Rectal cancer patients younger than 50 years lack a survival benefit from NCCN guideline-directed treatment for stage II and III disease.

Age-specific survival data for patients with rectal cancer treated with curative intent do not support an overall survival benefit from NCCN guideline-driven therapy for stage II and III patients younger than 50 years. These data suggest that early-onset disease may differ biologically and in its response to multimodality therapy.