Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Rectal Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2018-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in
chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or
die. Combining radiation therapy and chemotherapy may shrink the tumor so that it can be
removed during surgery.
PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of radiation therapy and chemotherapy
followed by surgery and combination chemotherapy in treating patients who have stage II or
stage III rectal cancer.