A combined strategy of SAGE and quantitative PCR Provides a 13-gene signature that predicts preoperative chemoradiotherapy response and outcome in rectal cancer.

Purpose: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the treatment of choice for rectal cancer (RC), but half of the patients do not respond, suffer unnecessary toxicities, and surgery delays. We aimed to develop a model that could predict a clinically meaningful response to CRT by using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsies.

Experimental Design: We first carried out an exploratory screening of candidate genes by using SAGE technology to evaluate dynamic changes in the RC transcriptome in selected refractory patients before and after CRT.