New drug combo aims to shrink tough rectal tumors, spare patients surgery

This study is testing a new treatment approach for people with a specific type of locally advanced rectal cancer that doesn't typically respond well to immunotherapy alone. About 66 participants will receive a short course of radiation, followed by a combination of a new immunotherapy drug (QL1706) and standard chemotherapy, all before planned surgery. The main goal is to see if this intensive pre-surgery treatment can completely eliminate the cancer in the removed tissue and potentially allow some patients to avoid surgery altogether.