Patient-Centered Rectal Cancer Care

Friday, March 6, 2026

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM MST

Location:105A-C

CE: 1.5

Moderator(s)

J. Joshua Smith, MD, PhD

Professor and Chair
Department of Colon & Rectal Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States
Nader Hanna, MD (he/him/his)

Professor of Surgery
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

This session, "Patient-centered Rectal Cancer Care," will provide practicing surgical oncologists with an up-to-date, evidence-based overview of individualized management strategies for rectal cancer. Expert faculty will address key topics including anatomic distinctions in rectal tumors, integration of molecular and biomarker-driven therapies, sequencing of neoadjuvant treatments, fertility preservation for young patients, assessment and surveillance of complete clinical response, and management of local regrowth. The session will highlight recent clinical trial data, evolving guidelines, and practical approaches to optimize outcomes and quality of life for diverse patient populations, fostering discussion on the latest advances in personalized rectal cancer care.

Learning Objectives:

Distinguish upper, mid, and lower rectal cancers using MRI-based anatomic landmarks, and compare management strategies for each tumor location, including implications for surgical planning and neoadjuvant therapy selection.
Summarize the integration of molecular and biomarker-driven therapies in rectal cancer, including the clinical significance of mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd), HER2 alterations, and the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for disease monitoring and treatment adaptation.
Examine the evidence and clinical considerations for sequencing chemotherapy and radiation in locally advanced rectal cancer, referencing key findings from the OPRA trial and their impact on organ preservation and disease-free survival.
Identify management strategies for young rectal cancer patients desiring future fertility, including the impact of pelvic radiation and chemotherapy, the role of ovarian transposition, and fertility preservation options as informed by recent clinical trials and systematic reviews.

Presentations:

8:03 AM - 8:15 AM MST

Is this Truly Rectal?
Faculty: Patrick Sullivan, MD (he/him/his) – Emory University
8:15 AM - 8:27 AM MST

Integration of Molecular and Biomarker-driven Therapies
Faculty: Georgios Karagkounis, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
8:27 AM - 8:39 AM MST

Sequencing – Chemotherapy or Radiation First for LARC? And Why?
Faculty: Y. Nancy You, MD, MHSc – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
8:39 AM - 8:51 AM MST

Young Patients who Desire Future Pregnancy
Faculty: Nicole Lopez, MD (she/her/hers) – UC San Diego
8:51 AM - 9:03 AM MST

Post Treatment Assessment – is this a Complete Response?
Faculty: Mehraneh D. Jafari, MD, FACS, FASCRS – Weill Cornell Medical College
9:03 AM - 9:15 AM MST

Local Regrowth! Now What?
Faculty: Amalia Stefanou, MD (she/her/hers) – Moffitt Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM MST

Q&A and Closing Remarks