p53, Deleted in Colorectal Cancer Gene, and Thymidylate Synthase as Predictors of Histopathologic Response and Survival in Low, Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Treated With Preoperative Adjuvant Therapy

Abstract

Prediction of prognosis in patients with locally advanced low rectal cancers treated with preoperative adjuvant therapies continues to be problematic. Thymidylate synthase immunohistochemistry appears to be the most promising factor of those assessed in predicting tumor down-staging after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced low rectal cancers.