Rectal cancer treatment options based on stage

by Specialist

See the Treatment Options Overview section for information on the treatment options listed below.

Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ)

Treatment for stage 0 cancer may include the following approaches:

  • Simple polypectomy.
  • Local excision.
  • Excision (when the tumor is too large for local excision).

    Using our Clinical Trials Search, you can find out which NCI-supported cancer clinical trials are currently enrolling patients. You can search for clinical trials by cancer type, patient age, and trial location. You can also get general information about clinical trials.

    Stage I rectal cancer

    Treatment for stage I cancer may include the following approaches:

  • Local resection.
  • Excision.
  • Rectomy combined with postoperative radiotherapy

    Using our Clinical Trials Search, you can find out which NCI-supported cancer clinical trials are currently enrolling patients. You can search for clinical trials by cancer type, patient age, and trial location. You can also get general information about clinical trials.

    Stage II and III rectal cancer

    Treatment for stage II and III rectal cancer may include the following approaches:

  • Surgery.
  • Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy followed by surgery.
  • Short-term radiation therapy followed by surgery and chemotherapy.
  • Radiotherapy after resection
  • chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy followed by active monitoring. If the cancer recurs, surgery can be done.
  • Clinical trial of a novel treatment.

    Using our Clinical Trials Search, you can find out which of the NCI-supported cancer clinical trials are currently enrolling patients. You can search for clinical trials by cancer type, patient age, and trial location. You can also get general information about clinical trials.

    Stage IV rectal cancer and recurrent rectal cancer

    Treatment for stage IV rectal cancer and recurrent rectal cancer may include the following approaches:

  • Surgery combined with or without chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
  • Systemic chemotherapy combined with or without targeted therapy (angiogenesis inhibitors).
  • Systemic chemotherapy combined with or without immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors).
  • Chemotherapy to control tumor growth
  • Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
  • If the tumor is blocking part of the rectum, then stenting is needed to help keep the rectum open as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
  • Immunotherapy
  • Clinical trials of chemotherapy and/or targeted therapies.

    Treatment of rectal cancer that has spread to other organs depends on where the cancer has spread.

  • Treatment of cancer that has spread to the liver includes the following approaches.
  • Surgery to remove the tumor. Chemotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor.
  • Cryosurgery or radiofrequency ablation.
  • Chemoembolization and/or systemic chemotherapy.
  • A clinical trial of chemoembolization combined with radiotherapy for liver tumors.

    Using our Clinical Trials Search, you can find out which NCI-supported cancer clinical trials are currently enrolling patients. You can search for clinical trials by cancer type, patient age, and trial location. You can also get general information about clinical trials.