Torbjörn Holm

Torbjörn Holm Professional title: Associate Professor of Surgery

Date of primary qualification: 1983

Current Institution:
Division of Coloproctology, Centre of Surgical Gastroenterology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Title of invited presentation:
Pelvic surgery for advanced and recurrent rectal cancer - where is the limit? Technical aspects (including IORT)

Learning objectives:
To recognize a surgical management algorithm for patients with locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer, including patient selection, surgical approach, contraindications, and the use of per operative radiotherapy.

Summary of clinical/research background

Dr Torbjörn Holm went to medical school at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and graduated in 1981. After his basic medical education and a surgical training program at Falu Lasarett and St. Görans Hospital in Stockholm he was board certified as surgeon in 1988. In October 1988 he was appointed as staff surgeon at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, where he has remained since. For the last twenty years, Dr Holm has focused on colorectal surgery with a special interest in colorectal cancer surgery, especially locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. Dr Holm defended his thesis “Rectal Cancer – Aspects on Preoperative Radiation, Surgery and Local Recurrence” in 1996 and has continued his research in this field. Presently, Dr Holm is Associate Professor of Surgery at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and Senior Consultant Surgeon and Head at the Division of Coloproctology, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm .

Relevant peer reviewed publications within last 5 years

Gunnlaugsson A, Anderson H, Fernebro E, Kjellén E, Byström P, Berglund K, Ekelund M, Påhlman L, Holm T, Glimelius B, Johnsson A. Multicentre phase II trial of capecitabine and oxaliplatin in combination with radiotherapy for unresectable colorectal cancer: the CORGI-L Study. Eur J Cancer. 2009 Mar;45(5):807-13.
Martling A, Granath F, Cedermark B, Johansson R, Holm T. Gender differences in the treatment of rectal cancer: a population based study. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2009 Apr;35(4):427-33.
Fokstuen T, Holm T, Glimelius B. Postoperative morbidity and mortality in relation to leukocyte counts and time to surgery after short-course preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer. Radiother Oncol. 2009 Nov;93(2):293-7
Genander M, Halford MM, Xu NJ, Eriksson M, Yu Z, Qiu Z, Martling A, Greicius G, Thakar S, Catchpole T, Chumley MJ, Zdunek S, Wang C, Holm T, Goff SP, Pettersson S, Pestell RG, Henkemeyer M, Frisén J. Dissociation of EphB2 signaling pathways mediating progenitor cell proliferation and tumor suppression. Cell 2009 Nov 13;139(4):679-92
Shihab OC, Heald RJ, Rullier E, Brown G, Holm T, Quirke P, Moran BJ. Defining the surgical planes on MRI improves surgery for cancer of the low rectum. Lancet Oncol. 2009 Dec;10(12):1207-11
Pettersson D, Cedermark B, Holm T, Radu C, Påhlman L, Glimelius B, Martling A. Interim analysis of the Stockholm III trial of preoperative radiotherapy regimens for rectal cancer. Br J Surg. 2010 Apr;97(4):580-7.
Nielsen MB, Laurberg S, Holm T. Current management of locally recurrent rectal cancer. Colorectal Dis. 2011 Jul;13(7):732-42
Rahbari NN, Weitz J, Hohenberger W, Heald RJ, Moran B, Ulrich A, Holm T, Wong WD, Tiret E, Moriya Y, Laurberg S, den Dulk M, van de Velde C, Büchler MW. Definition and grading of anastomotic leakage following anterior resection of the rectum: A proposal by the International Study Group of Rectal Cancer. Surgery. 2010 Mar;147(3):339-51
Anderin C, Martling A, Hellborg H, Holm T. A population-based study on outcome in relation to the type of resection in low rectal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 2010 May;53(5):753-60.
West NP, Anderin C, Smith KJ, Holm T, Quirke P; European Extralevator Abdominoperineal Excision Study Group. Multicentre experience with extralevator abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancer. Br J Surg. 2010 Apr;97(4):588-99.
Gunnarsson H, Holm T, Ekholm A, Olsson L. Emergency presentation of colon cancer is most frequent during summer. Colorectal Dis. 2011 Jun;13(6):663-8.
Palmer G, Martling A, Cedermark B, Holm T. Preoperative tumour staging with multidisciplinary team assessment improves the outcome in locally advanced primary rectal cancer. Colorectal Dis. 2011 Dec;13(12):1361-9
Stelzner S, Holm T, Moran BJ, Heald RJ, Witzigmann H, Zorenkov D, Wedel T. Deep pelvic anatomy revisited for a description of crucial steps in extralevator abdominoperineal excision for rectal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 DisColon Rectum. 2011 Aug;54(8):947-57.
Holm T. Abdominoperineal resection revisited: is positioning an important issue? Dis Colon Rectum. 2011 Aug;54(8):921-2.
Buchli C, Martling A, Arver S, Holm T. Testicular function after radiotherapy for rectal cancer-a reviewJ Sex Med. 2011 Nov;8(11):3220-6
Anderin C, Martling A, Lagergren J, Ljung A, Holm T. Short term outcome after gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap reconstruction of the pelvic floor following extra-levator abdominoperineal excision of the rectum. Colorectal Dis. 2012 Sep;14(9):1060-4.
Horch RE, D'Hoore A, Holm T, Kneser U, Hohenberger W, Arkudas A. Laparoscopic Abdominoperineal Resection with Open Posterior Cylindrical Excision and Primary Transpelvic VRAM Flap. Ann Surg Oncol. 2012 Feb;19(2):502-3
Pettersson D, Holm T, Iversen H, Blomqvist L, Glimelius B, Martling A. Preoperative short-course radiotherapy with delayed surgery in primary rectal cancer. Br J Surg. 2012 Apr;99(4):577-83
Segelman J, Granath F, Holm T, Machado M, Mahteme H, Martling A. Incidence, prevalence and risk factors for peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer. Br J Surg. 2012 99(5):699-705.
Bernhoff R, Holm T, Sjövall A, Granath F, Ekbom A, Martling A. Increased lymph node harvest in patients operated for right-sided colon cancer: a population-based study. Colorectal Dis. 2012 Jun;14(6):691-6
Shihab OC, Heald RJ, Holm T, How PD, Brown G, Quirke P, Moran BJ. A pictorial description of extralevator abdominoperineal excision for low rectal cancer. Colorectal Dis. 2012 Oct;14(10):e655-60
Anderin C, Granath F, Martling A, Holm T. Local recurrence after prone versus supine abdomino-perineal excision for low rectal cancer. Colorectal Dis. 2013 Jan
Rollvén E, Holm T, Glimelius B, Lörinc E, Blomqvist L. Potentials of high resolution magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography for preoperative local staging of colon cancer. Acta Radiol. 2013 Apr 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Pettersson D, Glimelius B, Iversen H, Johansson H, Holm T, Martling A. Impaired postoperative leucocyte counts after preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer in the Stockholm III Trial. Br J Surg. 2013 Jun;100(7):969-75