Preoperative hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (HART) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) immediately followed by surgery. A prospective phase II trial

The actuarial LC at 5 years is 91.7%, although we are dealing with stages II-III LARC, mainly located in the lower rectum (median distance=5 cm). The pattern of failure is dominated by distant metastases and treatment intensification will obviously require a systemic approach.