Deborah Mukherji, MBBS, FRCP, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon discusses highlights for colorectal cancer presented during Session IX of the ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2021. Topics for discussion include research on combining chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer in the neoadjuvant setting, controversial topics concerning rectal cancer management, women in oncology and adjuvant colon cancer treatment; results will be presented on manipulating the length of chemotherapy in adjuvant colon cancer treatment, and on using new circulating biomarkers to stratify patients and inform therapy intensity. This interview took place at the ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2021.