Attention should be paid to the role of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. It is recommended that designated senior attending physicians from colorectal surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, oncology, radiology, imaging, and other relevant departments participate in the MDT, and that the MDT meeting be held at a fixed time and venue. MDT is particularly recommended for patients with liver-limited metastases, late-stage patients with potentially resectable metastases, and patients with middle and low rectal cancers.
2. Diagnostic principles for colorectal cancer 2.1 Colorectal cancer screening of asymptomatic healthy populationHigh-risk population refers to subjects with history of colorectal adenoma, family history of colorectal cancer, or inflammatory bowel diseases. There are different screening recommendations for average-risk and high-risk populations. Colorectal screening annually is recommended for high-risk population. The average-risk subjects at the age of 50 to 74 years should also accept colorectal cancer screening (1-2). The screening includes a risk accessment by questionnaire and fecal immunochemical occult blood test (FIT). The subjects tested positive in FIT or risk accessment should undergo colonoscopy examination (3-8). If neoplastic lesions were found under colonoscopy, biopsy and histological examination are required. All polyps and flat neoplatic lesions should be removed. If no lesion was found under colonoscopy, repeated colonoscopy is recommended in 5 years. If advanced colorectal adenoma (adenoma with diameter ≥1 cm, with villious differentiation, or with high-grade dysplasia) were diagnosed, the patient should undergo colonoscopy once every 1−3 years. The interval of follow-up colonoscopy could be extended to 3−5 years if there is no recurrent adenoma in the last colonoscopy. Recommendations of colorectal cancer screening for subjects with family history of colorectal cancer please refer toSection 5 of this guideline. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease should discuss with specialist physician to determine follow-up colonoscopy interval.
References
Li QL, Ma XY, Yu LL, et al. Age-specific detection rates of colorectal neoplasms by colonoscopic screening in high-incidence rural areas. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi (in Chinese) 2013;35:154-7.
Chen W, Zheng R, Baade PD, et al. Cancer statistics in China, 2015. CA Cancer J Clin 2016;66:115-32.
Division of Gastroenterology, Chinese Medical Association. Consensus on Screening, Early Diagnosis and Treatment, and Comprehensive Prevention of Colon Cancer in China. Wei Chang Bing Xue He Gan Bing Xue Za Zhi (in Chinese) 2011;20:979-95.
Huang Y, Li Q, Ge W, et al. Optimizing sampling device for the fecal immunochemical test increases colonoscopy yields in colorectal cancer screening. Eur J Cancer Prev 2016;25:115-22.
Hol L, Wilschut JA, van Ballegooijen M, et al. Screening for colorectal cancer: random comparison of guaiac and immunochemical faecal occult blood testing at different cut-off levels. Br J Cancer 2009;100:1103-10.
Park DI, Ryu S, Kim YH, et al. Comparison of guaiac-based and quantitative immunochemical fecal occult blood testing in a population at average risk undergoing colorectal cancer screening. Am J Gastroenterol 2010;105:2017-25.
Labianca R, Nordlinger B, Beretta GD, et al. Early colon cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2013;24 Suppl 6:vi64-72.
Halloran SP, Launoy G, Zappa M. European guidelines for quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis. First Edition — Faecal occult blood testing. Endoscopy 2012;44 Suppl 3:SE65-87.
2.2 Basic diagnostic principles 2.2.1 Colorectal cancer diagnosis (Table 1) 1.Colorectal cancer diagnosis
Aim Class I recommendation Class II recommendation Class III recommendation a, In principle, full colonoscopy is forbidden in patients who are known to have clinical intestinal obstruction.Rectal cancer staging (7): T1, Tumor invades submucosa; T2, Tumor invades muscularis propria; T3, Tumor invades subserosa or into non-peritonealised pericolic or perirectal tissues; T4a, Visceral peritoncum invasion (covered by the serosa); and T4b, Surrounding organs and structures invasion. T3 can be further divided into subtypes according to depth of invasion beyond the muscularis propris invasion: T3a (<1 mm), T3b (1−5 mm), T3c (5−15 mm), and T3d (>15 mm). Extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) is defined as: tumor extends beyond the rectal wall and tumor thrombosis is seen within extramural vessels (8). Circumferential resection margin (CRM) is defined as primary tumor, metastatic lymph nodes, and EMVI within 1 mm of the mesorectal fascia, surrounding organs and structures (9,10).
References
Floriani I, Torri V, Rulli E, et al. Performance of imaging modalities in diagnosis of liver metastases from colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Magnetic Resonance Imaging 2010;31:19-31.
Vilgrain V, Esvan M, Ronot M, et al. A meta-analysis of diffusion-weighted and gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging for the detection of liver metastases. Eur Radiol 2016;26:4595-615.
Bipat S, Glas AS, Slors FJ, et al. Rectal cancer: local staging and assessment of lymph node involvement with endoluminal US, CT, and MR imaging — a meta-analysis. Radiology 2004;232:773-83.
