Publication Name	World Journal of Clinical Oncology
Manuscript ID	125491
DOI	10.5306/wjco.125491
Country	Spain

Category	Surgery
Manuscript Type	Retrospective Study
Article Title	Rethinking treatment for non-metastatic deficient mismatch repair colorectal and small bowel cancers
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Alba Manuel-Vazquez, Miguel Soria Tristán, David Ricardo Luján, Sara Gortázar de las Casas, Ainhoa Valle Rubio, José Luis Ramos Rodríguez and Javier García-Septiem
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Alba Manuel-Vazquez, MD, PhD, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Calle tajo s/n, Villaviciosa de Odon 28670, Madrid, Spain. alba_manuel_vazquez@hotmail.com
Key Words	Colorectal cancer; Mismatch repair deficiency; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Rectal cancer; Small bowel neoplasm; Pembrolizumab; Dostarlimab; Nivolumab; Lynch syndrome
Core Tip	This real-world retrospective study describes eight patients with non-metastatic mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient colorectal and small bowel adenocarcinoma treated with immunotherapy in different clinical settings. Favorable responses were observed across all tumor subsites. Complete clinical responses enabled a watch-and-wait strategy in some patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. In colon cancer immunotherapy facilitated minimally invasive surgery with pathological complete responses in all operated patients. Delayed MMR testing postponed treatment initiation in some cases, highlighting the need for systematic upfront immunohistochemical assessment at diagnosis. These findings support the feasibility of implementing immunotherapy-based strategies in routine surgical oncology practice beyond clinical trial settings.
Citation	Manuel-Vazquez A, Soria Tristán M, Luján DR, Gortázar de las Casas S, Valle Rubio A, Ramos Rodríguez JL, García-Septiem J. Rethinking treatment for non-metastatic deficient mismatch repair colorectal and small bowel cancers. World J Clin Oncol 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.5306/wjco.125491
PDF	125491-in-press.pdf

Received	2026-07-08 08:44
Peer-Review Started	2026-07-08 08:45
First Decision by Editorial Office Director
Return for Revision	2026-07-18 07:32
Revised	2026-07-31 19:36
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-09-11 02:52
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-09-11 09:27
Articles in Press	2026-09-11 09:27
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2218-4333 (online)
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Copyright	©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
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