Role of FDG-PET as predictive biomarker of pathologic complete response (pCR) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with capecitabine-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NACR).

e21118 Background: A favourable outcome is associated with pCR in LARC treated with NACR; pCR prediction through functional imaging may help the prospective evaluation of management strategies alternative to standard surgery. The aim of this prospective study was to identify whether FDG-PET activity and early/late response predicted independently pCR. Methods: Patients with histologically diagnosed cT3-4 and/or N+ primary rectal cancer were...