pubmed-article:16132481 | pubmed:abstractText | In advanced rectal cancer, chemoradiation can induce downstaging until complete disappearance of the tumor or its persistence in minimal form. The complete sterilized and the minimal residual disease often are considered similar. We evaluated the specific incidence of these two conditions and analyzed their impact in terms of local recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival. | lld:pubmed |