TRIAL DATA
Chemotherapy alone may be as effective as chemoradiation before rectal cancer surgery — Journal of Clinical Oncology
The CONVERT trial compared neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CAPOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) versus chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer with uninvolved mesorectal fascia. This phase III trial reports final results on whether chemotherapy alone before surgery can achieve similar outcomes to the standard approach of chemoradiation, potentially sparing patients radiation-related side effects.
What this means
For patients with locally advanced rectal cancer where the tumor hasn't reached the outer layer of tissue around the rectum, chemotherapy alone before surgery might be an option instead of chemoradiation. This could reduce radiation-related side effects while maintaining treatment effectiveness.