CORE: Capecitabine, Oxaliplatin, Radiotherapy and Excision

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the rectum (Tumour ≤ 12 cm from the anal verge) * No evidence of distant spread * No prior therapy for chemotherapy or radiation therapy for rectal cancer * Patient considered locally advanced by MRI: * Tumour beyond mesorectal fascia, or * Tumour ≤ 2mm from mesorectal fascia, or * T3 tumour \< 5cm from anal verge * For female patient of childbearing potential, neither pregnant nor breastfeeding, and under active contraception * No peripheral neuropathy \> grade1 * ECOG PS ≤ 2 * ANC \> 1,500 x 10\^9/L * Platelets \> 100,000 x 10\^9/L * Creatinine \< 1.5 x IULN * Bilirubin \< 1.5 IULN * SGPT (ALT) \< 2.5 IULN * No pre-existing condition which would deter chemoradiotherapy * No uncontrolled diarrhoea or fecal incontinence * No significant small bowel (\> 200cc or 6X6X6cm) delineated within the radiation fields * No other serious uncontrolled concomitant illness * Informed consent signed The above information is not intended to contain all considerations relevant to a patient's potential participation in a clinical trial.