title: Phase II study of preoperative irradiation and chemotherapy with capecitabine in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma.
abstract: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has demonstrated to improve resectability and local control in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). 5-fluorouracil (5FU) has traditionally been the drug of choice in combination with radiation therapy. Early studies of capecitabine (CAP) have shown its potential to replace 5FU. Between March 2002 and April 2005, 31 patients with newly diagnosed LARC (T2 N+ 2 cases, T3 N0-N+ 25 cases, T4 N0-N+ 4 cases) received the combined treatment. Surgery was planned 6-8 weeks after chemoradiation. Adjuvant chemotherapy with 5FU plus leucovorin for 6 courses was given in pN+ patients. All patients completed the planned treatment. Grade 3 acute toxicity was observed in 5 patients (16%). Nineteen patients (61%) had a downstaging. A complete pathological remission was observed in 3 cases (10%). Median follow-up is of 23 months (range; 6-36 months). The results of this experience confirm the data of the literature about the feasibility and efficacy of a neoadjuvant treatment with radiation and CAP in LARC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Cagliari University, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Lay
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caraul
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dessì
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murtas
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Deidda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farigu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maxia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casula
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amichetti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil