Sequencing Therapies in Patients With Rectal Cancer and a Single Lung Nodule

Timil Patel, MD, clinical fellow in Hematology/Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, discusses how to sequence therapies in a patient with rectal cancer with a single lung nodule.

Sequencing therapies in this patient population depends on how effective the first line of therapy is, says Patel. Generally, the first line of therapy will be a systemic therapy. Later on, Patel says patients will be restaged to make sure there is no further progression, and that the primary and metastatic sites have regressed in the patient.

The next steps for this patient include a discussion with a multidisciplinary board or tumor board. Most centers will agree that in rectal cancer with a single site that has a good response to chemotherapy, the next line of therapy would be to treat the primary cancer with chemoradiotherapy, says Patel. The goal of this treatment is to cure the patient, he adds.