Rectal cancer

Researchers are testing whether a combination of chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6) plus two immunotherapy drugs, suvemcitug and enlonstobart, can shrink high-risk mid-rectal cancer enough to safely skip pelvic radiation before surgery. The trial enrolls 52 adults with locally advanced rect…

This trial tests whether a combination of two investigational drugs (QL-1706) plus chemotherapy and bevacizumab, with or without radiation, can shrink or eliminate tumors in people with locally advanced rectal cancer before surgery. The goal is to see if this neoadjuvant approach…

This phase 1 trial tests an investigational drug called DEM301 in adults with advanced colorectal cancer that has progressed after standard treatments. DEM301 is an antibody-drug conjugate, a type of therapy designed to deliver a toxic agent directly to cancer cells. The study ai…

Researchers are testing whether a diet low in serine and glycine, combined with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, improves outcomes for people with locally advanced rectal cancer. The trial enrolls 140 adults aged 18 to 80 with stage cT3, cT4, or node-positive rectal…

This phase II trial is testing whether a 16-hour fast before each dose of the immunotherapy drug serplulimab, combined with chemotherapy, can improve outcomes for people with a common type of locally advanced rectal cancer. The approach aims to boost the immune system's ability t…

This phase 2 trial is testing whether adding the immunotherapy drug sintilimab and the anti-angiogenic drug suvemcitug to standard chemoradiation can improve outcomes for people with locally advanced rectal cancer that is microsatellite-stable (pMMR). The study plans to enroll 18…

This trial tests whether an AI tool called SurgDiff can predict how difficult rectal cancer surgery will be, based on MRI scans and patient data. The goal is to help surgeons choose the best surgical approach for each patient, potentially reducing complications. The study involve…

This trial tests whether an arginine-free diet, given as a liquid formula for four weeks, can enhance the effects of standard chemoradiotherapy in people with locally advanced rectal cancer. The study first checks the diet's safety in a small group, then randomly assigns about 13…

This trial is testing whether transplanting healthy gut bacteria can boost the power of immunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in people with a common type of locally advanced rectal cancer. Participants receive a combination of sintilimab (an immunotherapy drug), CAPOX chemotherapy…

This phase 2 trial is testing whether adding an experimental drug called DCSZ11 to standard radiation and chemotherapy can improve outcomes for people with a high-risk type of rectal cancer. The study will enroll 30 adults who have not had prior treatment. The goal is to see if t…

This trial tests whether a combination of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) — a technology that uses electrical impulses to make muscles contract — and nutritional therapy can help people with certain gastrointestinal cancers preserve muscle mass. Participants include tho…

This observational study follows about 196 adults with early-stage (pT1) rectal cancer who have high-risk features after local tumor removal. Instead of undergoing radical surgery that often requires a colostomy, participants receive adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Th…

This pilot study explores whether patients with margin-clear stage II or III rectal cancer who do not need a permanent colostomy can safely go straight to surgery instead of receiving chemotherapy first. Participants are randomly assigned to either 12 weeks of chemotherapy follow…

This trial investigates whether adding two targeted drugs—tafolecimab and sintilimab—to standard chemoradiation can improve outcomes for people with locally advanced rectal cancer that has not spread. Participants receive short-course radiation followed by chemotherapy plus immun…

This phase 2 trial tests whether adding a new form of interferon (rSIFN-co) to standard total neoadjuvant therapy (short-course radiation plus chemotherapy) can improve the chance of complete tumor disappearance in people with mid-low locally advanced rectal cancer. About 90 adul…

This phase II trial tests a new approach for high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer. Participants first receive short-course radiotherapy, followed by a combination of chemotherapy (NALIRIFOX) and immunotherapy (Pucotenlimab) for about 6 months. The goal is to see if this regim…

This small study tests a new approach for people with stage II/III rectal cancer that has not spread. Instead of chemotherapy, patients receive targeted internal radiation followed by two doses of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab before surgery. The goal is to see if this combina…

This study tests whether injecting a special solution (KRC-01) into rectal tumors before radiation can make the radiation work better. The solution increases oxygen inside the tumor, which helps radiation kill cancer cells. About 24 adults with advanced rectal cancer that hasn't …

This phase 2 trial tests a short course of radiation followed by a mix of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy in 60 people with locally advanced rectal cancer. The goal is to see if this approach can make the tumor disappear completely before surgery, possibly allow…

This study looks at whether adding a short course of chemotherapy after standard chemoradiation can improve outcomes for people with stage I rectal cancer, allowing them to keep their rectum instead of needing major surgery. About 292 participants will be randomly assigned to rec…

