All patients were treated with curative intent according to institutional protocols with chemoradiation and IGABT. Reporting followed the GEC-ESTRO recommendations (ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si1.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=67c4afd2cbb47b73462f36c0c975acb7" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dub>0.1cmub>, ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub>), applying bioeffect modeling (linear quadratic model) with equieffective doses (EQD2up>3up>ub>3ub>). Morbidity was scored according to the CTC-AE 3.0. Dose–effect relationships were assessed using comparisons of mean doses, the probit model and log rank tests on event-free periods.
960 patients were included. The median follow-up was 25.4 months. Twenty point one percent of the patients had grade 1 events, 6.0% grade 2, 1.6% grade 3 and 0.1%, grade 4. The mean Dub>ICRUub>, ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si1.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=67c4afd2cbb47b73462f36c0c975acb7" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dub>0.1cmub>, and ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub> were respectively: 66.2 ± 9.1 Gy, 72.9 ± 11.9 Gy, and 62.8 ± 7.6 Gy. Increase of dose was associated with increase in severity of single endpoints and overall rectal morbidity (grade 1–4) (p < 0.001–0.026), except for stenosis (p = 0.24–0.31). The probit model showed significant relationships between the ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub>, ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si1.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=67c4afd2cbb47b73462f36c0c975acb7" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>0.1cmub>, and Dup>3up>ub>ICRUub> and the probability of grade 1–4, 2–4, and 3–4 rectal events. The equieffective ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dub>2cmub> for a 10% probability for overall rectal grade ⩾ 2 morbidity was 69.5 Gy (p < 0.0001). After sorting patients according to 6 ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub> levels, less favorable outcome was observed in the high dose subgroups, for bleeding, proctitis, fistula, and overall rectal morbidity. A ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub> ⩾ 75 Gy was associated with a 12.5% risk of fistula at 3 years versus 0–2.7% for lower doses (p > 0.001). A ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub> < 65 Gy was associated with a two times lower risk of proctitis than ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub> ⩾ 65 Gy.up>3up>
Significant correlations were established between late rectal morbidity, overall and single endpoints, and dose–volume (ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dub>2cmub>, ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si1.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=67c4afd2cbb47b73462f36c0c975acb7" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>0.1cmub>) and dose-point (Dup>3up>ub>ICRUub>) parameters. A ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dub>2cmub> ⩽ 65 Gy is associated with more minor and less frequent rectal morbidity, whereas a ulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0167814016311549&_mathId=si2.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0167814016311549&_rdoc=1&_issn=01678140&md5=72a51555506b8bc3fa6aa05c3b687ca4" title="Click to view the MathML source">Dup>3up>ub>2cmub> ⩾ 75 Gy is associated with more major and more frequent rectal morbidity.up>3up>