Our principal objectives in this trial will be to determine if short course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy can maintain morbidity at or below levels reported with concurrent 5FU (oral capecitabine if 5FU is unavailable), oxaliplatin, and radiotherapy, while maintaining response rates comparable to what would be expected with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy. If we can establish a T stage downstaging rate that is significantly better than 50% and if acute tolerance is acceptable, then we would consider this study as having provided sufficient pilot data to support including this approach as an arm in a multi-institution phase III trial. The long-term goal is improved overall control of disease by delivering better chemotherapy earlier.
To determine if short course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy can maintain morbidity at or below levels reported with concurrent 5FU, oxaliplatin, and radiotherapy, while maintaining response rates comparable to what would be expected with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy.