Randomized Study on Neoadjuvant Radio-Chemotherapy in Rectal Carcinoma Dukes B and C

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with histologically verified operable rectal cancer Dukes B and C (Stage II, T2-4, N0-3, M0), R0 * Age: 18-80 years * Karnofsky Performance Status \> 80 * Adequate bone marrow reserve (leukocytes \> 4,000, thrombocytes \> 105/mm3, Hb \> 10g %), renal and hepatic functions (total bilirubin and creatinine \< 1.25 x ULN) Exclusion Criteria: * Colon cancer * R1, R2; carcinosis peritonei * Start of treatment \> 42 days postop; other adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy * Previous application of a murine or chimeric monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment * Medical therapy with steroids, cyclosporin or antithymocyte globulin within 3 months pre-study * Known hypersensitivity to animal protein * Serious concomitant disease: HIV, chronically inflammatory intestine, diabetes mell. gravis, cerebral seizure disorder, et al. * Pregnancy or lactation