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Table 1 Randomized trials of preoperative RT versus surgery alone in resectable rectal cancer.

From: The use of preoperative radiotherapy in the management of patients with clinically resectable rectal cancer: a practice guideline

Trial (reference)

No. of patients randomized RT / no RT (analyzed)

RT prescription*

Biologically effective dose (Gy10)

Compliance with RT† 0 <1 >1

Surgical delay after RT (days)

Median follow-up (months)

Study quality score‡

Yale [16]

15 (15) / 16 (16)

45 in 25 (31) 2 fields, G

53.1

- 7% -

2–42

>60

0.29

Toronto [17]

60 (60) / 65 (65)

5 in 1 (1) 2 fields, P

7.5

- - -

0

72

0.55

MRC-I [18]

549 (549) / 275 (275)

5 in 1 (1) or 20 in10 (14) 2 fields, G

7.5 or 19.8

2% 6% -

<7

>60

0.66

VASOG-II [19]

180 (180) / 181 (181)

31.5 in 18 (24) 2 fields, G

26.8

7% 11% 4%

~40

60

0.70

Norway [20]

159 (155) / 150 (145)

31.5 in 18 (24) 2 fields, G

26.8

1% - -

<21

54

0.80

EORTC [21]

236 (231) / 230 (228)

34.5 in 15 (19) 2 fields, G

35.2

1% - -

1–69

>72

0.67

Brazil [22]

34 (34) / 34 (34)

40 in 20 (25) 2 fields, P

35.4

- - -

7

120

0.48

Hungary [23]

171 (171) / 165 (165)

40 in 20 (26) or 50 in 25 (33) 2 fields, P

35.4 or 43.2

- - -

42

>60

0.44

ICRF-UK [24]

228 (228) / 239 (239)

15 in 3 (5–7) 2 fields, P

22.5

- 10% -

<2

60

0.64

Stockholm-I [25]

424 (424) / 425 (425)

25 in 5 (5–7) 2 fields, G

37.5

- 12% -

<7

107

0.74

MRC-II [26]

139 (139) / 140 (140)

40 in 20 (28) 2 fields, P

35.4

1% 5% 4%

<7

>60

0.83

NW-UK [27]

143 (143) / 141 (141)

20 in 4 (4) 3 field, P

30.0

- 1% 3%

<7

96

0.57

Sweden [28]

583 (573) / 585 (574)

25 in 5 (5) 3–4 fields, P

37.5

3% 1%§ -

<7

>60

0.82

Stockholm-II [29]

272 (272) / 285 (285)

25 in 5 (5–7) 4 fields, P

37.7

-------5%------

<7

50

0.88

Dutch [38]

924 (908) / 937 (897)

25 in 5 (5) 4 fields, P

37.5

3% 2% ?

<7

24.9

0.81

  1. Note: EORTC indicates European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; ICRF-UK, Imperial Cancer Research Fund United Kingdom; MRC, Medical Research Council; NW-UK, Northwest Region Rectal Cancer Group United Kingdom; VASOG, Veterans Administration Surgical Oncology Group. * Total dose in Gy, number of fractions, (duration of treatment in days), number of treatment fields, target volume (G, guitar-shaped; P, pelvic). † 0 indicates per cent of patients receiving no treatment; <1, percent receiving less than planned treatment; >1, percent receiving more than planned treatment. ‡ Based on independent assessment by five reviewers using the Detsky instrument10. § 5% of patients also received RT over >7 days, and 8% of patients received radiation through a two portal beam.