|
As a group, gastrointestinal-tract cancers are the second most common
cancers among males and females in the United States. The most dominant
is colorectal cancer; remarkably, only a small proportion of people
nationwide receive adequate screening for this malignancy. Patients with
gastrointestinal-tract cancers are benefiting from a multidisciplinary treatment
approach. For example, multidisciplinary collaboration has enabled
sphincter preservation in rectal cancer. The interdisciplinary approach is
also yielding favorable results for the more difficult tumors, such as pancreatic
cancer and liver cancer. We are seeing the advantages of early systemic
therapy as an adjunct to surgery in colorectal cancer, and novel
agents are showing improved results in advanced disease. Increased utilization
of adjuvant therapy in early disease could very well change the
natural history of gastrointestinal-tract malignancies such as colorectal
cancer.
Much effort has been put into this 20-chapter volume. We would like
to thank the volume editors, Drs. Jaffer Ajani, Steven Curley, Nora Janjan,
and Patrick Lynch, for their steadfast efforts in bringing this book to
fruition. Also, sincere thanks to Mariann Crapanzano, Stephanie Deming,
Ginny Norris, Michael Worley, and Chris Yeager of the Department of Scientific
Publications for editing and compiling this volume. |