Moulton CA, Gu CS, Law CH, et al. Effect of PET before liver resection on surgical management for colorectal adenocarcinoma metastases: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2014;311:1863-9.
Joyce DL, Wahl RL, Patel PV, et al. Preoperative positron emission tomography to evaluate potentially resectable hepatic colorectal metastases. Arch Surg 2006;141:1220-6.
Pelosi E, Deandreis D. The role of 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the management of patients with colorectal cancer. Eur J Surg Oncol 2007;33:1-6.
Nougaret S, Reinhold C, Mikhael HW, et al. The use of MR imaging in treatment planning for patients with rectal carcinoma: have you checked the “DISTANCE”? Radiology 2013;268:330-44.
Chand M, Evans J, Swift RI, et al. The prognostic significance of postchemoradiotherapy high-resolution MRI and histopathology detected extramural venous invasion in rectal cancer. Ann Surg 2015;261:473-9.
Taylor FG, Quirke P, Heald RJ, et al. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging assessment of circumferential resection margin predicts disease-free survival and local recurrence: 5-year follow-up results of the MERCURY study. J Clin Oncol 2014;32:34-43.
Xie H, Zhou X, Zhuo Z, et al. Effectiveness of MRI for the assessment of mesorectal fascia involvement in patients with rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dig Surg 2014;31:123-34.
2.3 Principles of pathological diagnosis (Table 2) 2.Principles of pathological diagnosis
Type of sample Class I recommendation Class II recommendation Class IIIReferences
Cooper HS. Pathology of endoscopically removed malignant colorectal polyp. Curr Diagn Pathol 2007;13:423-37.
Bosman FT, Carneiro F, Hruban RH, et al. WHO Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System, 4th Edition. Geneva: WHO Press, 2010, 137.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Onclology (NCCN Guidelines®): Rectal Cancer, Version 3. 2015.
Parfitt JR, Driman DK. The total mesorectal excision specimen for rectal cancer: a review of its pathological assessment. J Clin Pathol 2007;60:849-55.
Nagtegaal ID, Marijnen CA, Kranenbarg EK, et al. Pathology Review Committee; Cooperative Clinical Investigators. Circumferential margin involvement is still an important predictor of local recurrence in rectal carcinoma: not one millimeter but two millimeters is the limit. Am J Surg Pathol 2002;26:350-7.
Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th Edition. NewYork: Springer, 2017.
2.4 StagingThis guideline uses the 2017 UICC/AJCC TNM staging system (8th edition) (1), which is applicable for primary adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and high-grade neuroendocrine tumors in the colon and rectum. This staging system is not suitable for appendix cancer.
References
Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th Edition. NewYork: Springer, 2017.
3. Treatment principles for colon cancer 3.1 Treatment of non-metastatic colon cancer 3.1.1 Treatment of resectable colon cancer 3.1.1.1 Endoscopic treatmentColon adenomas or some T1 colon adenocarcinomas can be treated by endoscopic removal (Table 3). After resection, postoperative pathology is used to determine the subsequent treatment regimen (Table 4).
3.Endoscopic treatment strategy
Stage Stratification Class IManagement strategy after polypectomy
Pathological staging Stratification Class ISurgical treatment
Clinical stage Stratification Class IPostoperative chemotherapy
Pathological stage Stratification Class I5-FU-based monotherapies
Capecitabine
Capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−14
Repeat every 3 weeks, for 24 weeks
Simplified two-week 5-FU infusion/LV regimen (sLV5FU2)
LV 400 mg/m2 Intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
Followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus and then 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion (total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Repeat every 2 weeks, for 24 weeks
Combined chemotherapy regimens
CapeOx (also known as XELOX)
Oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2, intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
Capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−14
Repeat every 3 weeks, for 24 weeks
mFOLFOX6
Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1 followed by 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Repeat every 2 weeks for 24 weeks
References
Tanaka S, Kashida H, Saito Y, et al. JGES guidelines for colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection/endoscopic mucosal resection. Dig Endosc 2015;27:417-34.
Fujiya M, Tanaka K, Dokoshi T, et al. Efficacy and adverse events of EMR and endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of colon neoplasms: a meta-analysis of studies comparing EMR and endoscopic submucosal dissection. Gastrointest Endosc 2015;81:583-95.
Watanabe T, Muro K, Ajioka Y, et al. Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines 2016 for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Int J Clin Oncol 2018;23:1-34.
De Ceglie A, Hassan C, Mangiavillano B, et al. Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal lesions: A systematic review. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2016;104:138-55.
Ferlitsch M, Moss A, Hassan C, et al. Colorectal polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline. Endoscopy 2017;49:270-97.
Ribeiro MS, Wallace MB. Endoscopic treatment of early cancer of the colon. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y) 2015;11:445-52.
