Table I.
Patient characteristics.
| Variable | [ART-] | [ART+] |
|---|---|---|
| Number of patients | 12 | 17 |
| Age | ||
| Range | 45-77 | 35-70 |
| Mean ± SEM | 60±11 | 57±11 |
| Sex | ||
| Female | 5 | 4 |
| Male | 7 | 13 |
| BMI (mean ± SEM) | 27±5 | 26±4 |
| Proteins in plasma (mean ± SEM) | ||
| Albumin | 39±6 (g/l) | 40±4 (g/l) |
| CRP | 5±3 (mg/l) | 4±3 (mg/l) |
| Total | 65±9 (g/l) | 71±6 (g/l) |
| Leukocytes (mean) | 8x109/l | 6.4x109/l |
| Collagen (mean ± SEM) | 119±67 (µg/mg) | 174±82 (µg/mg) |
| Plasma iron (mean ± SEM) | 13±5 (µmol/l) | 16±9 (µmol/l) |
Adjacent rectal tissues (ART) were obtained 10.0-15.00 cm away from the primary tumour. Patients were divided into two groups; patients undergoing neoadjuvant pre-therapy [ART+] and patients without pre-therapy [ART-]. BMI, body mass index; CRP, C-reactive protein.