Trial Procedures
tumor, bowel obstruction, CT-predicted T stage
TUMOR, BOWEL OBSTRUCTION, COLON CANCER
The initial factorial (2 × 2) design randomly assigned participants 2:1 to NAC-surgery-AC (NAC group) versus surgery-AC (control group), with The eligibility criteria included biopsy-confirmed colon cancer, CT-predicted T3-4 with extramural extension ≥ 5 mm (modified to ≥ 1 mm after the pilot phase), M0, and being fit for both surgery and chemotherapy. Patients with bowel obstruction were eligible if first defunctioned with a stoma.Treatment allocations were done by telephone or internet, using a minimized random assignment procedure balancing for age, CT-predicted T stage and N stage (T3/T4; Nx/N0/N1/N2), site of tumor, chosen chemotherapy (oxaliplatin-fluorouracil [OxFU]/OxCap), and defunctioning colostomy (yes/no).National and institutional approvals were obtained for the Protocol (online only). Patients provided written informed consent. An Independent Data Monitoring Committee reviewed the accumulating data yearly.