OXALIPLATIN WITH RALTITREXED AND PREOPERATIVE RADIOTHERAPY IN T3-T4 EXTRAPERITONEAL RECTAL CANCER. A DOSE FINDING STUDY

/iv, respectively, while 9 patients were recruited at the last dose level. Neither grade 3-4 gastrointestinal nor neurological toxi- city were documented. Dose-limiting toxicity was documented in 2/9 subjects at the 130 mg/m 2 level consisting of grade 3 transient asymptomatic leukopenia. Thirteen patients devel- oped transient increase of one or more liver enzymes (grade 3-4) and 2 patients developed grade 3 perineal dermatitis. All patients received the programmed dose of radiotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen was not completed in 4 cases due to grade 2 protracted leukopenia. Conclusions: The maximum tolerated dose of oxaliplatin was not reached at the maximum dose level (IV); 130 mg/m 2 can therefore be defined as the recommended dose. The combina- tion of oxaliplatin with raltitrexed and radiotherapy can be considered feasible and well tolerated.