Kolarich A, et al. - Researchers theorized that the biology in rectal cancer patients younger than 50 years may differ, given an increasing incidence of rectal cancer in this age group of patients. They stratified patients according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline-driven care and compared survival patterns in patients younger than 50 years vs 50 years or older. They found that NCCN guideline-driven therapy for stage II and III patients younger than 50 years did not offer an overall survival benefit, as suggested by age-specific survival data for patients with rectal cancer treated with curative intent. Overall, early-onset disease may differ biologically and in its response to multimodality therapy.