Significance of Anemia in Outcomes After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

The present large UK study examined patients receiving NCRT for magnetic resonance imaging-proven, locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma. Our findings have demonstrated that patients who were anemic at presentation have higher regression grades (less regression) in response to the treatment than nonanemic patients. This trend appeared to persist despite radiologic disease stage at presentation. Anemia at presentation was also associated with increased mortality rates compared with that of nonanemic patients.