Prognostic Value of Tumor Regression Grade Combined with Pathological Lymph Node Status in Initially Node-Positive Rectal Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy

Background The prognostic value of tumor regression grade (TRG) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer is inconsistent in the literature. Both TRG and post-therapy lymph node (ypN) status could reflect the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy. Here, we explored whether TRG combined with ypN status could be a prognostic factor for MRI-based lymph node-positive (cN+) rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.