Cooper HS, Deppisch LM, Gourley WK, et al. Endoscopically removed malignant colorectal polyps: clinicopathologic correlations. Gastroenterology 1995;108:1657-65.
Seitz U, Bohnacker S, Seewald S, et al. Is endoscopic polypectomy an adequate therapy for malignant colorectal adenomas? Presentation of 114 patients and review of the literature. Dis Colon Rectum 2004;47:1789-96;discussion 1796-7.
Volk EE, Goldblum JR, Petras RE, et al. Management and outcome of patients with invasive carcinoma arising in colorectal polyps. Gastroenterology 1995;109:1801-7.
Markowitz AJ, Winawer SJ. Management of colorectal polyps. CA Cancer J Clin 1997;47:93-112.
Huang X, Lv B, Zhang S, et al. Preoperative colonic stents versus emergency surgery for acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction: a meta-analysis. J Gastrointest Surg 2014;18:584-91.
Sargent DJ, Marsoni S, Monges G, et al. Defective mismatch repair as a predictive marker for lack of efficacy of fluorouracil based adjuvant therapy in colon cancer. J Clin Oncol 2010;28:3219-26.
Tournigand C, André T, Bonnetain F, et al. Adjuvant therapy with fluorouracil and oxaliplatin in stage II and elderly (between ages 70 and 75 years) with colon cancer: a subgroup analyses of the Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer trial. J Clin Oncol 2012;20;30:3353-60.
3.1.2 Treatment of unresectable colon cancerRadical resection cannot be achieved in some T4b, M0 patients even after combined organ resection. In these patients, 5-FU-based mono-chemotherapy or combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin or irinotecan, or even triple drug chemotherapy can be used according to the patient’s condition (1). Clinical trials on advanced colorectal cancer have also shown that chemotherapy can be combined with bevacizumab or cetuximab (2-5). For some T4b patients with local invasion of the sigmoid colon, local radiotherapy can also be performed to increase the response rate of treatment and increase the probability of conversion (6). Endoscopic stent implantation (7,8) or bypass surgery can be carried out to remove obstruction in T4b colon cancer patients with intestinal obstruction.
References
Chibaudel B, Tournigand C, Bonnetain F, et al. Therapeutic strategy in unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer: an updated review. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2015;7:153-69.
Saltz LB, Clarke S, Díaz-Rubio E, et al. Bevacizumab in combination with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy as first-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer: a randomized phase III study. J Clin Oncol 2008;26:2013-9.
Loupakis F, Cremolini C, Masi G, et al. Initial therapy with FOLFOXIRI and bevacizumab for metastatic colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 2014;371:1609-18.
Tebbutt NC, Wilson K, Gebski VJ, et al. Capecitabine, bevacizumab, and mitomycin in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: results of the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group Randomized Phase III MAX Study. J Clin Oncol 2010;28:3191-8.
Kabbinavar FF, Schulz J, McCleod M, et al. Addition of bevacizumab to bolus fluorouracil and leucovorin in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer: results of a randomized phase II trial. J Clin Oncol 2005;23:3697-705.
Qiu B, Ding PR, Cai L, et al. Outcomes of preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery in patients with unresectable locally advanced sigmoid colon cancer. Chin J Cancer 2016;35:65.
Lee JM, Byeon JS. Colorectal stents: current status. Clin Endosc 2015;48:194-200.
Cetinkaya E, Dogrul, AB Tirnaksiz MB. Role of self expandable stents in management of colorectal cancers. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2016;8:113-20.
3.2 Treatment principles for metastatic colon cancer 3.2.1 Synchronous metastatic colon cancer 3.2.1.1 Treatment of initially resectable metastatic colon cancerFor patients with asymptomatic, resectable synchronous liver-limited metastases, in which there is the possibility of a potential cure, multimodal therapy including surgery and perioperative chemotherapy is recommended. According to the clinical risk score (CRS), the sequence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery was determined. If the CRS score shows low risk of recurrence (0−2 points), simultaneous or staged resection of colon cancer and metastatic lesions + postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery or resection of the primary lesion + neoadjuvant chemotherapy before local treatment of metastatic lesions can also be considered. If the CRS score shows a high risk of recurrence (3−5 points), neoadjuvant chemotherapy is first recommended, followed by colectomy + simultaneous or staged local treatment of metastatic lesions. Colectomy + neoadjuvant chemotherapy + resection/radiofrequency ablation, other local treatment of metastatic lesions + postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, simultaneous or staged colectomy and resection/radiofrequency ablation, or other local treatment of metastatic lesions + postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy can also be considered.
For colon cancer patients with symptomatic primary lesions (e.g., obstruction, bleeding, perforation) and synchronous liver metastases only, resection of the primary lesion can be treated first to alleviate symptoms. Stent implantation can also be considered for patients with obstruction. Stratified treatment can then be used based on the CRSs, using the same principles as above.
To reduce drug-induced liver injury, the course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is usually limited to 2−3 months.