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 t…

This phase 3 trial tests whether short-course radiation followed by chemotherapy and an immunotherapy drug (serplulimab) works better than standard long-course chemoradiation for high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer. 612 patients will be randomly assigned to one of the two tr…

This phase 2 trial tests whether a daily dexamethasone enema can prevent or reduce acute rectal injury in 40 rectal cancer patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy. One group starts the enema early (day 10 of radiation), while the other starts only after injury occurs. The goal is…

This phase 2 trial tests a new approach for high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer. It combines a shorter course of radiation with chemotherapy (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) and an immunotherapy drug (serplulimab). The study will compare this combo to standard chemoradiation i…

This study tests a new treatment plan for adults with locally advanced rectal cancer that hasn't spread. Participants get a week of radiation, then 8 cycles of three drugs (chemotherapy and immunotherapy) before surgery. The goal is to shrink the tumor enough to cure the cancer o…

This study tests whether daily adaptive radiotherapy (ART) can safely deliver shorter, more intense radiation treatments for prostate, endometrial, cervical, and rectal cancers. About 264 participants will be randomly assigned to standard radiation or ART, which uses daily imagin…

This study tests whether a short course of radiation followed by three drugs (disitamab vedotin, sintilimab, and capecitabine) can completely eliminate tumors in people with advanced HER2-positive rectal cancer. About 29 adults aged 18-75 will receive the treatment before surgery…

This study tests whether a targeted chemoradiotherapy can completely eliminate early-stage rectal cancer, allowing patients to avoid surgery and keep their rectum. 90 adults with small, localized tumors will either receive standard surgery or the new treatment followed by close m…

This Phase 3 trial tests whether a three-drug chemotherapy combination (FOLFOXIRI) works better than the standard two-drug combination (CAPOX/FOLFOX) for people with high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer. Both groups also receive chemoradiation, and then either surgery or a wa…

This study compares two treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer: a shorter course of radiation plus chemotherapy (CAPOX) and immunotherapy (tislelizumab) versus a longer course of chemoradiation plus the same immunotherapy. The goal is to see which approach leads to a highe…

This pilot study tests whether an Ayurvedic drug called Trishul can help shrink rectal tumors and improve survival. Forty adults with advanced rectal cancer will receive either Trishul or a placebo pill, in addition to their standard treatment (chemo-radiation and surgery). The s…

This phase II trial tests a new device called the Maastro applicator, which delivers high-dose radiation directly to rectal tumors. The goal is to see if it can safely eliminate the cancer and allow patients to avoid major surgery. Twenty adults with rectal cancer will receive th…

This phase II trial tests a new combination of short-course radiation, two immunotherapy drugs (Qibei'an and Camrelizumab), and chemotherapy (XELOX) in 19 people with locally advanced rectal cancer. The goal is to see if this approach can make the tumor disappear completely, allo…

This phase 2 trial is testing a new approach for people with stage II-III rectal cancer. It combines short-course radiotherapy that spares the tumor-draining lymph nodes with a PD-1 inhibitor (a type of immunotherapy). The goal is to see if this combination can lead to a complete…

This study tests whether adding an immunotherapy drug (serplulimab) to standard chemotherapy before surgery can improve outcomes for people with a common type of locally advanced rectal cancer (MSS/pMMR). About 128 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either chemo al…

This phase 2 trial tests whether adding radiotherapy and two immunotherapy drugs (iparomlimab and tuvonralimab) to standard chemotherapy and bevacizumab can improve outcomes for people with a specific type of metastatic rectal cancer (RAS-mutant/MSS). About 106 participants will …

This study tests whether adding the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab to standard chemotherapy (XELOX) after chemoradiation improves outcomes for people with locally advanced rectal cancer. About 270 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the combination or chemoth…

This study tests whether a new drug called IP-001, injected into the liver after standard heat-based tumor destruction, can help prevent colorectal cancer from coming back. About 717 adults with colorectal cancer that has spread only to the liver will be randomly assigned to rece…

This study tests whether adding a weight-loss medication (a GLP-1 drug) to standard chemo-radiation before surgery helps rectal cancer patients with a high BMI. About 42 participants will either get the drug plus standard treatment or standard treatment alone. Researchers will me…

This phase 2 trial tests a new approach for people with high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer. Participants will receive a short course of radiation with a boost to the tumor, combined with chemotherapy (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) and an immunotherapy drug (tislelizumab). T…

