Table 2. Pre-therapy protocol and follow-up adopted in included trials.

Trial	TEM group	TME group
Allaix 2012	Neoadjuvant therapy: radiotherapy of 45 Gy for 6–8 weeks for all TEM patients. Two cases (18 %) of all neoadjuvant treatment with local tumor progression (both patients underwent open surgery) were observed, in this condition we supposed that two cases had the worst results that both cases were classified as “event group”. Because of one patient lost to follow-up 11 patients, 32 patients undergone TEM+NT, TEM only, respectively.	No neoadjuvant treatment. Because of 2 patient lost to follow-up, That 33 patients undergone TME were inclued in our study.
Chen 2013	No neoadjuvant treatment. 8 patients undergone TEM. No patient lost to follow-up.	No neoadjuvant treatment. 8 patientsundergone TME. No patient lost to follow-up.
Lee 2003	No neoadjuvant treatment. 22 patients undergone TEM. No patient lost to follow-up.	No neoadjuvant treatment. 83 patientsundergone TME. No patient lost to follow-up.
Lezoche 2012	Neoadjuvant therapy: long course 3D four-field chemoradiotherapy in prone position, with bladder prep and use of IV contrast Total dose 5,040 cGy in 28 fractions over 5 weeks with infusion of 5-fluorouracil 200 mg/m2 per day during radiotherapy. 50 patients undergone TME. No patient lost to follow-up.	The same neoadjuvant treatment for all patient. 50 patientsundergone TME. No patient lost to follow-up.