New combo therapy aims to shrink rectal tumors with fewer side effects
NCT ID NCT07161115
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests a new approach for locally advanced rectal cancer: using MRI-guided, reduced-field short-course radiotherapy together with immunotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery. The goal is to shrink the tumor effectively while causing fewer side effects than standard large-field radiation. The study will enroll 60 adults with rectal adenocarcinoma to see if this combination improves local control and reduces distant spread.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Reduced-field short-course radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy (likely a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor) and chemotherapy (XELOX regimen)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a less toxic, more effective neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer, potentially reducing side effects and improving long-term outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase (phase 2) trial with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The combination of treatments may still cause significant side effects, and the reduced radiation field might not control the tumor as well as standard therapy.
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
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 400016, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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