Can a daily pill preserve erections after rectal cancer therapy?

NCT ID NCT06123156

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: University Hospital, Rouen Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests whether taking sildenafil (a drug for erectile dysfunction) daily for 10 months, starting 30 days after surgery, can prevent long-term erectile problems in men treated for rectal cancer with radiation and surgery. The trial includes 188 men aged 18 to 70 who had normal erectile function before treatment. The goal is to see if early rehabilitation helps maintain erectile function one year after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Sildenafil (a drug for erectile dysfunction, taken daily as a 50 mg pill)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a way to prevent long-term erectile dysfunction in men treated for rectal cancer, improving quality of life after recovery.
What could go wrong: This is a Phase 3 trial, but it only includes men with normal erectile function before treatment, so results may not apply to everyone. Sildenafil can cause side effects like headache or flushing, and the study is still recruiting, so outcomes are not yet known.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

rectal cancer rectal neoplasm erectile dysfunction prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

RECTAL CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Aphp Bicetre
RECRUITING

Bicêtre, 94275, France
Aphp Hegp
RECRUITING

Paris, 75908, France
Aphp St Antoine
RECRUITING

Paris, 75012, France
Chu Amiens
RECRUITING

Amiens, 80054, France
Chu Besancon
RECRUITING

Besançon, 25030, France
Chu Bordeaux
RECRUITING

Bordeaux, 33000, France
Chu Clermont-Ferrand
RECRUITING

Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, France
Chu Lille
RECRUITING

Lille, 59000, France
Chu Rouen
RECRUITING

Rouen, 76031, France
Chu Tours
RECRUITING

Tours, 37000, France
Hopital Beauvais
RECRUITING

Beauvais, 60000, France
Institut Bordeaux Colorectal
RECRUITING

Bordeaux, 33000, France
Institut Du Cancer Montpellier
RECRUITING

Montpellier, 34000, France
Institut Paoli-Calmettes
RECRUITING

Marseille, 13009, France

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