New drug cocktail aims to wipe out rectal cancer before surgery

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial * Age 18 years or greater * Be fully active, able to carry on all pre-disease performance without restriction or Restricted in physically strenuous activity but able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature (e.g., light house work, office work) * Pathologically proven diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rectum (located up to 15 cm from the anal verge). Diagnosis of rectal adenocarcinoma must be obtained by biopsy technique that does not completely excise the lesion (e.g., fine needle aspiration, core needle biopsy) * Clinically determined to be stage T3 or T4, N0-N2, and M0 * Contrast-enhanced imaging of the abdomen by CT; MRI rectal protocol; Chest x-ray (or CT) of the chest All within 56 days prior to registration to exclude distant metastases and provide local tumor stage * Adequate bone marrow function * Adequate renal and liver function * No active second cancers * Be willing and able to comply with all aspects of the protocol * Female patients of childbearing potential should have a negative pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication * Female patients of childbearing potential should be willing to use two methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication * Male patients should agree to abstinence or use of an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy * Zubrod Performance Status 0-2 * CBC/differential obtained within 28 days prior to registration on study, with adequate bone marrow function defined as follows: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,200 cells/mm3 Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm3 Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb ≥ 8.0 g/dl is acceptable) * Adequate hepatic function within within 28 days before registration on this study: total bilirubin must be ≤ ULN (upper limit of normal) for the lab unless the patient has a bilirubin elevation \> ULN to 1.5 x ULN due to Gilbert's disease or similar syndrome involving slow conjugation of bilirubin; and AST and ALT must be ≤3 x ULN for the lab If AST and/or ALT is ≥ ULN but ≤ 3 x ULN, serologic testing for Hepatitis B and C must be performed and results for viral infection must be negative * Adequate renal function within 28 days before randomization defined as serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN for the lab or calculated creatinine clearance \> 30 mL/min * International normalized ratio of prothrombin time (INR) within 28 days before randomization must be ≤ ULN for the lab. Patients who are therapeutically treated with an agent such as warfarin may participate if they are on a stable dose and no underlying abnormality in coagulation parameters exists per medical history * Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS-related illnesses) or known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease must: Have a CD4 count ≥ 200 cells/μL within 30 days before randomization Be on a stable regimen of antiretroviral therapy Have no evidence of opportunistic infection Exclusion Criteria: * Age less than 18 years * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of three years * Prior systemic chemotherapy for colorectal cancer; note that prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowed. * Prior radiotherapy to the region of your present study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields * Severe, active comorbidity, defined as follows: Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last twelve months Transmural myocardial infarction within the last six months Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy within 30 days prior to registration Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) based upon current CDC definition; note, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol. The need to exclude patients with AIDS from this protocol is necessary because the treatments involved in this protocol may be significantly immunosuppressive Evidence of uncontrolled seizures, central nervous system disorders, or psychiatric disability judged by the investigator to be clinically significant, precluding informed consent, or interfering with compliance of oral drug intake Known, existing uncontrolled coagulopathy. Patients on therapeutic anticoagulation may be enrolled provided that they have been clinically stable on anti-coagulation for at least two weeks * Evidence of grade two or greater peripheral neuropathy * Major surgery within 28 days of study enrollment * Prior allergic reaction to oxaliplatin or capecitabine * Any evidence of distant metastases * A synchronous primary colon carcinoma * Lack of physical integrity of the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., severe Crohn's disease that results in malabsorption; significant bowel resection that would make one concerned about the absorption of capecitabine) or malabsorption syndrome that would preclude feasibility of oral chemotherapy (capecitabine) * Participation in any investigational drug study within 28 days of study enrollment