New combo therapy aims to shrink rectal tumors before Surgery—Could spare some patients the knife
NCT ID NCT07581626
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
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 allowing some patients to avoid surgery. The study focuses on patients with a specific genetic profile (pMMR/MSS) and high-risk features.
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 combined with chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX), targeted therapy (cetuximab or bevacizumab), and immunotherapy (sintilimab)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could increase the chance of eliminating the tumor before surgery, potentially allowing some patients to avoid surgery altogether and preserve their rectum.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase (phase 2) study with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. Combining multiple therapies raises the risk of serious 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
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
May 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Apr 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 to 75 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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: * Voluntarily signed the informed consent form. * Aged 18-75 years (inclusive of 18 and 75 years). * pMMR/MSS. * Middle or low rectal cancer located ≤10 cm from the anal verge as assessed by MRI. * Histopathologically confirmed locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma and high-risk features confirmed by pelvic MRI (meeting any of the following criteria: clinical stage cT3N+ or cT4N0/+; MRF+ or EMVI+; enlarged lateral pelvic lymph nodes). * ECOG PS of 0-1. * Expected survival ≥2 years. * No prior anti-tumor therapy. * At least one measurable lesion with a longest diameter ≥10 mm measured by MRI (by RECIST version 1.1). * Organ functions meeting the following requirements (no blood products or cell growth factors allowed within 14 days prior to enrollment): Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5×10⁹/L; Platelet count ≥100×10⁹/L; Hemoglobin ≥90 g/L; Total bilirubin \<1.5×ULN; ALT and/or AST \<2.5×ULN; Serum creatinine \<1.5×ULN; Creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min. * Women of childbearing potential must use effective contraceptive measures. * Good compliance and willingness to comply with follow-up requirements. Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to comply with the study protocol or study procedures. * Patients with contraindications to surgery. * Patients with metastatic disease or recurrent rectal cancer. * Uncontrolled active autoimmune disease or active inflammatory disease at enrollment, or receiving immunosuppressive therapy. * History of organ transplantation. * Known interstitial lung disease (ILD) or unexplained persistent cough and dyspnea. * Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), active Crohn's disease, or active ulcerative colitis. * Other malignancy diagnosed within 5 years prior to enrollment, except for radically resected basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. * Severe cardiovascular disease within 6 months prior to enrollment, including unstable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. * Subjects with hypersensitivity to the investigational product or any of its excipients. * Participation in another clinical trial of an unapproved/investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to enrollment and having received the corresponding investigational product. * Clinically significant electrolyte abnormalities judged by the investigator. * Uncontrolled hypertension prior to enrollment, defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg despite medication. * Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus prior to enrollment (fasting glucose concentration ≥ CTCAE Grade 2 after standard treatment). * Any disease or condition affecting drug absorption prior to enrollment, or inability of the patient to take oral medication. * Active gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric and duodenal ulcer, ulcerative colitis prior to enrollment, or other conditions judged by the investigator that may cause gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation. * Severe active bleeding within 3 months prior to enrollment, hemoptysis (\>5 mL fresh blood within 4 weeks), or thromboembolic event (including stroke and/or transient ischemic attack) within 12 months. * Clinically significant cardiovascular disease including but not limited to: acute myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina pectoris, or coronary artery bypass grafting within 6 months prior to enrollment; congestive heart failure with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification \> Grade 2; ventricular arrhythmia requiring pharmacotherapy; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 50%. * Active or uncontrolled severe infection (≥ CTCAE v5.0 Grade 2). * Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Known clinically significant liver disease history, including viral hepatitis: * Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with active HBV infection (HBV DNA positive: \>1×10⁴ copies/mL or \>2000 IU/mL); * Known hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with positive HCV RNA (\>1×10³ copies/mL). * Unresolved toxicities higher than CTCAE v5.0 Grade 1 resulting from any prior anti-cancer therapy, excluding alopecia, lymphopenia, and oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity ≤ Grade 2. * Female subjects who are pregnant (positive pregnancy test before treatment) or breastfeeding. * Urinalysis showing urine protein ≥ 2+ and 24-hour urinary protein \> 1.0 g. * Any other disease, clinically significant metabolic abnormality, physical examination abnormality, or laboratory abnormality that, in the investigator's judgment, renders the patient unsuitable for the study drug (e.g., seizure disorder requiring treatment), interferes with the interpretation of study results, or places the patient at high risk. * Patients considered unsuitable for inclusion in this study by the investigator.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) are added.
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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
China PLAGH
Beijing, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a diet that starves cancer cells boost rectal cancer treatment?
- Can a drug combo make rectal cancer disappear before surgery?
- Can a gut bacteria transplant help immunotherapy wipe out rectal cancer before surgery?
- New combo therapy aims to spare organs in High-Risk rectal cancer
- New drug duo takes on tough rectal cancer
- Blood test may predict rectal cancer treatment success