Figure 1.

Overview of included tumor tissues.

Notes: Described are the number of included specimens derived from patients who did not receive neoadjuvant CRT (cohort 1, n=38) and patients who did (cohort 2, n=34). In the primary tumor specimens, expression of biomarkers on normal epithelium was assessed when applicable. Biopsies were endoscopically obtained, prior to CRT (cohort 2). In cohort 1, 36 tumor sets were included consisting of biopsy material and primary resection specimens. Of these 36 patients, 10 tissues of LN metastases were included. In cohort 2, 31 sets were included consisting of biopsy material and primary resection specimens, including seven with LN metastases. One patient with a LN metastasis had a pCR. Two LN metastases could only be correlated with expression in primary resection specimens, because biopsy material of these patients was lacking.

Abbreviations: CRT, chemo- and radiotherapy; pCR, pathological complete response; LN, lymph node.