Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the western world. Surgical therapy represents the main stay of care for this disease. In the past several decades, we have witnessed tremendous advances in the care and treatment of colorectal cancer patients. These include not only newly developed surgical techniques, but also advances in chemotherapy, radiation, genetics, and staging. Minimally invasive procedures, deemed investigational 10 years ago, are now becoming the standard surgical option for the eradication of these malignancies. New technologies have been instrumental in propagating the momentum of change. We invite authors to submit original research and review articles that focus on the advancement of minimally invasive surgical alternatives in the treatment of carcinoma of the colon and rectum, as well as in the surgical management of preinvasive neoplasms. These articles may also delve into the role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies as they relate to minimally invasive techniques. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Laparoscopic surgical alternatives in the treatment of colorectal carcinoma
• Robotics in colorectal cancer surgery
• Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery
• Use of a natural orifice for specimen extraction
• Application of NOTES in the treatment of colorectal neoplasia
• New Endoscopic techniques for management of colorectal polyps

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijso/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: