[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with combination of S-1 and CPT-11 in advanced rectal cancer - a case report]

We report a case of advanced rectal cancer successfully treated with a combination of S-1 and CPT-11 as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The patient, a 61-year-old man, had a rectal cancer with pelvic viscera invasion and severe stenosis. After colostomy for removing stenosis, he was treated with a combination of S-1 and CPT-11 (S-1 120 mg/body day on day 1-14, CPT-11 120 mg/body/day on day 1 and day 15, every 4 weeks). Seven courses of treatment resulted in a marked reduction of the primary tumor and disappearance of invasion. Subsequently, rectal amputation for curative intent was done. No surgical complication was observed. On microscopic examination, only a few tumor cells were detected in the granulation tissue of the resected rectum and no tumor cells in dissected LNs. This case demonstrates the effectiveness and safety in a neoadjuvant setting of a combination of S-1 and irinotecan for rectal cancer.