Pathological lymph node response after immunotherapy-based total neoadjuvant therapy supports local excision for organ preservation in locally advanced rectal cancer: a propensity-score weighted analysis.

The immunotherapy-based total neoadjuvant therapy (iTNT) has improved response rates in locally advanced rectal cancer (locally advanced rectal cancer); however, a majority of patients do not achieve clinical complete response (cCR) and still require total mesorectal excision.

This study aims to assess the feasibility of local excision in locally advanced rectal cancer by comparing pathological lymph node responses after three neoadjuvant regimens.