Could skipping chemo be safer for early rectal cancer?
NCT ID NCT07669298
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This trial tests whether close follow-up (active surveillance) is as good as chemoradiotherapy for preventing cancer return after early-stage rectal cancer removal. About 480 adults with intermediate-risk T1 rectal cancer will be randomly assigned to either regular checkups and scans for 5 years or a 5-week course of radiation plus chemotherapy. The goal is to see if surveillance causes fewer serious side effects while keeping cancer outcomes similar.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Active surveillance (regular checkups and scans) vs chemoradiotherapy (radiation plus capecitabine or 5-FU chemotherapy)
What this could lead to
If active surveillance works as well as chemoradiotherapy, patients with early rectal cancer could avoid harsh treatments and their side effects, while still staying safe from cancer recurrence.
What could go wrong
This is a mid-stage trial with 480 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Active surveillance might miss cancer regrowth, and chemoradiotherapy has known risks like bowel problems or severe side effects.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Institute of Oncology in Warsaw
RECRUITINGWarsaw, Poland
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
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University Clinical Centre
RECRUITINGGdansk, 80210, Poland
Contact
Contact
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
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University Hospital, Limoges
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGLimoges, France
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact