Outcome measures
tumor, liver and renal function
TUMOR
At baseline, a clinical evaluation based on rectal examination and complete clinical history was performed. Subsequent assessments included colonoscopy with biopsy, routine blood tests with carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), liver and renal function, trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS), contrast-enhanced thorax-abdomen-pelvis computed tomography (CT) scan, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Clinical response was assessed with clinical examination, contrast-enhanced thorax-abdomen-pelvis CT scan, and pelvic MRI. Surgery was planned about 8 weeks after CRT completion.Pathological tumor response was scored according to the College of American Pathologists [