# A case of descending colon cancer achieving a complete response with preoperative capecitabine plus oxaliplatin therapy following colorectal stenting

## TL;DR

A 71-year-old woman with advanced colon cancer achieved a complete response after stenting and preoperative chemotherapy, with no remaining cancer cells found during surgery.

## Contribution

This case reports a rare complete response in both primary and metastatic colon cancer following stenting and preoperative CapeOX therapy.

## Key findings

- The primary tumor and metastases showed marked shrinkage after four cycles of preoperative CapeOX therapy.
- Histopathology confirmed a pathological complete response with no viable tumor cells or lymph node metastasis.
- The patient remained recurrence-free after surgery and postoperative chemotherapy.

## Abstract

A 71-year-old woman with obstructive descending colon cancer and synchronous lymph node and liver metastases underwent colorectal stenting to relieve colonic obstruction. Preoperative capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CapeOX) was administered for four cycles. Subsequent imaging showed marked shrinkage of the primary tumor, with nodal and hepatic lesions no longer detectable. Laparoscopic left hemicolectomy was then performed. Histopathological examination demonstrated a pathological complete response (CR), with no viable tumor cells in the primary lesion and no lymph node metastasis. Postoperative chemotherapy was resumed, and the patient remains recurrence-free. This rare case highlights a CR in both primary and metastatic lesions after colorectal stenting and preoperative CapeOX therapy.