New combo aims to spare rectal cancer patients from surgery
NCT ID NCT06780787
First seen Jun 29, 2026 · Last updated Jun 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase II trial tests whether giving a combination of chemotherapy (FOLFOX) and two immunotherapy drugs (botensilimab and balstilimab) before surgery can eliminate rectal cancer without the need for surgery or radiation. The study includes adults with stage II or III rectal cancer that has not spread. The goal is to see if this approach leads to a complete clinical response, meaning no cancer is detectable after treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- FOLFOX (chemotherapy), botensilimab, and balstilimab (immunotherapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could help more people with rectal cancer avoid surgery and radiation, preserving bowel and bladder function.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with only 26 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Immunotherapy can cause immune-related side effects, and the combination may not improve outcomes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
Locations
-
City of Hope Medical Center
RECRUITINGDuarte, California, 91010, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- AI as a surgical Co-Pilot: predicting difficulty in rectal cancer
- A new radiation combo may spare the rectum in early cancer
- Can a triple-drug cocktail after short radiation eliminate rectal cancer without surgery?
- Metabolic MRI may reveal hidden cancer responses and spare patients from surgery
- Can a beetroot drink spot dangerous surgical leaks before they turn deadly?