In the present study, we show that specific molecular features relevant to rapid tumour repopulation or to intrinsic radiosensitivity (i.e. high proliferation index, p53-mutations or c-erbB-2 overexpression) are linked with high local relapse rate following postoperative radiotherapy, which can be averted by using large radiotherapy fractions and treatment acceleration. Here, TP53 is linked to neoplasm.