Comparison of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Regimens in Treating Stage II/III Rectal Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-11-15
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This randomized phase III trial is comparing the effectiveness of three adjuvant combination
chemotherapy regimens in treating patients who are receiving radiation therapy and
fluorouracil either before or after surgery for stage II or stage III rectal cancer. Drugs
used in chemotherapy, such as irinotecan, fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin, use
different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation
therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. It is not yet known which adjuvant
combination chemotherapy regimen is more effective in treating patients who are receiving
radiation therapy and fluorouracil either before or after surgery for rectal cancer.