Local management methods for metastatic lesions not only include surgery but also radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and stereotactic radiation therapy.
The CRS contains five parameters: lymph node positivity for primary tumor, synchronous metastases or metachronous metastases that are <12 months from the date of resection of the primary lesion, >1 liver metastases, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels >200 ng/mL, and maximum diameter of metastasis >5 cm. Each item scores 1 point. A score of 0−2 points is low while a score of 3−5 points is high. The higher the CRS score, the greater the risk of postoperative recurrence, and the more beneficial the perioperative chemotherapy ( 1,2).
3.2.1.2 Treatment of initially unresectable metastatic colon cancerTreatment for initially unresectable metastatic colon cancer can be divided into conversion therapy and palliative treatment based on the resectability of the metastatic lesions. As primary lesions present with symptoms of obstruction, bleeding, and perforation, the primary lesion should be treated first. Comprehensive management and treatment should be used under the guidance of the MDT for these patients.
Patients with potentially resectable tumors should undergo conversion chemotherapy first to shrink metastatic lesions, after that the resectability of these lesions should be re-assessed. Table 7 shows the conversion chemotherapy regimens.
7.Conversion chemotherapy for potentially resectable lesionsa,b,c
Stratification Class I recommendation Class II recommendation Class III recommendation a, For potentially resectable patients, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) (or capecitabine) combined with oxaliplatin or irinotecan plus molecular targeted therapy should be selected. FOLFOXIRI ± bevacizumab can be used with caution in patients with a good performance status, who are young, and have a high tumor burden (3). For patients with successful conversion with R0 resection of primary and metastatic lesions, it is generally recommended to continue adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery to complete a total of six months of perioperative treatment. If the preoperative combination of targeted drugs is effective, whether to continue to use targeted drugs postoperatively is still controversial.Palliative therapy mainly consists of systemic therapy.
First-line regimens for palliative therapy
Table 8 shows first-line regimens for palliative therapy.
8.First-line regimens for palliative therapy
Stratification Class I recommendation Class II recommendation Class III recommendation a, Recently, many retrospective studies have shown that the prognosis of metastatic colon cancer with right-sided primary lesions (ileocecal junction to splenic flexure) is worse than that of left-sided primary lesions (splenic flexure to the rectum). Retrospective subgroup analysis data of randomized, controlled trials showed that the objective response rate and overall survival of cetuximab are both better than that of bevacizumab for patients with left-sided colorectal cancer. For patients with right-sided colon cancer, cetuximab shows minor advantages over bevacizumab in objective response rate but overall survival is worse than that of bevacizumab (1).Second-line regimens for palliative therapy
In principle, the regimen of second-line treatment should be changed. The original chemotherapy regimen can be used for stop-and-go patients. Targeted therapy drugs can be used in second-line treatment if they are not used in first-line treatment. If first-line chemotherapy is combined with bevacizumab, the chemotherapy regimen can be changed in second-line treatment while retaining bevacizumab (7). If first-line chemotherapy is combined with cetuximab for palliative treatment, cetuximab is not recommended to be used continuously in second-line therapy. The modified XELIRI (irinotecan + capecitabine regimen, mXELIRI) can be used for second-line chemotherapy (8).
Third-line regimens for palliative therapy
For patients with both wild-type RAS and BRAF genes, cetuximab ± irinotecan (for patients who are cetuximab-naive) regorafenib, or clinical trials are recommended. For patients with RAS or BRAF mutations, regorafenib or clinical trials are recommended.
References
Fong Y, Fortner J, Sun RL, et al. Clinical score for predicting recurrence after hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer: analysis of 1001 consecutive cases. Ann Surg 1999;230:309-21.
Ayez N, van der Stok EP, Grunhagen DJ, et al. The use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastases: Clinical risk score as possible discriminator. Eur J Surg Oncol 2015;41:859-67.
Falcone A, Ricci S, Brunetti I, et al. Phase III trial of infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI) compared with infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) as frst-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer: the Gruppo Oncologico Nord Ovest. J Clin Oncol 2007;25:1670-6.
Yaicin S, Uslu R, Dane F, et al. Bevacizumab + Capecitabine as Maintenance Therapy after Initial Bevacizumab + XELOX Treatment in Previously Untreated Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Phase III ‘Stop and Go’ Study Results — A Turkish Oncology Group Trial. Oncology 2013;85:328-35.
Esin E, Yalcin S. Maintenance strategy in metastatic colorectal cancer: A systematic review. Cancer Treat Rev 2016;42:82-90.
Tejpar S, Stintzing S, Ciardiello F, et al. Prognostic and predictive relevance of primary tumor location in patients with RAS wild-type metasticic colorectal cancer. JAMA Oncol 2016.
Masi G, Salvatore L, Boni L, et al. Continuation or reintroduction of bevacizumab beyond progression to first-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer: final results of the randomized BEBYP trial. Ann Oncol 2015;26:724-30.
