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Introduction. A favorable outcome of the treatment of patients with rectal cancer in the early stages is not a difficult task, as it is easily solved thanks to only surgical intervention. The biggest problem is the treatment of patients with late-stage (III and IV) rectal cancer. The use of radiation therapy is an integral niche in the complex treatment of rectal cancer. Complete or partial clinical response of the tumor to neoadjuvant therapy is a favorable factor that correlates with an increase in overall and recurrence-free survival of patients with rectal cancer. Aim. To conduct an analysis of the effectiveness of radiotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in the complex treatment of rectal cancer based on the results of the tumor's clinical response to the treatment. Research results. In both groups of patients, the tumor was localized in the middle ampullary part of the rectum in 52.6% of the main group and 55.4% of the control group. In the lower ampullary section of the rectum in 22 patients of the main group (38.6%) and in 22 (39.3%) of the control group, respectively. The number of patients with tumor localization in the upper ampullary region was 5 (8.8%) and 35 (5.3%), respectively. Positive dynamics in the form of replacement of tumor tissue by fibrosis was observed in 89 (78.7%) patients in the compared groups. A complete clinical response was noted in 2 (3.5%) patients in the main group and in 1 (1.8%) in the control group. In 86 patients in the compared groups, II and III degrees of tumor regression according to TRG grading were recorded in 43 (75.4%) patients in the main group and 43 (76.8%) in the control group. Conclusions. In both groups, the tumor was most often localized in the middle ampullary part of the rectum, 52.6% in the main group and 55.4% of the control group. Positive dynamics in the form of replacement of tumor tissue by fibrosis was observed in 89 (78.7%) patients in the compared groups. A complete clinical response was noted in 2 (3.5%) patients in the main group and in 1 (1.8%) in the control group. Unsatisfactory dynamics in the form of IV and V degrees of tumor regression according to the TRG grading were noted in 12 (21.05%) patients of the main group and in 12 (21.4%) - in the control group.