Advancing minimally invasive surgery for elderly colorectal cancer patients: Bridging evidence to practice

Abstract

The recent study by Min et al provides evidence supporting laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer (LRRCC) as a superior surgical approach for elderly patients. Their retrospective analysis of 104 patients demonstrated that LRRCC offers higher therapeutic efficacy, reduced postoperative complications, faster recovery, and attenuated systemic inflammatory responses compared to open surgery. While the study underscores the clinical advantages of minimally invasive techniques, it also highlights critical gaps, such as single-center design and limited long-term follow-up. This editorial contextualizes these findings within the broader literature, emphasizing the role of LRRCC in enhancing postoperative quality of life for elderly patients. We further discuss the implications of inflammatory biomarker modulation, advocate for multidisciplinary care models, and call for prospective trials to validate long-term outcomes.

Keywords: Laparoscopic surgery; Colorectal cancer; Elderly patients; Inflammatory response; Postoperative recovery

Core Tip: The study by Min et al reinforces laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer as a safe and effective option for elderly patients, with reduced complications and inflammation. However, broader implementation requires addressing technical challenges, surgeon training, and long-term outcome validation.