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This selection from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Colon Cancer focuses on systemic therapy options for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), because important updates have recently been made to this section. These updates include recommendations for first-line use of checkpoint inhibitors for mCRC, that is deficient mismatch repair/microsatellite instability-high, recommendations related to the use of biosimilars, and expanded recommendations for biomarker testing. The systemic therapy recommendations now include targeted therapy options for patients with mCRC that is HER2-amplified, or BRAF V600E mutation–positive. Treatment and management of nonmetastatic or resectable/ablatable metastatic disease are discussed in the complete version of the NCCN Guidelines for Colon Cancer available at NCCN.org. Additional topics covered in the complete version include risk assessment, staging, pathology, posttreatment surveillance, and survivorship.

The NCCN Guidelines for Rectal Cancer provide recommendations for the diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of patients with rectal cancer. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel discussion behind recent important updates to the guidelines. These updates include clarifying the definition of rectum and differentiating the rectum from the sigmoid colon; the total neoadjuvant therapy approach for localized rectal cancer; and biomarker-targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer, with a focus on new treatment options for patients with BRAF V600E– or HER2 amplification–positive disease.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract that has increased in incidence across recent years. Often diagnosed at an advanced stage, outcomes for SBA are worse on average than for other related malignancies, including colorectal cancer. Due to the rarity of this disease, few studies have been done to direct optimal treatment, although recent data have shown that SBA responds to treatment differently than colorectal cancer, necessitating a separate approach to treatment. The NCCN Guidelines for Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma were created to establish an evidence-based standard of care for patients with SBA. These guidelines provide recommendations on the workup of suspected SBA, primary treatment options, adjuvant treatment, surveillance, and systemic therapy for metastatic disease. Additionally, principles of imaging and endoscopy, pathologic review, surgery, radiation therapy, and survivorship are described.

The NCCN Guidelines for Colon Cancer provide recommendations regarding diagnosis, pathologic staging, surgical management, perioperative treatment, surveillance, management of recurrent and metastatic disease, and survivorship. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the NCCN Colon Cancer Panel discussions for the 2018 update of the guidelines regarding risk stratification and adjuvant treatment for patients with stage III colon cancer, and treatment of BRAF V600E mutation-positive metastatic colorectal cancer with regimens containing vemurafenib.

