New cocktail approach aims to wipe out High-Risk rectal cancer without surgery
NCT ID NCT06908031
First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Aug 05, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests a powerful mix of short-course radiation, chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6), an immunotherapy (PD-1 antibody), and a targeted drug (cetuximab or bevacizumab, depending on genetic markers) in people with high-risk rectal cancer that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) and microsatellite stable (MSS). The goal is to see if this combination can make the tumor disappear completely (pathological complete response). The study enrolls 49 adults aged 18-75 with tumors within 10 cm of the anal verge.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Short-course radiotherapy, mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy, PD-1 antibody, cetuximab (for RAS/BRAF wild-type), bevacizumab (for RAS/BRAF mutant)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could offer a more effective, non-surgical treatment path for high-risk rectal cancer, potentially increasing the chance of a complete response.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial with only 49 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. Combining multiple therapies raises the risk of severe side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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49 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Finished
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Apr 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Before conducting procedures related to the research protocol but not part of routine care, written informed consent, voluntarily signed and dated by the subject, must be obtained in accordance with regulations and institutional guidelines. 2. Age 18-75 years. 3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed pMMR/MSS rectal adenocarcinoma; all other histological types are excluded. 4. Distance from the lower margin of the rectal tumor to the anal verge ≤10 cm. 5. Clinical staging with high-risk factors, including cT3Nx, EMVI(+), or cT4, ±MRF(+), ±EMVI(+). 6. No evidence of distant metastasis before treatment. 7. No prior anti-cancer treatment (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy). 8. ECOG performance status of 0-1. 9. Peripheral blood counts and liver and kidney function within the following allowable ranges (tested within 15 days before the start of treatment): 1. White blood cells (WBC) ≥3.0×10\^9/L or absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5×10\^9/L; 2. Hemoglobin (HGB) ≥80 g/L; 3. Platelets (PLT) ≥100×10\^9/L; 4. Liver transaminases (AST/ALT) \<3.0 times the upper limit of the normal range; 5. Total bilirubin (TBIL) \<1.5 times the upper limit of the normal range; 6. Creatinine (CREAT) \<1.5 times the upper limit of the normal range. 10. No history of other malignancies; not pregnant or breastfeeding, and effective contraception must be used during the study period and for 6 months after the last dose. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with a history of severe drug allergies (including allergies to platinum agents, 5-FU, LV, and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists); 2. Patients who have participated in or are currently participating in other clinical trials within 4 weeks prior to enrollment; 3. A history of having received anti-PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4, or any other specific T-cell costimulatory or checkpoint pathway-targeted therapy; 4. Severe electrolyte abnormalities; 5. Presence of gastrointestinal diseases, such as active ulcers in the stomach or duodenum, ulcerative colitis, or tumors with active bleeding that have not been resected; or other conditions that may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation; or gastrointestinal perforation that has not healed after surgical treatment; 6. History of arterial thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis within 6 months; history of bleeding or evidence of bleeding tendency within 2 months; or patients receiving high-dose anticoagulation therapy; 7. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or women of childbearing potential with a positive pregnancy test before the first dose; or female participants and their partners who are unwilling to strictly practice contraception during the study period; 8. Presence of other active malignancies (except for malignancies that have been treated with curative intent and have been disease-free for more than 3 years, or in situ cancers that can be cured with adequate treatment); 9. Presence of severe ECG abnormalities or active coronary artery disease, severe/unstable angina, newly diagnosed angina or myocardial infarction within 12 months prior to study entry, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II or higher congestive heart failure; 10. Patients with active infections (infections causing fever above 38°C); 11. Patients with uncontrolled hypercalcemia, hypertension, or diabetes; 12. Patients with severe pulmonary diseases (interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, severe emphysema, etc.); 13. Patients with psychiatric disorders that may affect clinical treatment or a history of central nervous system diseases; 14. Patients with severe complications (bowel obstruction, renal insufficiency, hepatic insufficiency, cerebrovascular disorders, etc.); 15. Presence of any CTCAE Grade 2 or higher toxicity caused by previous treatments that has not resolved (excluding anemia, alopecia, and skin pigmentation); 16. Any unstable medical condition that may affect patient safety and compliance with the study; 17. Patients deemed by the investigator as unsuitable for participation in this clinical trial.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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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Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510065, China
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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