Significance of perineural and lymphovascular invasion in locally advanced rectal cancer treated by preoperative chemoradiotherapy and radical surgery: Can perineural invasion be an indication of adjuvant chemotherapy?

•We investigate the prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion and perineural invasion in stage II–III rectal cancer.•Perineural invasion is a more significant factor for recurrence and survival than lymphovascular invasion in rectal cancer.•Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly reduces the recurrence-free survival in positive perineural arm, not positive lymphovascular arm.•Perineural invasion can be an indicator that could benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.