Xu RH, Muro K, Morita S, et al. Modified XELIRI (capecitabine plus irinotecan) versus FOLFIRI (leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan), both either with or without bevacizumab, as second-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (AXEPT): A multicenter, open-lable, randomized, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 2018;19:660-71.
3.2.2 Treatment of postoperative recurrence in metastatic colon cancerFor postoperative patients with resectable recurrence disease, please see “asymptomatic primary lesions” in Section 3.2.1.1 on Treatment of initially resectable metastatic colon cancer, as these patients do not have primary lesions. For postoperative patients with unresectable recurrence disease, please see “asymptomatic primary lesions” in Section 3.2.1.2 on Treatment of initially unresectable metastatic colon cancer.
3.2.3 Annex: Commonly used systemic therapy regimens for metastatic colorectal cancermFOLFOX6
Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1 followed by 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Repeat every 2 weeks
mFOLFOX6 + bevacizumab
Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1 followed by 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg IV, Day 1
Repeat every 2 weeks
mFOLFOX6 + cetuximab
Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1 followed by 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Cetuximab 400 mg/m2, IV for more than 2 h for first administration followed by 250 mg/m2 IV for more than 60 min. Repeat every week
Or cetuximab IV 500 mg/m2, Day 1, infusion for more than 2 h, repeat every 2 weeks
CapeOx
Oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 IV for more than 2 h, Day 1
Capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−14 followed by 7 d of rest
Repeat every 3 weeks
CapeOx + bevacizumab
Oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 IV for more than 2 h, Day 1
Capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−14 followed by 7 days of rest
Bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg IV, Day 1
Repeat every 3 weeks
FOLFIRI
Irinotecan 180 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more than 30−90 min, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h together with irinotecan infusion, Day 1
5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1 followed by 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Repeat every 2 weeks
FOLFIRI + bevacizumab
Irinotecan 180 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more than 30−90 min, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h together with irinotecan infusion, Day 1
5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1 followed by 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg, intravenous infusion, Day 1
Repeat every 2 weeks
FOLFIRI + cetuximab
Irinotecan 180 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more than 30−90 min, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for 2 h together with irinotecan infusion, Day 1
5-FU 400 mg/m2 by intravenous bolus on Day 1 followed by 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Repeat every 2 weeks
Cetuximab 400 mg/m2, IV for more than 2 h for first administration followed by 250 mg/m2 IV for more than 60 min. Repeat every week
Or cetuximab IV 500 mg/m2, Day 1, infusion for more than 2 h, repeat every 2 weeks
CapIRI
Irinotecan 180 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more than 30−90 min, Day 1
Capecitabine: 1,000 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−7
Repeat every 2 weeks
CapIRI + bevacizumab
Irinotecan 180 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more than 30−90 min, Day 1
Capecitabine: 1,000 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−7
Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg, intravenous infusion, Day 1
Repeat every 2 weeks
mXELIRI
Irinotecan 200 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more than 30−90 min, Day 1
Capecitabine: 800 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−14
Repeat every 3 weeks
mXELIRI + bevacizumab
Irinotecan 200 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more than 30−90 min, Day 1
Capecitabine: 800 mg/m2 each time, twice a day, oral administration, Days 1−14
Bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg, intravenous infusion, Day 1
Repeat every 3 weeks
Capecitabine
Capecitabine: 1,250 mg/m2 each time, oral administration, twice a day, Days 1−14, repeat every 3 weeks
Capecitabine + bevacizumab
Capecitabine: 1,250 mg/m2 each time, oral administration, twice a day, Days 1−14, repeat every 3 weeks
Bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg, IV, Day 1, repeat every 3 weeks
Simplified two-week 5-FU infusion/LV regimen (sLV5FU2)
LV 400 mg/m2 intravenous infusion for 2 h, Day 1
Followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m2 intravenous bolus, and then 1,200 mg/(m2·d)×2 d by continuous intravenous infusion
(total amount: 2,400 mg/m2, infusion for 46−48 h)
Repeat every 2 weeks
FOLFOXIRI + bevacizumab
Irinotecan 165 mg/m2, intravenous infusion, Day 1
Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, intravenous infusion, Day 1
LV 400 mg/m2, intravenous infusion, Day 1
Followed by 5-FU 1,600 mg/(m2·d)×2d, continuous intravenous infusion (total amount 3,200 mg/m2, 48 h of infusion)
Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg IV, Day 1
Repeat every 2 weeks
Irinotecan
Irinotecan 125 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more 30−90 min, Day 1, repeat every 3 weeks
Irinotecan 300−350 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion for more 30−90 min, Day 1, repeat every 3 weeks
Cetuximab + irinotecan
First dose of cetuximab 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion, followed by 250 mg/m2, once every week
Or cetuximab 500 mg/m2, once every 2 weeks
Irinotecan 300−350 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion, repeat every 3 weeks
Or irinotecan 180 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion, repeat every 2 weeks
Or irinotecan 125 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion on Day 1 and 8, repeat every 3 weeks
Cetuximab
First dose of cetuximab 400 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion, followed by 250 mg/m2, once every week
Or cetuximab 500 mg/m2, once every 2 weeks
Regorafenib
Regorafenib 160 mg, oral administration, once a day, Days 1−21, repeat every 28 d
Raltitrexed 3 mg/m2 by intravenous infusion in 15 min (+ 50−250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose).
