Heat waves against cancer: new trial tests hyperthermia for rectal tumors

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age: 20 years and above 2. Gender: Not restricted 3. Initial pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rectum 4. Expected survival ≥ six months 5. Clinical staging of cT3N0 with high recurrence risk or cT3N1-2 or cT4N0-2 rectal cancer, requiring neoadjuvant therapy, without distant metastasis; must meet the following tumor definitions \[staging system according to the 8th edition of the AJCC staging manual\]: 1. cT3: Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues 2. cT4a: Tumor invades through the visceral peritoneum (including gross perforation of the bowel through tumor and continuous invasion of tumor through areas of inflammation to the surface of the visceral peritoneum) 3. cT4b: Tumor directly invades or adheres to adjacent organs or structures \*High recurrence risk factors: cT3 tumor ≤ 5 cm from the anal verge or MRI showing circumferential resection margin (CRM) \< 0.2 cm; cT4 tumor or cN2, presence of MRI showing extramural vascular invasion. 7\. ECOG performance status: 0 - 2 8. Healthy condition suitable for standard treatment, including 25 to 30 fractions of long-course radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy (capecitabine or fluorouracil) and subsequent 4- to 6-month chemotherapy, including modified FOLFOX-6 or CAPEOX 9. Willingness to participate in the clinical trial and signed the informed consent form for the protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * (e) Active infection or severe underlying disease making the patient unsuitable for the trial treatments * Known HIV infection * Untreated thyroid disease * Active Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis * Other systemic autoimmune diseases 9. History of any physical or mental disorder resulting the patient unable to understand or comply with trial requirements, or diminished social communication ability, or unable to provide informed consent 10. Known allergic reaction to trial medications 11. Pregnant or breastfeeding women 12. Substance or alcohol dependence within six months before screening 13. Inability to comply with treatment, assessments, or follow-up