TREATING METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER: FROM RESEARCH TO PRACTICAL PROSPECTS

On December 7th, the Updates on Advancements in Colorectal Cancer Surgery Conference was successfully held at Bach Mai Hospital, providing an in-depth professional exchange platform for doctors and specialists across various fields such as gastrointestinal surgery, radiotherapy, medical oncology, diagnostic imaging, and pathology.

Notably, the event featured the participation of Professor Eric Rullier from Bordeaux University, France. He is one of the world’s leading experts in colorectal and rectal cancer surgery. With hundreds of major studies, particularly the 2013 classification of low rectal cancer named after him, which is now widely applied worldwide, Professor Eric Rullier has made significant contributions, bringing new medical advancements to this field.

The event created a meaningful opportunity for Vietnamese doctors to share knowledge, engage in professional discussions, and enhance the quality of treatment for colorectal cancer patients in Vietnam.

Contributing to the success of this highly specialized event, Dr. Bui Quang Loc – Hanoi French Hospital presented a report titled: "First-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in Vietnam and New debates on multidisciplinary coordination in treating metastatic colorectal cancer from ASCO 2024."

Through detailed analyses of major studies and clinical realities, Dr. Loc emphasized: "Treatment regimens for colorectal cancer in Vietnam have been standardized according to global guidelines and have achieved certain successes. The average survival time for patients has increased from 7-8 months to 30 months thanks to medical advancements over the past 20 years."

Dr. Loc stated that based on guidelines from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health’s guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, doctors must carefully consider the patient’s condition, the location and molecular biological characteristics of the tumor to select the most appropriate first-line treatment. Additionally, they must closely monitor individual patient progress to make timely adjustments.

Regarding systemic treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, Dr. Bui Quang Loc analyzed findings from key studies presented at ASCO 2024—the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s prestigious annual meeting.

The Transmet, Collision, and Orchestra trials demonstrate that systemic treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, combined with local interventions like liver transplantation, liver tumor resection, or radiofrequency ablation, reduce disease progression and extend survival for patients with liver-metastatic colorectal cancer—the most common form of metastasis in this disease.

It is hoped that by continuously updating global medical advancements, accumulating practical experience in Vietnam, and sharing knowledge, oncology specialists will further enhance their expertise, improve treatment protocols, and provide the best outcomes for cancer patients.

For consultations or examinations with specialists from Hanoi French Hospital, please contact HOTLINE 024.35771100 or INBOX FANPAGE "Bệnh viện Việt Pháp Hà Nội," Zalo OA zalo.me/2008009049335817955.