Meta-analysis of the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer

Table 1 Basic information of the 796 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer in the 15 included publications

Ref.	Country	Stage	Patient (n)	Age (years)	Sex (male/female)	TNM status	Median distance from anal verge (cm)	PD-L1 (status/score)	MMR/MSS (n)
Gao et al[14], 2022	China	II	11	57.1	9/2	cT3-4N0M0 or cT1-4N+M0	5.1 ± 2.1	NR	pMMR/MSS
Rahma et al[15], 2021	United States	II	90	55.7	60/30	T3-4/N+	NR	NR	NR
Zhou et al[41], 2022	China	II	23	55	14/9	II/III	1	NR	pMMR/MSS
Grassi et al[17], 2023	Italy	II	55	63	27/28	T3-4/N+	5	NR	dMMR: 2 L pMMR: 47; unknown: 6
Shamseddine et al[18], 2020	Lebanon	II	36	62.2	9/4	II/III	10	NR	pMMR/MSS
Wu et al[19], 2022	China	II	25	58	19/6	T3-4/N+	5.3	NR	pMMR/MSS
Xiao et al[9], 2024	China	II	67	-	-	II/III	< 5: 37.3%; ≥ 5, < 10: 56.7%; ≥ 10: 6%	NR	pMMR/MSS
Lin et al[20], 2021	China	II	30	57	17/13	T3-4/N+	4.7	(-): 66.7%; ≥ 1: 20%; unknown: 13.3%	dMMR: 1; pMMR: 28; unknown: 1
Lin et al[21], 2024	China	III	113	58	75/38	II/III	≤ 5: 49.6%; > 5: 50.4%	< 1: 14.2%; ≥ 1: 55.8%	pMMR: 42/105
Bando et al[22], 2022	Japan	IB	44	60.6	29/15	II/III	7	TPS ≥ 1: 75% (6/8); TPS < 1: 17% (5/30)	MSS: 39; MSI-H: 5
George et al[23], 2022	United States	II	45	NR	NR	II/III	NR	NR	NR
Salvatore et al[24], 2021	Italy	II	101	63	62/39	II/III	NR	NR	NR
Carrasco et al[25], 2023	North America	IB/II	26	66	13/13	II/III	NR	NR	NR
Xia et al[42], 2024	China	II	121	57	NR	II/III	< 5: 80.2%	NR	pMMR: 122; A group: 62; B group: 59
Wang et al[26], 2025	China	II	32	NR	23/9	T3/4	< 5: 40.6%	NR	pMMR/MSS

PD-L1: Programmed cell death-ligand 1; MMR: Mismatch repair; MSS: Microsatellite stability; pMMR: Proficient mismatch repair; NR: Not reported; dMMR: Defective mismatch repair; TPS: Tumor proportion score.

Table 2 Outcomes of the 796 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer in the 15 included publications (%)

Ref.	MPR	pCR	CCR	CR	R0 resection	Sphincter preservation	Surgical complications	Adverse effects, grade 3 or higher
Gao et al[14], 2022	27.30	54.50	18.20	54.50	100.0	100.0	NR	9.10
Rahma et al[15], 2021	NR	31.9	13.9	32	94	59.4	NR	48.2
Zhou et al[41], 2022	NR	20	43.5	25.2	NR	95.5	NR	17.4
Grassi et al[17], 2023	36.30	34.50	10.9	32.7	96.4	NR	NR	18
Shamseddine et al[18], 2020	67.5	37.5	NR	37.5	92.3	NR	NR	25
Wu et al[19], 2022	33.3	33.30	16	44	100	66.70	14.30	36
Xiao et al[9], 2024	NR	31.30	13.40	44.80	NR	94.70	NR	49.4
Lin et al[20], 2021	66.60	48.1	11.1	59.2	100	88.9	14.80	26.7
Lin et al[21], 2024	NR	39.8	1.7	41.6	96.2	94.2	10.5	16.8
Bando et al[22], 2022	38.80	31.85	2.70	30	pMMR: 70.2; dMMR: 80	pMMR: 87; dMMR: 100	31.50	18.2
George et al[23], 2022	NR	22.20	NR	31.1	NR	NR	NR	NR
Salvatore et al[24], 2021	60	23	NR	23	NR	NR	NR	8
Carrasco et al[25], 2023	NR	27	NR	24	NR	NR	NR	49
Xia et al[42], 2024	A group: 67.5; B group: 70.6	50	Total: 39.7; A group: 43.5; B group: 35.6	Total: 55.4; A group: 56.5; B group: 54.2	NR	A group: 82.3; B group: 86.4	NR	A group: 24.2; B group: 33.9
Wang et al[26], 2025	75	62.50	NR	NR	NR	87.50	NR	NR

MPR: Major pathological response; pCR: Pathological complete response; CCR: Clinical complete response; CR: Complete response; pMMR: Proficient mismatch repair; NR: Not reported; dMMR: Defective mismatch repair.