostic pathway of "endoscopic screening-radiological reassessment-local resection confirmation" enhances the specificity of cCR diagnosis while reducing unnecessary radical surgeries. However, standardizing technical implementation, deepening multidisciplinary collaboration, and integrating molecular diagnostics remain critical directions for future development.
The modified Bacon procedure is a staged, sphincter-preserving surgical technique for low rectal tumors, which involves transanal or transabdominal division of the tumor, extraction of the specimen via the anus or abdomen, exteriorization and fixation of the proximal colon through the anus, followed by a second-stage resection of the exteriorized colon to restore intestinal continuity. This approach offers advantages such as a reduced risk of anastomotic leakage and operational safety. However, several clinical aspects lack consensus, including indications for the procedure, the optimal length of the exteriorized colon, methods of anal fixation, and the timing of the second-stage resection. To address these issues, the Colorectal Cancer Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Colorectal Cancer Committee of China Anti-Cancer Association, and the NOSES Committee of China Anti-Cancer Association jointly initiated a collaborative effort to convene experts in the field. Through discussions, 10 key clinical questions were identified, and based on a systematic review of relevant domestic and international clinical studies combined with expert opinions, 13 recommendations were formulated. These recommendations cover indications, contraindications, technical details, surgical complications, functional outcomes related to anal function, and oncological efficacy of the modified Bacon procedure. This consensus aims to provide guidance for the clinical practice of the modified Bacon procedure in China, thereby promoting its standardized and evidence-based implementation.
Colorectal cancer treatment has entered the immunotherapy era. While immunotherapy has markedly improved outcomes for microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) patients, the majority of microsatellite stable (MSS) cases remain unresponsive to immune monotherapy, leading to distinct "cold" and "hot" tumor response states. Transforming "cold tumors" into "hot tumors" is a pivotal research focus. Drug repurposing combined with immunotherapy emerges as a novel strategy that enhances efficacy and reduces adverse effects by repurposing existing drugs, while addressing comorbidities. This approach offers cost-effective and rapid clinical translation. This review systematically explores the potential and challenges of this synergistic approach. In the future, efforts can be focused on initiating prospective studies among the neoadjuvant treatment population, improving drug delivery approaches with the help of materials science, and identifying immune-favorable subgroups. Additionally, considering the characteristics of comorbidity between chronic diseases and colorectal cancer against the backdrop of China's aging society, large-scale multicenter retrospective analyses should be conducted to screen drugs, clarify the interactions between chronic disease medications and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This aims to provide more precise combined treatment guidance for colorectal cancer patients, especially those with comorbid chronic diseases, and help achieve the goals of organ preservation and quality of life improvement for more patients.
Epithelial tumors of the appendix refer to neoplastic lesions originating from the epithelial tissue of the appendix mucosa. These neoplasms exhibit highly heterogeneous pathological features and biological behavior, which contribute to their strong propensity for peritoneal metastasis. Currently, evidence-based medicine regarding appendiceal epithelial neoplasms and the management of their peritoneal metastasis is limited, leading to a lack of standardized clinical practices. To address this, the Professional Committee of Integrated Rehabilitation for Peritoneal Tumors of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association has organized multidisciplinary experts to focus on key aspects such as the pathological classification of epithelial tumors of the appendix, clinical staging of tumors,the indications for extended resection after local resection, the surgical treatment strategies for concurrent peritoneal metastasis, perioperative rehabilitation, and individualized treatment, while integrating the technical capabilities of relevant specialties. At the same time, it has standardized the perioperative management of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), as well as the clinical application of the pre-rehabilitation system, to enhance the practical operability. Ultimately, the Expert Consensus on the Comprehensive Management of Peritoneal Metastasis from Appendiceal Epithelial Neoplasms (2025 Edition) was developed. This consensus is aimed at further standardizing the systematic diagnosis and treatment process of epithelial tumors of the appendix, thereby reducing the risk of recurrence, improving patient prognosis, and promoting the standardization and homogenization of the diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal metastasis from such tumors.

