Neoadjuvant FOLFOXIRI Versus Immediate Surgery for Stage II and III Colon Cancers

BACKGROUND:

In patients with high risk stage II and stage III colon cancer (CC), curative surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX or CAPOX regimens has become a standard treatment. However, 20 to 30 % of these patients will develop distant metastasis, which ultimately result in death. Perioperative chemotherapy is a promising strategy with potential benefits that could be more effective at eradicating micrometastases. Moreover, shrinking tumor before surgery not only facilitate removal of all the tumor by the surgeon but also reduce tumor cell spreading during the procedure. With recent advances in radiology, preoperative computed tomography allows a good prediction of tumor stage (wall penetration and nodal involvement) prior to surgery. The investigators conducted the present randomized study to explore whether perioperative chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI regimen compared with postoperative chemotherapy could improve disease-free survival in patients with radiologically staged, High-risk, but resectable Stage II or III colon cancer.

OBJECTIVE:

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI regimen compared to postoperative chemotherapy in patients with High-risk Resectable Stage II and III colon cancer. Secondary objectives are efficacy in terms of R0 resection rate, overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), down-staging of primary tumors, and tolerability of perioperative therapy and postoperative complications.