Inclusion Criteria:

- Confirmed diagnosis of inoperable/recurrent rectal cancer

- Age > 18 years

- At least 1 measurable lesion should be present

- WHO performance score < 2

- Life expentancy of at least 12 weeks

- Subjects will be considered appropriate to receive systemic chemotherapy and pelvic
radiotherapy

- Documented informed consent to participate in the trial

Exclusion Criteria:

- Previous systemic chemotherapy

- Previous radiotherapy to the planned exposure area

- Subjects with distant metastases

- (a)white blood cell < 4.0x109/L (unless absolute neutrophil count is >2.0x109/L or
(b) Platelet count < 100x109/L

- Serum creatinine above the upper limit of the normal range

- (a) Serum bilirubin > 1.25 times the upper limit of the normal range or (b) Asparate
aminotransferase(AST) or Alanine amiontransferase (ALT) >2.5 times the upper limit of
the normal range

- Any severe concurrent medical condition which would make it undesirable, in the
clinician's opinion, for the patient to participate in the trial or which would
jeopardise compliance with the trial period

- Pregnancy or breast feeding. Women of childbearing age must use effective
contraception

- Previous or current malignancies at other sites, with the exception of adequately
treated in-situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri and basal or squamous cell carcinoma of
the skin

- Patient participation in other studies