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    Table 1. Abbreviations

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    Outcome measures

    The main efficacy outcomes were organ preservation (including avoiding a permanent stoma), clinical response, survival (including OS, PFS and disease-free survival), disease recurrence, distant metastases, change in tumour staging, need for further surgery, quality of life and functional outcomes. The main safety outcomes were mortality, proctitis, rectal bleeding and radiation toxicity. Some of the measures used are detailed in the following paragraphs.

    Clinical complete response

    No residual tumour is visible on endoscopy palpable on DRE or detected on MRI. No further treatment is necessary, and the person needs regular close follow-up only (similar to the 'watch-and-wait' policy).

    EORTC QLQ-C30/CR29

    EORTC QLQ-C30 is a questionnaire to measure the quality of life of people with cancer, which covers a person's physical, psychological and social functions. EORTC QLQ-CR29 is the colorectal cancer-specific module of the EORTC QLQ questionnaire.

    LARS score

    The LARS score is a scoring system for assessment of bowel dysfunction following a low anterior resection for rectal cancer.

    Clavien–Dindo classification

    The Clavien–Dindo Classification is used to rank the severity of a surgical complication, based on the type of therapy needed to correct the complication. The scale consists of several grades (Grade I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb and V), whereby Grade I is the mildest and Grade V is the most severe.

    Tumour staging

    The TNM classification system for malignant tumours is used to describe the stage of a cancer. 'T' describes the size and location of the primary tumour, including whether it has invaded surrounding tissue. 'N' describes the extent of which the cancer has spread to local/regional lymph nodes. 'M' describes the degree of distant metastasis. The following classification applies to colorectal cancer:

    • T0: There is no evidence of colorectal cancer.

    • T1: The tumour has grown into the submucosa.

    • T2: The tumour has grown into the muscularis propria.

    • T3: The tumour has grown through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues.

    • T4a: The tumour has penetrated the surface of the visceral peritoneum, meaning that it has grown through all layers of the colon.

    • T4b: The tumour has grown into, or has attached to, other organs or structures.