American Cancer Society; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Swiss Re; Swiss Cancer Research foundation; Swiss Cancer League; Institut National du Cancer; La Ligue Contre le Cancer; Rossy Family Foundation; US National Cancer Institute; and the Susan G Komen Foundation.

Even though the information in the Nordic Cancer Registries in general can be considered more similar than any other collection of data from five different countries, there are numerous differences in registration routines, classification systems and inclusion of some tumors. These differences are important to be aware of when comparing time trends in the Nordic countries.

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NCT00904813 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

The SRT-delay schedule was a feasible alternative with low toxicity. The study indicated a downstaging effect of SRT if surgery was delayed.

BackgroundThe Stockholm III Trial randomized patients with primary operable rectal cancers to either short‐course radiotherapy (RT) with immediate surgery (SRT), short‐course RT with surgery delayed 4–8 weeks (SRT‐delay) or long‐course RT with surgery delayed 4–8 weeks. This preplanned interim analysis examined the pathological outcome of delaying surgery.MethodsPatients randomized to the SRT and SRT‐delay arms in the Stockholm III Trial between October 1998 and November 2010 were included, and data were collected in a prospective register. Additional data regarding tumour regression grade, according to Dworak, and circumferential margin were obtained by reassessment of histopathological slides.ResultsA total of 462 of 545 randomized patients had specimens available for reassessment. Patients randomized to SRT‐delay had earlier ypT categories, and a higher rate of pathological complete responses (11·8 versus 1·7 per cent; P = 0·001) and Dworak grade 4 tumour regression (10·1 versus 1·7 per cent; P < 0·001) than patients randomized to SRT without delay. Positive circumferential resection margins were uncommon (6·3 per cent) and rates did not differ between the two treatment arms.ConclusionShort‐course RT induces tumour downstaging if surgery is performed after an interval of 4–8 weeks.

Diabetes and blood pressure health screening, along with efforts to prevent development of obesity already in childhood, are necessary for individuals with IDs and ASD. We believe that there is a need for adapted community-based health promotion programmes to ensure more equitable health for these populations.

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