Table 1.
Patient characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Men | 93 (66.4) |
| Age (yr) | 62.5 (55.0–72.0) |
| ASA PS classification | |
| I | 10 (7.1) |
| II | 104 (74.3) |
| III | 26 (18.6) |
| CEA (ng/mL) | 3.6 (2.0–6.8) |
| Tumor location | |
| RA | 21 (15.0) |
| RB | 119 (85.0) |
| Perforation, yes | 3 (2.1) |
| Obstruction, yes | 11 (7.9) |
| Pre-nCRT NLR | 2.1 (1.7–2.9) |
| Post-nCRT NLR | 3.5 (2.5–4.5) |
| Clinical stage | |
| cT2 | 19 (13.6) |
| cT3 | 109 (77.9) |
| cT4a | 3 (2.1) |
| cT4b | 9 (6.4) |
| cN0 | 27 (19.3) |
| cN+ | 113 (80.7) |
| Delay after RT (wk) | 7.0 (6.0–7.0) |
| Operation | |
| APR | 32 (22.9) |
| Exenteration | 1 (0.7) |
| LAR | 52 (37.1) |
| uLAR | 55 (39.3) |
| Resection margin | |
| CRM involved | 2 (1.4) |
| DRM involved | 1 (0.7) |
| Pathologic stage | |
| ypT | |
| T0 | 29 (20.7) |
| T1 | 7 (5.0) |
| T2 | 35 (25.0) |
| T3 | 60 (42.9) |
| T4a | 3 (2.1) |
| T4b | 6 (4.3) |
| ypN | |
| N0 | 117 (83.6) |
| N1 | 15 (10.7) |
| N2 | 8 (5.7) |
| AJCC stage | |
| 0 (pCR) | 29 (20.7) |
| I | 39 (27.9) |
| II | 49 (35.0) |
| III | 23 (16.4) |
| Total retrieved LN | 9.0 (6.0–12.0) |
| Vascular invasion, yes | 10 (7.1) |
| Perineural invasion, yes | 25 (17.9) |
| Lymphatic invasion, yes | 7 (5.0) |
| Adjuvant chemotherapy, yes | 126 (90.0) |
Values are presented as number (%) or median (interquartile range).
ASA PS, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; RA, above peritoneal reflection; RB, below peritoneal reflection; nCRT, neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy; NLR, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio; RT, radiotherapy; APR, abdominoperineal resection; (u)LAR, (ultra) low anterior resection; CRM, circumferential resection margin; DRM, distal resection margin; AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer; pCR, pathologic complete response; LN, lymph node.