Rectal Cancer Organ Preservation Tuesday, May 3, 3:15 - 5:00 pm CME Credit Hours: 1.75 Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery greatly improved oncologic outcomes for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. However, trimodal therapy impacts patient function and quality of life. Rectal preservation strategies have gained traction over the past 10 years with a goal to reduce treatment related toxicity without compromising oncologic outcome. In this symposium we will provide the nuts and bolts to develop a successful nonoperative management program for rectal cancer. Objectives At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to: Identify the role of chemotherapy and radiation to optimize tumor response Recognize complete clinical response that is amenable to nonoperative management Develop follow-up strategy for patients undergoing watch and wait Manage tumor regrowth Agenda Co-Directors: Nitin Mishra, MD, Phoenix, AZ Martin Weiser, MD, New York, NY 3:15 pm Introduction Nitin Mishra, MD, Phoenix, AZ 3:20 pm The Optimal Neoadjuvant Therapy Strategy for Organ Preservation Julio Garcia-Aguilar, MD, PhD, New York, NY 3:35 pm Assessing Complete Clinical Response with Endoscopy Erin Kennedy, MD, PhD, Toronto, ON Canada 3:50 pm The Role of MRI in Watch and Wait Marc Gollub, MD, New York, NY 4:05 pm Surveillance and Treatment of Regrowth Madhulika Varma, MD, San Francisco, CA 4:15 pm Potential Pitfalls of Watch and Wait Y. Nancy You, MD 4:30 pm Tumor Board Nitin Mishra, MD, Phoenix, AZ Martin Weiser, MD, New York, NY 5:00 pm Adjourn