In exploratory analyses, significant predictors for 3-year disease-free survival were pathological stage (T0-1 vs. T2 or T3; P less than .00001), nodal status (N0 vs. N1-2; P less than .0001), and close margins (1 mm or less vs. greater than 1 mm; P less than .0001).
The investigations concluded that oxaliplatin increases toxicity (primarily diarrhea) without affecting pathological response, that 50 Gy over 5 weeks is compatible with surgery and may help to sterilize the surgical sample, and that capecitabine has activity equivalent to that of 5-FU, without the need for intravenous infusion.
The ACCORD 12 trial was supported in part by Roche and Sanofi-Aventis together with a grant of the French National Program of Research Programmes Hospitaliers de Recherche Clinique. It was conducted under the auspices of Institut National du Cancer. Dr. Gerard and Dr. Goodman reported that they had no relevant financial disclosures.