Background Minimally invasive approaches have been shown to reduce surgical site complications without compromising oncologic outcomes. Objective The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the rates of successful oncologic resection and postoperative outcomes among laparoscopic, open, and robotic approaches to rectal cancer resection. Design This is a multicenter, quasiexperimental cohort study using propensity score weighting. Settings Interventions were performed in hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Patients Adult patients who underwent rectal cancer resection in 2016 were included. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was a composite variable indicating successful oncologic resection, defined as negative distal and radial margins with at least 12 lymph nodes evaluated. Results Among 1028 rectal cancer resections, 206 (20%) were approached laparoscopically, 192 (18.7%) were approached robotically, and 630 (61.3%) were open. After propensity score weighting, there were no significant sociodemographic or preoperative clinical differences among subcohorts. Compared to the laparoscopic approach, open and robotic approaches were associated with a decreased likelihood of successful oncologic resection (ORadj = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.94 and ORadj = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37-0.97), and the open approach was associated with an increased likelihood of surgical site complications (ORadj = 2.53; 95% CI, 1.61-3.959). Compared to the laparoscopic approach, the open approach was associated with longer length of stay (6.8 vs 8.6 days, p = 0.002). Limitations This was an observational cohort study using a preexisting clinical data set. Despite adjusted propensity score methodology, unmeasured confounding may contribute to our findings. Conclusions Resections that were approached laparoscopically were more likely to achieve oncologic success. Minimally invasive approaches did not lengthen operative times and provided benefits of reduced surgical site complications and decreased postoperative length of stay. Further studies are needed to clarify clinical outcomes and factors that influence the choice of approach. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B70. RESULTADOS ONCOLOGICOS Y PERIOPERATORIOS DE LOS ABORDAJES LAPAROSCOPICOS, ABIERTOS Y ROBOTICOS PARA LA RESECCION DEL CANCER RECTAL: UN ESTUDIO DE COHORTE MULTICENTRICO Y PONDERADO DEL PUNTAJE DE PROPENSION: Se ha demostrado que los enfoques minimamente invasivos reducen las complicaciones del sitio quirurgico sin comprometer los resultados oncologicos.El objetivo principal de este estudio es evaluar las tasas de reseccion oncologica exitosa y los resultados postoperatorios entre los abordajes laparoscopico, abierto y robotico para la reseccion del cancer rectal.Este es un estudio de cohorte cuasi-experimental multicentrico que utiliza la ponderacion de puntaje de propension.Las intervenciones se realizaron en hospitales que participan en el Programa Nacional de Mejora de la Calidad Quirurgica del Colegio Americano de Cirujanos.Se incluyeron pacientes adultos que se sometieron a reseccion de cancer rectal en 2016.El resultado primario fue una variable compuesta que indicaba una reseccion oncologica exitosa, definida como margenes negativos distales y radiales con al menos 12 ganglios linfaticos evaluados.Entre 1,028 resecciones de cancer rectal, 206 (20%) fueron abordadas por via laparoscopica, 192 (18.7%) roboticamente y 630 (61.3%) abiertas. Despues de ponderar el puntaje de propension, no hubo diferencias sociodemograficas o clinicas preoperatorias significativas entre las subcohortes. En comparacion con el abordaje laparoscopico, los abordajes abiertos y roboticos se asociaron con una menor probabilidad de reseccion oncologica exitosa (ORadj = 0.64; IC 95%, 0.43-0.94 y ORadj = 0.60; IC 95%, 0.37-0.97), y el abordaje abierto se asocio con una mayor probabilidad de complicaciones del sitio quirurgico (ORadj = 2.53; IC 95%, 1.61-3.959). En comparacion con el abordaje laparoscopico, el abordaje abierto se asocio con una estadia mas prolongada (6.8 frente a 8.6 dias, p = 0.002).Este fue un estudio de cohorte observacional que utilizo un conjunto de datos clinicos preexistentes. A pesar de la metodologia de puntuacion de propension ajustada, la confusion no medida puede contribuir a nuestros hallazgos.Las resecciones que se abordaron por via laparoscopica tuvieron mas probabilidades de lograr el exito oncologico. Los enfoques minimamente invasivos no alargaron los tiempos quirurgicos y proporcionaron beneficios de la reduccion de las complicaciones del sitio quirurgico y la disminucion de la duracion de la estadia postoperatoria. Se necesitan mas estudios para aclarar los resultados clinicos y los factores que influyen en la eleccion del enfoque. Vea video resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B70.

The NCCN Guidelines for Anal Carcinoma provide recommendations for the management of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal or perianal region. Primary treatment of anal cancer usually includes chemoradiation, although certain lesions can be treated with margin-negative local excision alone. Disease surveillance is recommended for all patients with anal carcinoma because additional curative-intent treatment is possible. A multidisciplinary approach including physicians from gastroenterology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and radiology is essential for optimal patient care.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Rectal Cancer address diagnosis, staging, surgical management, perioperative treatment, management of recurrent and metastatic disease, disease surveillance, and survivorship in patients with rectal cancer. This portion of the guidelines focuses on the management of localized disease, which involves careful patient selection for curative-intent treatment options that sequence multimodality therapy usually comprised of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical resection.

Vulvar cancer is a rare gynecologic malignancy. Ninety percent of vulvar cancers are predominantly squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), which can arise through human papilloma virus (HPV)-dependent and HPV-independent pathways. The NCCN Vulvar Cancer panel is an interdisciplinary group of representatives from NCCN Member Institutions consisting of specialists in gynecological oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and pathology. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Vulvar Cancer provide an evidence- and consensus-based approach for the management of patients with vulvar SCC. This manuscript discusses the recommendations outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for diagnosis, staging, treatment, and follow-up.