Table 1. Baseline characteristics.
| Characteristic | n (% where applicable) |
|---|---|
| Median age (years) | 47 [17–62] |
| ≤40 years | 129 (36.4) |
| >40 years | 225 (63.6) |
| Gender | |
| Male | 253 (71.5) |
| Female | 101 (28.5) |
| Site of disease | |
| Upper 1/3 | 35 (9.9) |
| Middle 1/3 | 110 (31.1) |
| Lower 1/3 | 209 (59.0) |
| Mucinous histology | |
| Yes | 63 (17.8) |
| No | 291 (82.2) |
| Signet ring (SR) histology | |
| Yes | 62 (17.5) |
| No | 292 (82.5) |
| Baseline CEA status | |
| CEA > ULN | 233 (65.8) |
| CEA ≤ ULN | 107 (30.2) |
| NA | 14 (4.0) |
| Baseline tumor (T) stage | |
| T2 | 26 (7.3) |
| T3 | 244 (68.9) |
| T4 | 84 (23.7) |
| Baseline nodal (N) stage | |
| N0 | 43 (12.1) |
| N+ | 311 (87.9) |
| Presence of extramesorectal nodes | |
| Yes | 139 (39.3) |
| No | 214 (60.5) |
| Information not available | 1 (0.3) |
| Baseline classification of LARC | |
| Favorable | 18 (5.1) |
| Intermediate | 181 (51.1) |
| Advanced | 155 (43.8) |
| Baseline radiological CRM status | |
| CRM involved | 155 (43.8) |
| CRM uninvolved | 199 (56.2) |
LARC, locally advanced rectal cancers; CRM, circumferential margin; ULN, upper limit of normal.