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Chemotherapy regimens
Source: Rectal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: February 12, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Context: Treatment Option Overview for Rectal Cancer / Chemoradiation Therapy
Table 7 describes the chemotherapy regimens used to treat rectal cancer.
| Regimen Name | Drug Combination | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| 5-FU = fluorouracil; AIO = Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie; bid = twice a day; IV = intravenous; LV = leucovorin. | ||
| AIO or German AIO | LV, 5-FU, and irinotecan | Irinotecan (100 mg/m2) and LV (500 mg/m2) administered as 2-h infusions on d 1, followed by 5-FU (2,000 mg/m2) IV bolus administered via ambulatory pump weekly over 24 h, 4 times a y (52 wk). |
| CAPOX | Capecitabine and oxaliplatin | Capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2) bid on d 1–14, plus oxaliplatin (70 mg/m2) on d 1 and 8 every 3 wk. |
| Douillard | LV, 5-FU, and irinotecan | Irinotecan (180 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on d 1, LV (200 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on d 1 and 2, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus, then 5-FU (600 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 22 h every 2 wk on d 1 and 2. |
| FOLFIRI | LV, 5-FU, and irinotecan | Irinotecan (180 mg/m2) and LV (400 mg/m2) administered as 2-h infusions on d 1, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus administered on d 1, then 5-FU (2,400–3,000 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 46 h every 2 wk. |
| FOLFOX4 | Oxaliplatin, LV, and 5-FU | Oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on day 1, LV (200 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on d 1 and 2, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus, then 5-FU (600 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 22 h every 2 wk on d 1 and 2. |
| FOLFOX6 | Oxaliplatin, LV, and 5-FU | Oxaliplatin (85–100 mg/m2) and LV (400 mg/m2) administered as 2-h infusions on d 1, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus on d 1, then 5-FU (2,400–3,000 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 46 h every 2 wk. |
| FOLFOXIRI | Irinotecan, oxaliplatin, LV, 5-FU | Irinotecan (165 mg/m2) administered as a 60-min infusion, then concomitant infusion of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2) and LV (200 mg/m2) over 120 min, followed by 5-FU (3,200 mg/m2) administered as a 48-h continuous infusion. |
| FUFOX | 5-FU, LV, and oxaliplatin | Oxaliplatin (50 mg/m2) plus LV (500 mg/m2) plus 5-FU (2,000 mg/m2) administered as a 22-h continuous infusion on d 1, 8, 22, and 29 every 36 d. |
| FUOX | 5-FU plus oxaliplatin | 5-FU (2,250 mg/m2) administered as a continuous infusion over 48 h on d 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36 plus oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2) on d 1, 15, and 29 every 6 wk. |
| IFL (or Saltz) | Irinotecan, 5-FU, and LV | Irinotecan (125 mg/m2) plus 5-FU (500 mg/m2) IV bolus and LV (20 mg/m2) IV bolus administered weekly for 4 out of 6 wk. |
| XELOX | Capecitabine plus oxaliplatin | Oral capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2) administered bid for 14 d plus oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2) on d 1 every 3 wk. |
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Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice