Thank you Ellen and Steven for your unparalleled altruistic gift. Your incredible philanthropy has ensured us the ability to perpetuate investigation & education to improve patient outcomes throughout the world in the Ellen Leifer Shulman & Steven Shulman Digestive Disease Center
Help us spread the word about #QSCC2026. 🗣️
Use the QSCC Social Toolkit to share conference info and connect more healthcare professionals with this multidisciplinary learning opportunity. brnw.ch/21x3kSm
👋 Newly matched residents: Join us at the ACS Headquarters in Chicago on June 15-17 for a new ACS Residency Readiness Course and get a last minute boost of preparation before you start your surgical intern year. brnw.ch/21x36q5
▶️ New on the #SurgicalReadings podcast: Researchers compared body composition changes after bariatric surgery and GLP-1 treatment. Hear what they found and why preserving fat-free mass matters. brnw.ch/21x3kq0
An intriguing concept from @BJSurgery.
Could metabolic optimization become part of rectal cancer treatment?
Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) has become the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer following landmark trials such as RAPIDO, PRODIGE 23, and OPRA, improving pathological complete response rates, treatment compliance, and disease-free survival.
At the same time, GLP-1 receptor agonists have expanded far beyond diabetes and obesity, with emerging evidence suggesting potential anticancer effects. Against this backdrop, a recent BJS review explores the rationale for combining GLP-1 therapy (such as semaglutide) with TNT and highlights a planned phase II randomized trial (NCT07314528).
Potential advantages include:
• Reduced visceral adiposity
• Improved insulin sensitivity
• Lower systemic inflammation
• Enhanced treatment tolerance
Yet an important paradox remains: GLP-1-induced weight loss includes loss of lean muscle mass, and sarcopenia is independently associated with increased treatment toxicity and worse oncologic outcomes in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy.
The critical question is not whether patients lose weight, but what kind of weight they lose. Can the metabolic benefits of GLP-1 therapy outweigh the risks of skeletal muscle depletion during TNT?
This study represents the emergence of “metabolic oncology,” the concept that modulating host metabolism may enhance cancer treatment beyond direct antineoplastic effects. The biological rationale is compelling, but prospective evidence is essential.
Critical to the trial’s success will be careful body composition analysis, distinguishing potentially beneficial visceral fat loss from potentially harmful skeletal muscle loss.
If positive, this trial could open an entirely new dimension in rectal cancer management.
I’d be interested in hearing colleagues’ perspectives on the balance between metabolic optimization and sarcopenia risk during TNT. @SWexner@GaertnerWB@SeanLangenfeld@juliomayol#RectalCancer#ColorectalSurgery#GIOncology#GLP1#Semaglutide#CancerResearch@ASCRS_1@AmCollSurgeons@AmColSurgCancer@asgbi@BJSAcademy
Looking forward to speaking about “New Improved Anastomosis” @medstarICDS26 International Colorectal Symposium along with some of the Colorectal greats @SWexner@MedStarHealth#AICRDS26
AI has the potential to transform surgical care. But how do we ensure accountability, safety, and trust as autonomous systems become more common?
A new ACS Bulletin Viewpoint explores the governance and safety challenges of AI integration in surgery. brnw.ch/21x3iwd
Congratulations to ACS Fellows Drs. Paula Ferrada, Jeremy Goodman, and Jacqueline Saito, who were recognized by @BeckersHR among 145 patient safety experts helping ensure patients receive safe, effective care. brnw.ch/21x3f35
The ACS offers several scholarships and fellowships for ACS members that provide funding for research, attendance at ACS events and conferences, and other professional development opportunities.
Explore the current opportunities and apply by June 16. brnw.ch/21x3h2o