5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) for node positive rectal cancer after radiochemotherapy (R-CT) and surgery

Aims: To evaluate the activity and safety of postoperative adjuvant CT of 8 cycles FOLFOX4 in patients with node-positive rectal cancer after neoadjuvant R-CT and surgery. Methods: We included 41 pts with preoperative node positive adenocarcinoma of the rectum (inferior margin within 12cm from the anal verge) and no evidence of distant metastases (cT1–4 N+ M0) into this prospective single center study. The preoperative R-CT treatment consisted of 50.4Gy (1.8Gy per day, five days per week) and 5-fluorouracil, given in a 120-hour continuous intravenous infusion at a dose of 1000mg/m2 per day during the first and f…