Phase I/II trial of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and radiation for rectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility and efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy (RT) with concurrent capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX-RT) in patients with rectal cancer.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with locally advanced (T3/T4) or low-lying rectal cancer received preoperative RT (total dose, 50.4 Gy). Capecitabine was administered concurrently at 825 mg/m2 bid on days 1 to 14 and 22 to 35, with oxaliplatin starting at 50 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 with planned escalation steps of 10 mg/m2. End points of the phase II study included downstaging, histopathologic tumor regression, resectability of T4 disease, and sphincter preservation in patients with low-lying tumors.


RESULTS
Dose-limiting grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity was observed in two of six patients treated with 60 mg/m2 of oxaliplatin. Thus, 50 mg/m2 was the recommended dose for the phase II study. Toxicities observed at this dose level were generally mild, with only two cases of short-lived grade 3 diarrhea. Myelosuppression, mainly leukopenia, was restricted to grade 2 in 19% of patients. T-category downstaging was achieved in 17 (55%) of 31 operated patients, and 68% of patients had negative lymph nodes. Pathologic complete response was found in 19% of the resected specimens. Radical surgery with free margins could be performed in 79% of patients with T4 disease, and 36% of patients with tumors < or = 2 cm from the dentate line had sphincter-saving surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative XELOX-RT is a feasible and well tolerated treatment. This regimen is proposed for phase III evaluation comparing standard fluorouracil-based therapy with XELOX chemoradiotherapy.
Rödel
Claus
C
Department of Radiotherapy, University of Erlangen, Universitätsstrasse 27, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. claus.roedel@strahlen.med.uni-erlangen.de
Grabenbauer
Gerhard G
GG
Papadopoulos
Thomas
T
Hohenberger
Werner
W
Schmoll
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Sauer
Rolf
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil