Immunotherapy boosts standard treatment for rectal cancer?
NCT ID NCT03921684
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether adding the immunotherapy drug nivolumab (Opdivo) to standard chemoradiation and chemotherapy can improve outcomes for people with locally advanced rectal cancer. About 29 participants who have not had prior treatment will receive chemoradiation, then six cycles of chemo plus nivolumab, followed by surgery. The main goal is to see how many patients have no cancer left at the time of surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- nivolumab (Opdivo) plus chemotherapy (capecitabine, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, fluorouracil) and radiation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could increase the chance of eliminating all cancer before surgery, potentially allowing some patients to avoid surgery altogether.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 29 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Adding immunotherapy to chemotherapy also raises the risk of immune-related side effects.
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
-
Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital
Petah Tikva, Israel
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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