Triple chemo may help rectal cancer patients avoid surgery
NCT ID NCT07472868
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 3 trial tests whether a three-drug chemotherapy combination (FOLFOXIRI) works better than the standard two-drug combination (CAPOX/FOLFOX) for people with high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer. Both groups also receive chemoradiation, and then either surgery or a watch-and-wait approach. The goal is to see if the stronger chemo leads to more complete tumor disappearances and better quality of life, despite a higher risk of side effects. The study plans to enroll 394 participants.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- FOLFOXIRI (a combination of three chemotherapy drugs: irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and 5-fluorouracil) compared to CAPOX/FOLFOX (two-drug combinations)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that a stronger three-drug chemo combination leads to more tumors disappearing completely, allowing some patients to avoid surgery and have a better quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage Phase 3 trial that hasn't started recruiting yet. The stronger chemo may cause more side effects, and it's not yet known if it will improve long-term outcomes or just increase toxicity.
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
-
Catharina Hospital Eindhoven
Eindhoven, North Brabant, 5623 EJ, Netherlands
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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