Fig. 1.

Sample collection and clinical response. Biopsy samples were obtained at colonoscopy or rigid sigmoidoscopy. Patients then underwent neoadjuvant radio chemotherapy. Patient responses are categorised depending on the degree of tumour regression following neoadjuvant radio chemotherapy as RCPath A (complete tumour regression), RCPath B (partial tumour regression), or RCPath C (no marked tumour regression). Following neoadjuvant radio chemotherapy, resection tissue was obtained from surgery where available