Curie Brief
Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.

A large multicenter study found that natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) offers faster recovery and lower complication rates than open surgery for rectal cancer — without sacrificing long-term survival. Five-year disease-free and overall survival rates were statistically similar across all three surgical approaches, suggesting NOSES is a viable addition to the rectal cancer surgical toolkit.
A retrospective multicenter study of 3,385 rectal cancer patients found that natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) delivers faster postoperative recovery and fewer complications compared to open surgery, while matching both open and laparoscopic approaches in long-term oncologic outcomes. Patients in the NOSES group experienced earlier return of bowel function, shorter hospital stays, and lower pain scores in the days following surgery.
When it came to survival, all three approaches performed comparably. Five-year disease-free survival rates were 63.4% (NOSES), 62.2% (laparoscopic), and 60.5% (open), with no statistically significant differences. Overall survival rates were similarly aligned at 74.5%, 72.2%, and 73.5%, respectively.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings support NOSES as a safe, effective surgical option for rectal cancer that improves the patient experience without compromising cancer control — a meaningful advancement for both surgeons and patients.