Inclusion Criteria:

- adult patients, 18-75 years of age;

- histologically confirmed locally advanced rectal cancer;

- measurable disease;

- ECOG performance status 0-1;

- no prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy for rectal cancer.

Exclusion Criteria:

- prior treatment with Avastin;

- prior radiotherapy to pelvic region, or previous cytotoxic chemotherapy;

- previous history of malignancy (other than basal and squamous cell cancer of the
skin, or in situ cancer of the cervix);

- history or evidence of CNS disease;

- clinically significant cardiovascular disease;

- chronic treatment with high dose aspirin (>325mg/day) or NSAID.