New drug cocktail aims to shrink rectal tumors before surgery
NCT ID NCT05672524
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether adding two targeted drugs (tucatinib and trastuzumab) to standard chemotherapy can shrink HER2-positive rectal tumors before surgery. About 37 adults with locally advanced rectal cancer will receive the drug combo for 6 weeks, then continue it with chemo for another 15 weeks. The main goal is to see how many patients have a complete response (no tumor left) after treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
tucatinib and trastuzumab (drugs that target HER2-positive cancer cells)
What this could lead to
If successful, this combination could become a new standard approach to shrink HER2-positive rectal tumors before surgery, potentially improving outcomes.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial (37 people) with no control group. The added drugs may cause side effects like diarrhea or liver problems, and the response rate may not be better than current therapy.
Disclaimer
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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.
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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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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGBasking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
Contact
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGMontvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10065, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at Suffolk - Commack (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGCommack, New York, 11725, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGMiddletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGUniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (Limited Protocol Activities)
RECRUITINGHarrison, New York, 10604, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••