Preoperative irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin plus concurrent radiotherapy in rectal cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate results of preoperative irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin plus radiotherapy for locally-advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with locally-advanced rectal cancer were treated with preoperative irradiation 46 Gy plus concurrent chemotherapy(irinotecan 10 mg/m(2)/d d1-d5, d22-d26, 5-FU 350 mg/m(2)/d d1-d5, d22-d26, and leucovorin 20 mg/m(2) d1-d5, d22-d26), followed by radical surgery.

Results: There were no treatment-related deaths.