Repeat every 3 weeks
3.3 Colon cancer follow-upPostoperative follow-up for stage I patients: once every 6 months for 5 years. Postoperative follow-up for stage II/III patients: once every 3 months for 3 years, followed by once every 6 months to 5 years, and then once a year. The follow-up should include: 1) Physical examination with an emphasis on digital rectal examination; 2) Blood CEA levels; 3) Liver ultrasonography for stage I/II patients; 4) Chest, abdominal, and pelvic CT once a year for stage III patients or when there are CEA or ultrasound abnormalities; and 5) Colonoscopy examination within 1 year after surgery. If full colonoscopy was not carried out before surgery due to tumor obstruction, examinations should be carried out in 3−6 months after surgery. If no abnormalities are found, follow-up examinations should be carried within 3 years, followed by once every 5 years (1). Follow-up frequency for R0 resection/ablation for stage IV patients with metastases: once every 3 months for 3 years, followed by once every 6 months until Year 5, and then once a year. Follow-up should include: physical examination; blood CEA levels; and enhanced chest, abdominal, and pelvic CT once every 6−12 months. If the patient’s physical status does not allow him/her to receive anti-neoplastic treatment due to recurrence, it is not advisable to conduct routine tumor follow-up/monitoring for the patient. PET/CT is only recommended for clinically suspected recurrence while routine imaging is negative, such as persistently elevated CEA. PET examination is not recommended as a routine follow-up/monitoring method.
References
Rex DK, Kahi CJ, Levin B, et al. Guidelines for colonoscopy surveillance after cancer resection: a consensus update by the American Cancer Society and the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. Gastroenterology 2006;130:1865-71.
4. Treatment principles for rectal cancer 4.1 Treatment principles for non-metastatic rectal cancer 4.1.1 Treatment principles for rectal adenomaRefer to Section 3.1.1.1 Endoscopic treatment for treatment of rectal adenomas. Usually different treatment recommendations are given based on the distance between the lesion and the anal verge in high-grade rectal neoplasia. For patients with a distance of ≤8 cm between the lesion and anal verge, it is primarily recommended that transanal local excision or endoscopic resection be performed, followed by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), laparoscopic or open rectal resection. For patients with a distance of 8−15 cm, endoscopic resection is the treatment of first choice, followed by TEM, laparoscopic, or open rectal resection.
4.1.2 Treatment principles for cT1−2N0 rectal cancerThe treatment principles for cT1−2N0 rectal cancer is radical surgery. Transanal local excision can be considered in cT1N0 patients when it is difficult to perform sphincter-preserving surgery. Radical surgery should be considered if the following pathological situation occur after local excision: poorly differentiated tumors, vascular invasion, positive resection margin, sm3, or T2. Radiotherapy/ chemotherapy is recommended for patients who do not undergo radical surgery (1,2). Concurrent chemoradation can be considered if it is difficult to carry out organ preservation. operation in cT2N0 patients but the patient has a strong intention for organ preservation. The next treatment can be selected according to the extent of tumor response: 1) Watch & wait for patients who have complete clinical response (cCR); 2) Transanal local excision for patients with ycT1 tumors; and 3) Radical rectal cancer surgery for patients with ycT2 tumors. The current international consensus for complete clinical remission (cCR) ( 3) includes: 1) Digital rectal examination: normal; 2) White and flat mucosal scars under the endoscope, accompanied by peripheral capillary telangiectasia, without signs of malignant ulcers or nodulesd; and 3) High resolution MRI in T2 shows completely dark, without moderate intensity signals and lymph nodes; in DW phase, no tumor signal for B800-B1000 and/or, in ADC shows little or no signal, and intestinal wall linear signals in the tumor area. The watch and wait strategy is currently under exploration. There is a need to fully communicate with the patients, with an emphasis for more frequent follow-up and let them know the results of salvage therapy after tumor recurrence. It is recommended that follow-up visits should be carried out every 1−2 months within 2 years. The assessment methods mainly consist of digital rectal examination, endoluminal ultrasound, and functional MR. There is still controversy over the use of biopsy in the scar region of the primary lesion.
References
Nascimbeni R, Burgart LJ, Nivatvongs S, et al. Risk of lymph node metastasis in T1 carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Dis Colon Rectum 2002;45:200-6.
Yamamoto S, Watanabe M, Hasegawa H, et al. The risk of lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal carcinoma. Hepatogastroenterol 2004;51:998-1000.
