Table II.

Multivariate analysis in relation to pCR + near pCR rate.

Parameter	No. of patients	pCR + near pCRa (N)	pCR + near pCR (%)	OR	95%CI	P-value
Clinical T-stage				0.273	0.110–0.677	0.005
cT3	37	16	43.2
cT4	119	22	18.5
Clinical N-stage				0.729	0.280–1.902	0.518
cN0	26	12	46.1
cN1	49	12	24.5
cN2	81	14	17.3
AJCC/UICC stage (%)				0.260	0.041–1.661	0.155
II	26	12	46.1
III	130	26	20.0
Pretreatment with CEA				0.378	0.151–0.944	0.037
<5 ng/ml	88	28	31.8
≥5 ng/ml	68	10	14.7
Neural invasion				0.447	0.07–2.838	0.393
No	146	38	26.0
Yes	10	0	0.00
Interval NCRT and TME				0.263	0.088–0.785	0.017
≥8 weeks	89	31	34.8
<8 weeks	67	7	10.4
Given consolidation chemotherapy or not				0.378	0.151–0.944	0.037
Consolidation group	76	25	32.8
Control group	80	13	16.25

^aNear pCR rate being defined by the finding of only isolated residual tumor cells or small groups of residual cancer cells in the rectal wall with no tumor cells in the lymph nodes. pCR, pathologic complete response; AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer; UICC, Union for International Cancer Control 2010; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; NCRT, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; TME, total mesorectal excision; BMI, body mass index; Consolidation group, given neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy; Control group, given neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy only.