{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.029745808545159545, 'fraction_numerical': 0.03677663601946998, 'mean_word_length': 4.9105431309904155, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Preoperative capecitabine, oxaliplatin and high-dose pelvic conformal radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

3646 Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has proven to improve resectability and local control in LARC. The aim of the present study is to evaluate activity and toxicity of oral capecitabine and oxaliplatin administered concurrently with high dose pelvic conformal radiotherapy as neo-adjuvant treatment of LARC.


METHODS
Capecitabine 825 mg/sqm bid (days 1 to 40) and oxaliplatin 60 mg/sqm iv every 2 weeks (3 administrations) were given concomitantly with pelvic conformal radiotherapy 1.8 Gy daily up to 45 Gy followed by a 5-fraction boost up to 54 Gy in 6 weeks. From February to November 2003, 16 patients (pts) entered the study: 11 males, 5 females, median age 70 years (range 61-78). Clinical stage, determined by CT, was T3N0-1 in 13, T4N1 in 3 pts.


RESULTS
To date 14 pts are fully evaluable (2 too early): a clinical response was observed in 11/14. All pts underwent a R0 surgical resection. Pathological complete response was verified in 4 pts, a minimal microscopic residuum was found in 2 pts. Tumor down-staging by TNM criteria was observed in 10/14 pts. A conservative surgical procedure was performed in 5/9 pts previously planned for abdominoperineal resection. The treatment was well tolerated: no G4 toxicity; G3 diarrhea occurred in 3 pts, G2 leukopenia in 3, G2 anemia in 1.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary data show that the association of capecitabine and oxaliplatin with high dose pelvic conformal radiotherapy as preoperative treatment of LARC is well tolerated and seems active as regards pathological response rate and tumor down-staging, allowing sphincter sparing surgery in pts otherwise candidate to abdominoperineal resection. No significant financial relationships to disclose.