This Phase 3 trial tests whether adding an immunotherapy drug (serplulimab) to a strong chemotherapy mix (FOLFOXIRI) and radiation works better than standard chemo (CAPOX) plus radiation for people with locally advanced low rectal cancer that is microsatellite stable (pMMR). Abou…

This study tests two drugs, zanidatamab and tislelizumab, combined with standard chemo or radiation for people with HER2-positive stomach or colorectal cancers. About 70 adults aged 18-75 will receive the treatment to see if it shrinks tumors and controls the disease. The goal is…

This study compares a new drain fixation method (extra-peritoneal tunneling) to the standard method after rectal cancer surgery. About 596 participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The goal is to see if the new method reduces drain movement and improves the…

This study is testing whether adding an immunotherapy drug (PD-1 inhibitor) to standard chemoradiation can better shrink or eliminate tumors in people with locally advanced rectal cancer that has a high chance of coming back. About 30 participants will receive the combination tre…

This trial compares two surgical techniques for removing rectal cancer in women. The standard method cuts the peritoneum slightly above its lowest point, while the new method cuts exactly at the lowest point. Researchers believe the new technique may reduce blood loss and protect…

This phase 2 trial tests a new approach for people with locally advanced rectal cancer that is not responding well to standard immunotherapy. Participants will receive short-course radiation, followed by an experimental drug (QL1706) that boosts the immune system, plus chemothera…

This trial tests whether a laser-based imaging device can help surgeons assess blood flow in the bowel during rectal cancer surgery. About 100 adults with rectal cancer will have the laser imaging performed alongside standard fluorescence imaging. The goal is to see if the laser …

This trial explores whether betacyanin, a pigment found in beetroot, can help doctors detect anastomotic leakage — a serious complication where intestinal contents leak after rectal cancer surgery — earlier than current methods. About 120 people undergoing laparoscopic rectal can…

This study compares two imaging methods for checking blood flow to the bowel during colorectal surgery: the standard technique using a dye called indocyanine green (ICG) and a newer dye-free method called Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI). About 30 adults having elective colo…

This study will compare two different PET/MRI scans to see which one is better at finding lymph node metastases in people with middle to high rectal cancer. Thirty participants will receive both types of scans before surgery. The goal is to see if the newer tracer, [68Ga]Ga-CTR-F…

This study will test whether a special type of MRI, called IVIM-MRI, can predict lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in rectal cancer patients before surgery. LVI is a sign that the cancer may spread, and knowing this ahead of time could help doctors choose the best treatment. The stud…

This study will test whether an artificial intelligence system can detect minimal residual disease—tiny amounts of cancer left after surgery—and predict recurrence in 700 people with rectal cancer. The AI combines blood tests, genetic data, and scans to create a more complete pic…

This study tests an AI-powered 3D imaging model to improve detection of cancer spread in patients with stage II-III rectal cancer. Researchers will analyze existing CT and MRI scans from 1,500 patients to see if the AI can predict whether the cancer has reached the edge of the ti…

Researchers are testing whether a nasal catheter that diverts stool from the small intestine can prevent leaks after surgery for mid to low rectal cancer. The trial compares this catheter approach with a standard protective ileostomy, a temporary opening in the abdomen to divert …

This study tests whether providing educational materials and mailing stool-based screening kits (FIT or Cologuard) to primary care patients can increase colorectal cancer screening rates. Participants aged 45-75 who are eligible for screening will be assigned to receive education…

This study tests whether wearing tight compression garments on hands and feet during chemotherapy can prevent nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) caused by taxane or oxaliplatin drugs. About 358 breast and colorectal cancer patients will be randomly assigned to wear compression …

This study tests whether a daily Bergmann enema can prevent severe rectal injury caused by radiation therapy in 40 rectal cancer patients. Participants will receive the enema from the start of radiotherapy until 10 days after. The goal is to reduce the rate of moderate-to-severe …

This study tests whether an artificial intelligence-based dietary care app can reduce distress from bowel changes and improve quality of life in rectal cancer patients who have had anal-preserving surgery. One hundred participants will be randomly assigned to either standard diet…

This study tests whether a home-based exercise program can help people with gastrointestinal or lung cancer handle chemotherapy better. Up to 120 participants will be randomly assigned to either an aerobic and resistance exercise group or a stretching group. All activities are do…

This study tests whether a supervised strength-training program is safe and practical for people with locally advanced rectal cancer who are receiving chemotherapy and radiation before surgery. Fifteen participants will do personalized resistance exercises twice a week for about …

