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Chemotherapy before or after Chemoradiation Followed by Surgery or Non-operative Management in Treating Patients with Previously Untreated Stage II-III Rectal Cancer

Trial Status: closed to accrual

This randomized phase II trial studies how well chemotherapy before or after chemoradiation followed by surgery or non-operative management works in treating patients with previously untreated stage II-III rectal cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as FOLFOX regimen (leucovorin calcium, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin), and CapeOX (oxaliplatin and capecitabine), work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high energy x rays to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether giving chemotherapy before or after chemoradiation is more effective in treating rectal cancer. Additional chemotherapy may reduce the number of patients that require surgery.