New combo radiation therapy aims to spare elderly rectal cancer patients from surgery

NCT ID NCT06729645

First seen May 05, 2026 · Last updated Jun 19, 2026 · Updated 8 times

Summary

This study tests a combination of two types of radiation therapy for elderly or frail patients with rectal cancer who cannot or will not have surgery. The goal is to shrink or control the tumor while maintaining quality of life. Researchers will follow 80 participants for up to two years to see how well the treatment works and how it affects daily living.

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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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Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-••••

Locations

  • Frankfurt Universitätsklinikum

    Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, 60590, Germany

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Klinik für Strahlentherapie, Cyberknife und Radioonkologie Universität zu Köln

    Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, 50937, Germany

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Klinikverbund Allgäu

    Kempten, BaBaden-Württembergs, 87439, Germany

    Contact

  • Leipzig, Universitätsklinikum

    Leipzig, Saxony, 04103, Germany

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••

What this could mean

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

Active substance

radiation therapy (external beam radiotherapy and endorectal high-dose-rate brachytherapy)

What this could lead to

If successful, this approach could offer a non-surgical treatment option that controls rectal cancer and preserves quality of life for elderly or frail patients.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase trial with only 80 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The treatment may not achieve lasting tumor control, and side effects from radiation are possible.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

rectal cancer rectal neoplasm rectum adenocarcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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