Smith JJ, Chow OS, Gollub MJ, et al. Organ Preservation in Rectal Adenocarcinoma: a phase II randomized controlled trial evaluating 3-year disease-free survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with chemoradiation plus induction or consolidation chemotherapy, and total mesorectal excision or nonoperative management. BMC Cancer 2015;15:767.
4.1.3 Treatment of cT3/cT4N+ rectal cancer (Table 9) 9.Treatment of cT3/cT4N+ rectal cancer
Stage Stratification Class I recommendation Class II recommendation Class III recommendation a, Concurrent radiochemotherapy + surgery + adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced top and lower rectal cancers (1-8). Concurrent chemoradiotherapy: capecitabine 825 mg/m2 bid or 5-FU CIV: 225 mg/(m2·d), 5 d every week. Radiotherapy dose is 45.0−50.4 Gy/25−28 fractions. Either 3D-CRT or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) can be used.This section is applicable for midder and lower rectal cancers that were assessed by digital rectal examination and MRI, with a distance from anal verge to the lower edge of tumor <10 cm. Stratified treatment according to risk level should be carried out under the guidance of high-quality MRI imaging and experienced radiologists.
References
Sauer R, Becker H, Hohenberger W, et al. Preoperative versus postoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer. N Engl J Med 2004;351:1731-40.
Sauer R, Liersch T, Merkel S, et al. Preoperative versus postoperative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer: results of the German CAO/ARO/AIO-94 randomized phase III trial after a median follow-up of 11 years. J Clin Oncol 2012;30:1926-33.
Wagman R, Minsky BD, Cohen AM, et al. Sphincter preservation in rectal cancer with preoperative radiation therapy and coloanal anastomosis: long term follow-up. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1998;42:51-7.
Gérard JP, Conroy T, Bonnetain F, et al. Preoperative radiotherapy with or without concurrent fluorouracil and leucovorin in T3-4 rectal cancers: results of FFCD 9203. J Clin Oncol 2006;24:4620-5.
Bosset JF, Calais G, Mineur L, et al. Enhanced tumorocidal effect of chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer: preliminary results — EORTC 22921. J Clin Oncol 2005;23:5620-7.
Bosset JF, Collette L, Calais G, et al. Chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer. N Engl J Med 2006;355:1114-23.
De Caluwé L, Van Nieuwenhove Y, Ceelen WP. Preoperative chemoradiation versus radiation alone for stage II and III resectable rectal cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013:CD006041.
Hofheinz RD, Wenz F, Post S, et al. Chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine versus fluorouracil for locally advanced rectal cancer: a randomised, multicentre, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 2012;13:579-88.
Swedish Rectal Cancer Trial, Cedermark B, Dahlberg M, et al. Improved survival with preoperative radiotherapy in resectable rectal cancer. N Engl J Med 1997;336:980-7.
van Gijn W, Marijnen CA, Nagtegaal ID, et al. Preoperative radiotherapy combined with total mesorectal excision for resectable rectal cancer: 12-year follow-up of the multicentre, randomised controlled TME trial. Lancet Oncol 2011;12:575-82.
Bujko K, Nowacki MP, Nasierowska-Guttmejer A, et al. Long-term results of a randomized trial comparing preoperative short-course radiotherapy with preoperative conventionally fractionated chemoradiation for rectal cancer. Br J Surg 2006;93:1215-23.
Ngan SY, Burmeister B, Fisher RJ, et al. Randomized trial of short-course radiotherapy versus long-course chemoradiation comparing rates of local recurrence in patients with T3 rectal cancer: Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group trial 01.04. J Clin Oncol 2012;30:3827-33.
André T, Boni C, Mounedji-Boudiaf L, et al. Oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin as adjuvant treatment for colon cancer. N Engl J Med 2004;350:2343-51.
Hong YS, Nam BH, Kim KP, et al. Oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin versus fluorouracil and leucovorin as adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (ADORE): an open-label, multicentre, phase 2, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol 2014;15:1245-53.
Fernández-Martos C, Pericay C, Aparicio J, et al. Phase II, randomized study of concomitant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) compared with induction CAPOX followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy and surgery in magnetic resonance imaging-defined, locally advanced rectal cancer: Grupo cancer de recto 3 study. J Clin Oncol 2010;28:859-65.
Maréchal R, Vos B, Polus M, et al. Short course chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy and surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer: a randomized multicentric phase II study. Ann Oncol 2005;23:1525-30.
