Multimodal treatment approaches and the role of radiotherapy in gastrointestinal tumors

Abstract

Multimodal treatment approaches have revolutionized the management of tumors originating from the gastrointestinal system, particularly in locally advanced esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric cancer. Among these approaches, radiotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, offering a non-invasive method to target cancer cells and reduce tumor burden. Radiotherapy damages the DNA inside cancer cells, causing them to die and aiding in the overall treatment strategy. For gastrointestinal tumors, the integration of radiotherapy with other treatment modalities such as surgery and chemotherapy has shown promising results in improving clinical outcomes and long-term survival rates. This combination approach aims to lower the risk of recurrence and enhance the effectiveness of treatment for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. Today, multimodal treatment approaches are increasingly used in gastrointestinal tumors. Due to the increasing incidence of cancer, unavoidable tumor modifications, mutations and the development of resistance to cancer therapy, the need for combined therapies has increased by increasing the number of weapons to destroy tumor cells. The rationale of multimodal therapies is to create powerful combinations that can increase the effectiveness of therapeutic agents through synergistic effects.