Lutsyk M, Awawda M, Gourevich K, et al. - Findings suggest a possible value of gross tumor volume (GTV) for predicting complete pathologic response (pCR) in locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

• Enrolled were patients diagnosed with stage IIA to IIIC rectal adenocarcinoma, who received treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

• Six to 8 weeks after completion of treatment, operation, either low anterior or abdominoperineal resection was performed.

• pCR was achieved in 23.5% of the patients.

• The only significant predictive factor to detect pCR was GTV at the volume of < 39.5 cm³ by logistic regression model and by Bayesian independent test.