New radiation combo may let some rectal cancer patients skip surgery

NCT ID NCT04677413

First seen May 02, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 12 times

Summary

This early-phase trial is testing a new way of giving radiation therapy (ultra-fractionated, short course) along with standard chemotherapy for people with locally advanced rectal cancer. The goal is to see if this combination can shrink the tumor enough to avoid surgery. The study will enroll 27 adults with stage T3-4 or node-positive rectal cancer who have not had prior treatment. The main focus is on safety and finding the highest dose that does not cause severe side effects.

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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: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • UT Southwestern Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Dallas, Texas, 75390-8849, United States

    Contact

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

What this could mean

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

Active substance

ultra-fractionated radiotherapy with FOLFOX or CAPOX chemotherapy

What this could lead to

If successful, this approach could allow some patients with advanced rectal cancer to avoid surgery by achieving a complete response with radiation and chemo alone.

What could go wrong

This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 27 participants, focused on safety and finding the right dose. It is not yet known if it will be effective or widely applicable, and there is a risk of serious gastrointestinal side effects.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

rectal neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

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