Prof. K. S. Panda Oration
Delivered by Dr. Chandramohan
“Rectal Cancer – The Three‑Decade Global Journey”
Date & Event: 26th April 2026 – ASOOcON 2026, 1st Annual Conference of the Association of Surgical Oncologists of Odisha
Venue: Cuttack, Odisha
In the Prof. K. S. Panda Oration, Dr. Chandramohan ,The President Elect of IASO.traced the global journey of rectal cancer management over three decades (1990s–2020s). he Oration pays tribute to Prof. K. S. Panda – founder of HCG Panda Cancer Hospital, past president of IASO and ISO, and a pioneer of surgical oncology in Odisha. His five‑decade legacy of patient care, teaching, and cancer awareness continues to inspire. ASOO is privileged to host this oration in his name at its inaugural annual conference in Cuttack.
Rather than an individual narrative, he presented how the world’s collective experience transformed a once‑difficult cancer into a model of curative, multimodality success.
Key global milestones covered:
- 1990s – Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) becomes the worldwide surgical gold standard, reducing local recurrence from ~30% to <10%.
- 2000s – Neoadjuvant radiotherapy validated through landmark European trials; multidisciplinary care becomes routine.
- 2010s – MRI‑based risk stratification, laparoscopic/robotic TME, and the “watch‑and‑wait” approach for complete responders gain global acceptance.
- 2020s – Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) and non‑operative management for clinical complete responses redefine standards across leading cancer centres.
Dr. Chandramohan concluded that this global journey – from radical surgery alone to precision, preservation, and progress – was built on international collaboration, rigorous trials, and a shared commitment to patient outcomes.
