Table 1 Baseline characteristics (n = 69)

Age, years

 Median age

61.0

 Range

39–89

Gender, n (%)

 Male

47 (68)

 Female

22 (32)

ECOG performance status, n (%)

 0

47 (78)

 1

13 (22)

TN clinical stage, n (%)

 T2N1-N2

2 (3)

 T3N0

12 (17)

 T3N1-N2

44 (64)

 T4N0

3 (4)

 T4N1-N2

4 (6)

M clinical stage, n (%)

 Mx

10 (14)

 M0

57 (83)

 M1

2 (3)

Tumor distance from anal verge, n (%)

 Mean ± SD (cm)

5.92 ± 3.68

 Upper third (≥12 cm)

20 (33)

 Middle third (6–12 cm)

26 (42)

 Lower third (≤6 cm)

27 (43)