Study: Capecitabine Prior to Surgery Effective for Advanced Rectal Cancer

Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who are treated with capecitabine prior to surgery may be able to have a less radical surgical procedure, according to researchers at Chungnam National University in Taejon, South Korea.

According to the study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics, researchers treated 40 patients between July 1999 and December 2000 with locally advanced rectal cancer. The patients received preoperative chemoradiation.

Oral chemotherapy consisted of 2 cycles of capecitabine and leucovorin during radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was given for 14 days followed by 7 days of rest. Surgery was then performed six weeks after the completion of preoperative chemoradiation.

Investigators report that preoperative chemoradiation with capecitabine was safe, well tolerated and an effective treatment for rectal cancer and the drug not appear to increase post-surgical complications.

Treatment with capecitabine also increased the possibility of sphincter-preserving surgery in distal rectal cancer.

Other Sources: International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics