Preoperative chemotherapy for locally advanced resectable colon cancer - a new treatment paradigm in colon cancer?

Since 2004, the treatment of locally advanced, resectable colon cancer including high risk stage II or stage III disease is surgery followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with an oxaliplatin containing regimen. Combination therapy with oxaliplatin and a fluoropyrimidine, including capecitabine, has shown clear superiority to fluoropyrimidine therapy alone (FU/LV) in mitigating risk of recurrence and improving long-term survival (1-6).