Is there a correlation between rectal cancer stage and dose response to radiotherapy?

Possibly. While some compelling data from Appelt et al. in 2013 reflected there may be a correlation between RT dose and rectal tumor response (Appelt et al., PMID 22763027), an extensive number of prospective trials examining the influence of boost doses of RT on pathologic response have produced mix results. These trials have mostly favored little to no benefit of higher RT doses on pathologic response. However, pathologic response is a poor endpoint (in my opinion) for evaluating the benefit ...