Purpose Prehabilitation (PH) is purported to improve patients’ preoperative functional status. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to compare short-term postoperative outcomes between patients who underwent a protocolized PH program and the existing standard of care among colorectal cancer patients awaiting surgery.
Methods A search in MEDLINE/PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL was conducted to identify relevant articles. Repetitive and exhaustive combinations of MeSH search terms (“prehabilitation,” “colorectal cancer,” “colon cancer,” and “rectal cancer”) were used to identify randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing PH versus standard of care for colorectal cancer patients awaiting surgery. The primary outcomes included postoperative morbidity, length of hospital stay, and readmission rates.
Results Seven studies including 1,042 colorectal cancer patients (PH, 382) were included. No significant differences were found in intraoperative outcomes. The postoperative complication rates were comparable between groups (Clavien-Dindo grades I and II: risk ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.62–1.07; P=0.15; Clavien-Dindo grades ≥III: risk ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.72–1.44; P=0.92). There were also no significant differences in length of hospital stay (P=0.21) or the risk of 30-day readmission (P=0.68).
Conclusion Although PH does not appear to improve short-term postoperative outcomes following colorectal cancer surgery, the quality of evidence is impaired by the limited trials and heterogeneity. Thus, further large-scale trials are warranted to draw definitive conclusions and establish the long-term effects of PH.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
The inequalities and challenges of prehabilitation before cancer surgery: a narrative review Hilary Stewart, Sophie Stanley, Xiubin Zhang, Lisa Ashmore, Christopher Gaffney, Jo Rycroft‐Malone, Andrew F. Smith, Laura Wareing, Cliff Shelton Anaesthesia.2025; 80(S2): 75. CrossRef
Prehabilitation in surgery – an update with a focus on nutrition Chelsia Gillis, Arved Weimann Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care.2025; 28(3): 224. CrossRef
The role of exercise-based prehabilitation in enhancing surgical outcomes for patients with digestive system cancers: a meta-analysis Shasha Xu, Rong Yin, Haiou Zhu, Yin Gong, Jing Zhu, Changxian Li, Qin Xu BMC Gastroenterology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Less is more: simplifying patient-centered cancer care In Ja Park Annals of Coloproctology.2025; 41(3): 173. CrossRef
Postoperative Morbidity Is Not Associated with a Worse Mid-Term Quality of Life After Colorectal Surgery for Colorectal Carcinoma Maximilian Brunner, Theresa Jendrusch, Henriette Golcher, Klaus Weber, Axel Denz, Georg F. Weber, Robert Grützmann, Christian Krautz Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(14): 5167. CrossRef
Identifying and optimizing psychosocial frailty in surgical practice Kurt S. Schultz, Caroline E. Richburg, Emily Y. Park, Ira L. Leeds Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery.2024; 35(4): 101061. CrossRef
Purpose We compared the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among Asian populations with localized colorectal cancer undergoing curative resection with and without the use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis (PTP).
Methods A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to identify relevant studies published from January 1, 1980 to February 28, 2022. The inclusion criteria were patients who underwent primary tumor resection for localized nonmetastatic colorectal cancer; an Asian population or studies conducted in an Asian country; randomized controlled trials, case-control studies, or cohort studies; and the incidence of symptomatic VTE, deep vein thrombosis, and/or pulmonary embolism as the primary study outcomes. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. This study was registered in PROSPERO on October 11, 2020 (No. CRD42020206793).
Results Seven studies (2 randomized controlled trials and 5 observational cohort studies) were included, encompassing 5,302 patients. The overall incidence of VTE was 1.4%. The use of PTP did not significantly reduce overall VTE incidence: 1.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0%–3.1%) versus 1.9% (95% CI, 0.3%–4.4%; P = 0.55). Similarly, PTP was not associated with significantly lower rates of symptomatic VTE, proximal deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.
Conclusion The benefit of PTP in reducing VTE incidence among Asian patients undergoing curative resection for localized colorectal cancer has not been clearly established. The decision to administer PTP should be evaluated on a case-bycase basis and with consideration of associated bleeding risks.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Effectiveness and Safety of Long-Term Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis After Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective Study Ying Zhang, Xiaozhu Zhou, Yi Wu, Shicai Chen, Xiangli Cui, Ying Zhao Drugs - Real World Outcomes.2025; 12(3): 479. CrossRef
Purpose This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the outcomes of the watch-and-wait (WW) approach versus radical surgery (RS) in rectal cancers with clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
Methods This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. Major databases were searched to identify relevant articles. WW and RS were compared through meta-analyses of pooled proportions. Primary outcomes included overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local recurrence, and distant metastasis rates. Pooled salvage surgery rates and outcomes were also collected. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was employed to assess the risk of bias.