This study tests whether taking your own gut bacteria (autologous probiotics) can reduce bowel problems after ileostomy closure in rectal cancer patients. Forty adults who had rectal cancer surgery with a temporary ileostomy will receive capsules containing their own lactobacillu…

This study tests whether a personalized plan for removing urinary catheters after mid-low rectal cancer surgery can reduce the need for re-insertion. About 1,545 patients will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: catheter removal at 24 hours, at 48 hours, or an individual…

This study tests a highly absorbable form of curcumin (from turmeric) in 72 adults with mid-to-low rectal cancer who are getting chemoradiation before surgery. The goal is to see if curcumin can reduce severe gut side effects like diarrhea and rectal pain. Researchers will also c…

This observational study gathers information from routine care on how localized rectal cancer is treated across Austrian hospitals. It aims to document the variety of treatment approaches, including total neoadjuvant therapy and immunotherapy, and their outcomes. By analyzing thi…

This study aims to develop a method using advanced MRI scans to predict whether rectal cancer has been completely eliminated after chemoradiation. About 115 patients will be enrolled to test the accuracy of this MRI-based prediction. If it works, some patients might safely avoid …

Rectal cancer treatment can involve chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or watch-and-wait surveillance, and each can affect bowel, urinary, sexual, and stoma function. Most studies measure quality of life at a single point or after one type of treatment, leaving gaps in how patient…

This study tests a new short camera called a rectoscope to check the lower bowel after rectal tumour removal. The goal is to see if it can be used in the clinic with a simple enema instead of strong bowel prep, making follow-up checks faster and reducing waiting lists. Thirty pat…

This study looks at people who had surgery for advanced lower rectal cancer, comparing two procedures: one that removes the rectum and anus (requiring a permanent stoma) and one that removes the rectum but keeps the anus (with a reconnection). The goal is to see which approach le…

This study asks whether an artificial intelligence system can make the same care recommendations as a team of cancer experts for people with stomach, colon, or rectal cancer. About 69 participants will have their medical information reviewed independently by both the AI and a mul…

This phase 2 trial tests whether a highly sensitive blood test (ctDNA) can help manage treatment for 200 people with early-stage rectal cancer. After standard chemotherapy and radiation, some patients will have their treatment guided by the blood test results instead of immediate…

This study looks at whether a blood test that finds tiny bits of tumor DNA (ctDNA) can help doctors monitor rectal cancer more closely than standard scans. Researchers will collect blood and tissue samples from 60 adults with non-spreading rectal cancer before and after standard …

This study looks at where cancer spreads to lymph nodes in people with colon or rectal cancer. Researchers will examine tissue from 1200 patients who had surgery to remove their cancer. The goal is to find patterns that could help doctors better plan treatment in the future.

This study will compare treatment recommendations made by a large language model (AI) with those made by a team of cancer experts for 180 people with rectal cancer. The AI will analyze de-identified patient information and suggest a treatment plan. The goal is to see how often th…

This study will look at tumor samples and health records from 300 people who had surgery for rectal cancer. The goal is to find patterns in the tumor's immune environment that can predict which patients will respond well to chemotherapy or immunotherapy. This could help doctors i…

This study looks at 100 adults with advanced rectal cancer who received total neoadjuvant therapy (a combination of chemotherapy and radiation before surgery). Researchers want to see whether the response in the lymph nodes or the primary tumor better predicts how long patients s…

This study will follow 46 people treated for stage III rectal cancer to see if PET-CT scans can help doctors make better treatment decisions during routine follow-up. Participants will already be getting these scans as part of their care and will be tracked for 5 years. The goal …

This study reviews medical records of 300 adults who had endoscopic or surgical removal of rectal tumors between 2015 and 2025. Researchers want to see if newer endoscopic methods are as safe and effective as traditional surgery. The goal is to help doctors choose the best approa…

This study will analyze tumor samples from 50 women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer to find biological markers that predict whether immunotherapy will work. Researchers will examine the tumor's DNA, epigenetics, and surrounding environment. The goal is to better und…

This study looks at two ways to remove rectal cancer tumors. The newer method removes the tumor through the anus, avoiding extra cuts in the belly. The goal is to see if this leads to fewer wound problems and less pain after surgery. The study will review records from 190 adult p…

This study looks at people with rectal cancer who have small leftover spots after chemoradiotherapy. One group will have these spots removed with a scope, while the other group will just be watched closely. The goal is to see which approach leads to better cancer control after on…