Multi-factor analysis showed that GOLPH3 was an independent predictive factor for TRG (OR = 3.952; CI 1.655–10.327, P = 0.026) and tumor down-staging (OR = 2.951; CI 1.523–11.324, P = 0.021) (Tables 2, 3), suggesting GOLPH3 could reliably and independently predict sensitivity to nCRT in rectal cancer. This evidence concerns the gene GOLPH3 and rectal cancer.