Tumor response and toxicity evaluation
anaemia, diarrhoea, fatigue, leukopenia, toxicity, toxicities, azotemia, tenesmus, proctitis, cystitis
RENAL, ANAEMIA, LEUKOPENIA, AZOTEMIA, THROMBOCYTOPENIA, PROCTITIS, CYSTITIS
Early toxicity (within 6 months since nCRT end) and haematological profile were monitored weekly using the CTCAE version 5.0 scale [Gastrointestinal, urogenital and haematological toxicities were assessed at approximately every 7 RT fractions. Renal function was also monitored for creatinine and azotemia, liver function by alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), direct and total bilirubin. Hemoglobin, leukocyte, neutrophil and platelet values were also recorded and inflammatory indices were calculated too [According to the protocol schedule, patients were examined by rectal examination and clinically assessed for any toxicity (proctitis, diarrhoea, tenesmus, mucorrhoea, cystitis, fatigue, anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia) that occurred after CRT, approximately 45 days after completing nCRT.The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples was used to compare toxicities between the two patient samples, “responders” and “non-responders”.Six to eight weeks after the end of treatment, pelvic MRI and/or rectoscopy and total body CT were performed, depending on clinical judgement.