Table 1 Patients' baseline and disease characteristics

Median age, years (range)

Gender, n (%):

   Male

   Female

WHO performance status, n (%)

   0

   1

TN clinical stage, n (%)

   T3N0

   T2N1

   T3N1

   T2N2

   T3N2

   T4N2

Median clinical tumour size per MRI, cm (range)

Median tumour distance from anal verge, cm (range)

Type of surgery^a, n (%)

   Low anterior resection

   Coloanal reconstruction

   Abdominoperineal resection

   Pelvic exenteration