Results Eleven studies including 1,112 rectal cancer patients showing cCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation were included. Of these patients, 378 were treated nonoperatively with WW, 663 underwent RS, and 71 underwent local excision. The 2-year OS (risk ratio [RR], 0.95; P = 0.94), 5-year OS (RR, 2.59; P = 0.25), and distant metastasis rates (RR, 1.05; P = 0.80) showed no significant differences between WW and RS. Local recurrence was more frequent in the WW group (RR, 6.93; P < 0.001), and 78.4% of patients later underwent salvage surgery (R0 resection rate, 97.5%). The 2-year DFS (RR, 1.58; P = 0.05) and 5-year DFS (RR, 2.07; P = 0.02) were higher among RS cases. However, after adjustment for R0 salvage surgery, DFS showed no significant between-group difference (RR, 0.82; P = 0.41).
Conclusion Local recurrence rates are higher for WW than RS, but complete salvage surgery is often possible with similar long-term outcomes. WW is a viable strategy for rectal cancer with cCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation, but further research is required to improve patient selection.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Watch‐and‐Wait Approach Following Neoadjuvant Chemo‐Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Single‐Center Cohort Study Georgi Kalev, Sylvia Buettner, Tianzuo Zhan, Ralf‐Dieter Hofheinz, Judit Boda‐Heggemann, Christoph Reissfelder, Steffen Seyfried, Georgi Vassilev, Julia Hardt Journal of Surgical Oncology.2025; 131(4): 658. CrossRef
Phase 2, Multicenter, Open-label, Nonrandomized Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Liposomal Irinotecan With 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin, Followed by Chemoradiotherapy in Patients With Rectal Cancer in a Watch-and-Wait Program César Muñoz, María-C. Riesco Martinez, Lisardo Ugidos, Pilar García-Alfonso, Rafael Alvarez-Gallego, Paloma Peinado, Carmen Toledano, Luka Mihic-Góngora, Justo Gabriel Ortega Anselmi, Enrique Sanz Garcia, Emilio Vicente, Yolanda Quijano, Hipólito J. Durán American Journal of Clinical Oncology.2025; 48(3): 142. CrossRef
Therapeutic Management of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Existing and Prospective Approaches Horia-Dan Lișcu, Nicolae Verga, Dimitrie-Ionuț Atasiei, Andreea-Teodora Ilie, Maria Vrabie, Laura Roșu, Alexandra Poștaru, Stefania Glăvan, Adriana Lucaș, Maria Dinulescu, Andreea Delea, Andreea-Iuliana Ionescu Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(3): 912. CrossRef
A management of patients achieving clinical complete response after neoadjuvant therapy and perspectives: on locally advanced rectal cancer Yu-Xin Liu, Xin-Rong Yang, Lan-Qing Peng, Zhuo-Hong Li Frontiers in Oncology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
ACCORD study: a national multi‐centre study of the watch and wait approach in patients with rectal cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand
Watch and wait in early onset rectal cancer patients: A review of the literature Melissa K Drezdzon, Carrie Y Peterson Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery.2025; : 101117. CrossRef
Non-operative management of locally advanced rectal cancer with an emphasis on outcomes and quality of life: a narrative review In Ja Park Ewha Medical Journal.2025; 48(3): e40. CrossRef
Non-Operative Management (NOM) in Rectal Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Directions Vincenzo Schiavone, Gabriella Teresa Capolupo, Gianluca Mascianà, Filippo Carannante, Gianluca Costa, Valentina Miacci, Marco Caricato Encyclopedia.2025; 5(4): 165. CrossRef
Advancing Personalized Medicine in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Francesco Giulio Sullo, Alessandro Passardi, Chiara Gallio, Chiara Molinari, Giorgia Marisi, Eleonora Pozzi, Leonardo Solaini, Alessandro Bittoni Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(9): 2562. CrossRef
Tailoring rectal cancer surgery: Surgical approaches and anatomical insights during deep pelvic dissection for optimal outcomes in low‐lying rectal cancer Youn Young Park, Nam Kyu Kim Annals of Gastroenterological Surgery.2024; 8(5): 761. CrossRef
Combined Transanal and Laparoscopic Approach for Full-Thickness Local Excision of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Following Near-Complete Response after Chemotherapy Joshua S. H. Lim, Si-Lin Koo, Iain Beehuat Tan, Isaac Seow-En World Journal of Colorectal Surgery.2024; 13(3): 95. CrossRef