AUTHOR=Huang Wei-Qin , Lin Ruo-Xuan , Ke Xiao-Hui , Deng Xiao-Hong , Ni Shi-Xiong , Tang Lina 

TITLE=Radiomics in rectal cancer: current status of use and advances in research

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2024

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1470824

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2024.1470824

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Rectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with malignant tumors in China. In light of the advances made in therapeutic approaches such as neoadjuvant therapy and total mesorectal excision, precise preoperative assessment has become crucial for developing a personalized treatment plan. As an emerging technology, radiomics has gained widespread application in the diagnosis, assessment of treatment response, and analysis of prognosis for rectal cancer by extracting high-throughput quantitative features from medical images. Radiomics thus demonstrates considerable potential for optimizing clinical decision-making. In this paper, we reviewed recent research focusing on advances in the use of radiomics for managing rectal cancer. The review covers TNM staging of tumors, assessment of neoadjuvant therapy outcomes, and survival prediction. We also discuss the challenges and prospects for future developments in translational medicine, particularly the need for data standardization, consistent feature extraction methodologies, and rigorous model validation.