We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety data of a combination regimen 
using weekly irinotecan in combination with capecitabine and concurrent 
radiotherapy (CapIri-RT) as neoadjuvant treatment in rectal cancer in a phase-II 
trial. Patients with rectal cancer clinical stages T3/4 Nx or N+ were recruited 
to receive irinotecan (50 mg m(-2) weekly) and capecitabine (500 mg m(-2) bid 
days 1-38) with a concurrent RT dose of 50.4 Gy. Surgery was scheduled 4-6 weeks 
after the completion of chemoradiation. A total of 36 patients (median age 62 
years; m/f: 27:9) including three patients with local recurrence were enclosed 
onto the trial. The median distance of the tumour from the anal verge was 5 cm. 
The main toxicity observed was (NCI-CTC grades 1/2/3/4 (n)): Anaemia 23/9/-/-; 
leucocytopenia 12/7/7/2, diarrhoea 13/15/4/-, nausea/vomiting 9/10/2/-, and 
increased activity of transaminases 3/3/1/-. One patient had a reversible 
episode of ventricular fibrillation during chemoradiation, most probably caused 
by capecitabine. The relative dose intensity was (median/mean (%)): irinotecan 
95/91, capecitabine 100/92). Thirty-four patients underwent surgery (anterior 
resection n=25; abdomino-perineal resection n=6; Hartmann's procedure n=3). 
R0-resection was accomplished in all patients. Two patients died in the 
postoperative course from septic complications. Pathological complete remission 
was observed in five out of 34 resected patients (15%), and nine patients showed 
microfoci of residual tumour (26%). After a median follow-up of 28 months one 
patient had developed a local recurrence, and five patients distant metastases. 
Three-year overall survival for all patients with surgery (excluding three 
patients treated for local relapse or with primary metastatic disease) was 80%. 
In summary, preoperative chemoradiation with CapIri-RT exhibits promising 
efficacy whereas showing managable toxicity. The local recurrence and distant 
failure rates observed after a median 28 months are low compared with standard 
5-fluorouracil based therapy.