4.2 Treatment principles for metastatic rectal cancer 4.2.1 Treatment principles for synchronous metastatic rectal cancer (Table 10) 10.Treatment principles for synchronous metastatic rectal cancera
Stratificationb Class I recommendation Class II recommendation Class III recommendation Primary lesion Metastatic lesion a, Comprehensive consideration of local treatment for primary rectal cancer and systemic treatment for metastases is required for synchronous metastatic rectal cancer. Rational arrange of the two aspects is needed under the multidisciplinary team (MDT) framework, with prioritized treatment for the greater threat to health.When local recurrence after rectal cancer surgery is diagnosed, resectability and history of pelvic radiation should be taken into consideration. For patients with resectable lesions, surgery after radiochemotherapy can be considered in patient without previous radiation, or direct surgery in patient with previous radiation. For unresectable lesions, palliative or conversional chemotherapy and re-evaluation for resectability are recommended.
4.2.2.2 Treatment principles for rectal cancer with postoperative metastasisRefer to Section 3.2.2 Treatment of postoperative recurrence in metastatic colon cancer.
4.3 Rectal cancer follow-upRefer to Section 3.3 Colon cancer follow-up.
5. Principles of screening for hereditary colorectal cancer and genetic testingManagement strategy after genetic screening is shown in Table 11. All colorectal cancer patients should be asked on their family history of cancer and their intestinal polyp status should be determined. Specific disease screening should be carried out for patients who fulfilled the following criteria in regional medical center: 1) Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) screening (including colonoscopy examination and FAP genetic screening) is required for individuals with ≥20 polyps in the entire colon and rectum or with a confirmed FAP family member (1); 2) Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJ) screening is required for individuals with significant melanosis in the oral mucosa, lips, nose, cheeks, periorbital area, reproductive organs, hands and feet, perianal skin, etc. Patients with confirmed PJ family members also should receive screening. STK11 gene mutation test is recommended (2); and 3) Patients excluding FAP and PJ syndrome should receive screening for Lynch syndrome. Individuals who fulfilled the following criteria should be suspected of Lynch syndrome family and detected the relevant genes (mismatch repair genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2) (3,4). There are at least two histopathologically diagnosed colorectal cancer patients in the family, and 2 cases of them are first-degree relatives (parents and offspring, or siblings), and meet any one of the following criteria: 1) At least one case with multiple colorectal cancer (including adenomas); 2) At least one with onset of colorectal cancer <50 years; and 3) At least one with Lynch syndrome associated-extracolonic cancers (including gastric cancer, endometrial cancer, small intestine cancer, ureter and renal pelvis cancer, ovarian cancer, and hepatobiliary cancers) ( 5). After genetic testing, protocols in the following table are used for management and follow-up for those with confirmed pathological germline mutations and mutation carriers. General population screening can be carried out for individuals who are not mutation carriers. For those in which germline mutations cannot be determined, follow-up strategy should be discussed and decided by the doctor and individiuals according to family history and clinical presentations.
11.Management strategy after genetic screening
Clinical assessment Recommendation CA, carbohydrate antigen. Management strategy after genetic screening (6) 1. Carriers of familial adenomatous polyposis gene mutations:References
Sieber OM, Lipton L, Crabtree M, et al. Multiple colorectal adenomas, classic adenomatous polyposis, and germ-line mutations in MYH. N Engl J Med 2003;348:791-9.
Kang LC, Zhao XR, Zhou YS, et al. Mutation analysis of the STK11 gene in pedigrees with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Ke Xue Tong Bao (in Chinese) 2002;47:1639-43.
Lindor NM, Rabe K, Petersen GM, et al. Lower cancer incidence in Amsterdam-I criteria families without mismatch repair deficiency: familial colorectal cancer type X. JAMA 2005;293:1979-85.
Moreira L, Balaguer F, Lindor N, et al. Identification of Lynch syndrome among patients with colorectal cancer. JAMA 2012;308:1555-65.
Yuan Y, Cao WM, Cai SR, et al. Clinical phenotype of Chinese hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi (in Chinese) 2006;28:36-38.
Genetics Group of the Committee of Colorectal Cancer, China Anti-cancer Association. Consensus on clinical diagnosis, treatment and pedigree management of hereditary colorectal cancer in China. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi (in Chinese) 2018;40:64-77.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Drs. Xiaofeng Chen, Jing Liu, Yan Shi and Xicheng Wang for their efforts on proofreading the manuscript.
Working group members
Chair: Suzhan Zhang
Vice chairs: Jin Li, Sanjun Cai, Ruihua Xu, Zhen Zhang
Secretariat: Ying Yuan, Gong Chen, Xicheng Wang
Group members (listed alphabetically by last name) (*, writing member)
Muyan Cai Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center
Sanjun Cai Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Gong Chen* Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center
Yuanhong Gao Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center
Maode Lai Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Jin Li Shanghai East Hospital
Guichao Li* Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Xinxiang Li* Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Houjie Liang First Hospital Affiliated to AMU (Southwest Hospital)
Kejun Nan First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University
Li Ren* Zhongshan Hospital
Weiqi Sheng* Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Yi Wang* Peking University People’s Hospital
Xicheng Wang* Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institue
Jianmin Xu Zhongshan Hospital
Ruihua Xu Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center
Ying Yuan* Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Suzhan Zhang Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Zhen Zhang Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Aiping Zhou* Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
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