Consensus guidance of immune checkpoint inhibitors in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Consensus guidance establishes standardized perioperative and organ-preserving use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in rectal cancer with specific recommendations based on recent clinical trials.

• Why it matters: Addressing the rapid growth of immunotherapy research in locally advanced rectal cancer, this guidance fills a critical gap by providing unified treatment standards to improve patient outcomes and clinical decision-making.
• What they did: The expert consensus, developed by the Chinese Society of Colorectal Surgery, reviews key trial data and offers graded recommendations on immunotherapy duration, postoperative adjuvant therapy, and safety management, emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration.
• The result: This guidance enables clinicians and policymakers to implement evidence-based, organ-preserving strategies, ultimately enhancing treatment safety, efficacy, and personalized care for patients with LARC.