Loyola colorectal surgeon receives 2013 Robert M. Beart, MD, Impact Paper of the Year Award

Dana Hayden, MD, colorectal surgeon at Loyola University Health System accepted the 2013 Robert M. Beart, MD, Impact Paper of the Year Award from the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons.

Tumor Scatter after Neoadjuvant Therapy for Rectal Cancer: Are We Dealing With an Invisible Margin? offers evidence-based guidance on microscopic tumor cell response to radiation. "Our study suggests that after radiation, the gross ulcer cannot be used to determine the sole area of potential residual tumor and that cancer cells may be found up to 3 cm from the gross ulcer so the traditional 2 cm margin may not be adequate," said Hayden. "Also, local excision of the ulcer or no excision appears to be insufficient treatment for rectal cancer because there are microscopic tumor cells present under normal appearing tissue." Participating patients had elective radical resection for rectal cancer after preoperative chemotherapy and radiation performed by two colorectal surgeons between 2006 and 2011.

"It is a privilige to accept this prestigious award on behalf of my colleagues," said Hayden, MD, MPH, Loyola. "It is our hope that our work benefits physicians in their care of rectal cancer patients."

The American Cancer Society estimates 40, 340 new cases of rectal cancer in 2013 and 102, 480 new cases of colon cancer. The overall lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 20. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined. It is expected to cause about 50,830 deaths during 2013.