Improved overall survival for patients with rectal cancer since 1990: The effects of TME surgery and pre-operative radiotherapy

Population-based OS improved markedly since the introduction of TME surgery. With standardised TME surgery, pre-operative RT improved OS, whereas withholding pre-operative RT was associated with a poorer prognosis. The present study supports that pre-operative RT was correctly introduced as a standard treatment before TME surgery in our national guideline.