Colon cancer remains a significant global health challenge; however, the treatment outcome for colon patients can be improved through early detection and effective treatment. Nano-radiopharmaceuticals, combining nanotechnology with radiopharmaceuticals, are emerging as a revolutionary approach in both colon cancer diagnostic imaging and therapy, playing a significant role in the management of colon cancer patients. This review examines the use of nano-radiopharmaceuticals in the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, highlighting current applications, challenges, and future directions. Nanocarriers of radionuclides have shown potential in improving cancer treatment, including liposomes, microparticles, nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, and hydrogels, which are approved by the FDA. These nanocarriers can deliver targeted drugs into malignant cells without affecting normal cells, reducing side effects. Antibody-guided systemic radionuclide-targeted therapy has shown potential for treating cancer. Novel cancer nanomedicines, like Hensify and 32P BioSilicon, are under clinical development for targeted radiation delivery in percutaneous intratumoral injections. Although using nano-radiopharmaceuticals is a superior technique for diagnosing and treating colon cancer, there are limitations and challenges, such as the unintentional accumulation of nanoparticles in healthy tissues, which leads to toxicity due to biodistribution issues, as well as high manufacturing costs that limit their availability for patients. However, the future direction is moving toward providing more precise radiopharmaceuticals, which is crucial for enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer and reducing production costs.

Aim: To determine whether regional hyperthermia (RHT) in addition to chemotherapy improves local tumor control after macroscopically complete resection of abdominal or retroperitoneal high-risk sarcomas. Summary background data: Within the prospectively randomized EORTC 62961 phase-III trial, RHT and systemic chemotherapy significantly improved local progression-free (LPFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with abdominal and extremity sarcomas. The trial included macroscopically complete and R2 resections. Methods: A subgroup analysis of the EORTC trial was performed and long-term survival determined. From 341 patients, 149 (median age 52 years, 18-69) were identified with macroscopic complete resection (R0, R1) of abdominal and retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas (median diameter 10 cm, G2 48.3%, G3 51.7%). 76 patients were treated with EIA (etoposide, ifosfamide, doxorubicin)+RHT (>= 5 cycles: 69.7%) vs. 73 patients receivng EIA alone (>= 5 cycles: 52.1%, p=0.027). LPFS and DFS as well as overall survival were determined. Results: RHT and systemic chemotherapy significantly improved LPFS (56% vs. 45% after 5 years, p=0.044) and DFS (34% vs. 27% after 5 years, p=0.040). Overall survival was not significantly improved in the RHT group (57% vs. 55% after 5 years, p=0.82). Perioperative morbidity and mortality were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions: In patients with macroscopically complete tumor resection, RHT in addition to chemotherapy resulted in significantly improved local tumor control and DFS without increasing surgical complications. Within a multimodal therapeutic concept for abdominal and retroperitoneal high-risk sarcomas, RHT is a treatment option beside radical surgery and should be further evaluated in future trials. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.