Year of birth: 1869

Year of death: 1947

Wikipedia

BIOGRAPHY

W.E. Miles, a British surgeon, was renowned for modifying the Abdominoperineal Resection (APR) in 1908, as the first curative surgery attempted for rectal cancer.

At the Royal Cancer Hospital (later renamed The Royal Marsden), London. He introduced a radical approach combining abdominal and perineal dissection, targeting tumors in the lower rectum. Despite its innovation, early APR had significant limitations, including a high mortality rate and frequent local recurrences. Miles's work laid the groundwork for modern surgical oncology, influencing techniques that balance oncological safety with functional preservation. His legacy persists in colorectal surgery, marking a turning point in the fight against rectal cancer.