Complete Pathologic Response Following Preoperative Chemoradiation Therapy for Middle to Lower Rectal Cancer Is Not a Prognostic Factor for a Better Outcome

Abstract

Tumor response following preoperative chemoradiation therapy is mainly related to the preoperative regimen used. For patients receiving preoperative chemoradiation therapy, pretreatment T stage, but not tumor response to preoperative chemoradiation therapy, is prognostic for outcome (both disease-free and overall survival).