Table 4 Univariate and multivariate analyses for DFS and LRFS in the overall cohort

Gender: male/female

1.11 (0.65–1.91)

0.704

0.93 (0.47–1.85)

0.843

Age at operation

0.99 (0.96–1.01)

0.258

0.98 (0.95–1.01)

0.270

ASA score: I-II/III

2.53 (0.35–18.28)

0.359

1.45 (0.20-10.64)

0.713

Pre-nCRT CEA level (≥ 5/<5 ng/ml)

1.12 (0.65–1.91)

0.682

1.19 (0.60–2.36)

0.622

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (yes/no)

0.86 (0.51–1.48)

0.718

1.30 (0.73–2.33)

0.370

0.81 (0.41–1.62)

0.662

1.24 (0.61–2.54)

0.552

Histology ( Poor, Mucinous or signet/moderate)

2.72 (1.29–5.77)

0.009

1.24 (0.57–2.72)

0.587

3.57 (1.26–10.09)

0.017

1.17 (0.42–3.25)

0.761

Operative type: laparoscopic/open

0.37 (0.21–0.66)

0.001

0.56 (0.29–1.09)

0.088

0.36 (0.18–0.73)

0.004

0.65 (0.29–1.46)

0.292

Lymphatic invasion (yes/no)

5.12 (2.64–9.20)

< 0.001

1.33 (0.57–3.10)

0.508

4.91 (1.61–14.93)

0.005

2.38 (0.88–6.44)

0.089

Perineural invasion (yes/no)

1.24 (0.65–2.36)

0.516

2.44 (0.95–7.42)

0.088

Pathological T stage (T₃-T₄/T₁-T₂)

1.84 (0.90–3.77)

0.094

2.89 (1.02–8.24)

0.047

1.77 (0.59–5.32)

0.311

Pathological mesorectal LN status (positive/negative)

3.00 (1.51–5.96)

0.002

1.70 (0.79–3.65)

0.174

5.93 (2.67–13.18)

< 0.001

4.16 (1.76–9.87)

0.001

Pathological LPN metastasis (yes/no)

4.00 (2.28–7.02)

< 0.001

3.11 (1.68–5.77)

< 0.001

4.56 (1.60-12.98)

0.004

2.00 (0.65–6.17)

0.228

Postoperative complication (yes/no)

1.39 (0.43–4.47)

0.578

2.70 (0.82–8.91)

0.103

Grade 3–4 Postoperative complication (no/yes)

1.84 (1.01–3.38)

0.049

1.71 (0.92–3.20)

0.093

2.25 (1.07–4.73)

0.033

2.12 (0.87–4.61)

0.058

Adjuvant therapy (yes/no)

1.36 (0.52–4.89)

0.542

2.31 (0.45–9.32)

0.635