Combining adebrelimab with radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced rectal cancer treatment

Adebrelimab Injection (PD-L1) Combined With Short Course Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy for Neoadjuvant Therapy of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: a Multicenter, Single Arm Prospective Study

This study is testing if combining a new drug called adebrelimab with radiation and chemotherapy can help people with advanced rectal cancer have better surgery results and improve their health.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 31 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 85 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Shandong Provincial Hospital (Government)
• Drugs / interventions: Adabelimab, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, prednisone, adebelimab
• Locations: 1 site (Jinan, Shandong)
• Trial ID: NCT06765616 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multicenter, single-arm, prospective study evaluates the efficacy and safety of adebrelimab injection combined with short course radiotherapy and CAPOX chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Participants will receive a regimen of adebrelimab, radiotherapy (5 x 5Gy), and chemotherapy before undergoing total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery 2-3 weeks after the last treatment. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of this combination therapy in improving surgical outcomes and overall patient health.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 85 with operable rectal adenocarcinoma at advanced stages requiring neoadjuvant therapy.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously received any form of anti-tumor treatment or have non-operable cancer may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance treatment outcomes and improve survival rates for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise with similar combinations of immunotherapy and radiotherapy, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Sign written informed consent before implementing any experimental procedures;
2. Male or female, aged 18 or above and 85 or below;
3. Patients diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma through primary lesion biopsy and histopathological examination;
4. Patients with cT stage ≥ T3 or cN stage N1+, M0 or EMVI (+) or MRF (+) or suspected lateral lymph node metastasis (\>5mm) who are determined to be operable and require neoadjuvant therapy through imaging and colonoscopy examination.
5. According to imaging and colonoscopy examination, the main body of the patient's tumor is located ≤ 15cm away from the anal edge;
6. According to the criteria for evaluating the efficacy of solid tumors (RECIST version 1.1), there should be at least one measurable lesion on imaging;
7. The patient has not received any anti-tumor treatment in the past, including but not limited to surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc;
8. ECOG score 0-1 points;
9. Adequate organ function, subjects must meet the following laboratory indicators:

   * In the past 14 days without using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was ≥ 1.5x109/L.
   * Platelets ≥ 100 × 109/L without blood transfusion in the past 14 days.
   * Hemoglobin\>9g/dL in the past 14 days without blood transfusion or use of erythropoietin;
   * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN);
   * Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels are ≤ 2.5 × ULN
   * Blood creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN and creatinine clearance rate (calculated using Cockcroft Gault formula) ≥ 60 ml/min;
   * Good coagulation function, defined as International Normalized Ratio (INR) or Prothrombin Time (PT) ≤ 1.5 times ULN;
   * Normal thyroid function is defined as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) within the normal range. If the baseline TSH exceeds the normal range, subjects with total T3 (or FT3) and FT4 within the normal range can also be enrolled;
   * The myocardial enzyme spectrum is within the normal range (simple laboratory abnormalities that are deemed clinically insignificant by the researchers are also allowed to be included)
10. For female subjects of childbearing age, a urine or serum pregnancy test with negative results should be conducted within 3 days prior to the first administration of the study drug (Day 1 of the first cycle). If the urine pregnancy test result cannot be confirmed as negative, a blood pregnancy test is required. Non childbearing women are defined as those who have been postmenopausal for at least one year or have undergone surgical sterilization or hysterectomy; If there is a risk of conception, all subjects (male or female) must use contraceptive measures with an annual failure rate of less than 1% throughout the entire treatment period until 120 days after the last administration of the study drug (or 180 days after the last administration of chemotherapy drug).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients diagnosed with other malignant tumors that have not been cured within 5 years before the first administration (excluding skin basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and/or carcinoma in situ that has undergone radical resection);
2. Late stage rectal cancer patients with distant metastasis;
3. Currently participating in interventional clinical research treatment, or having received other research drugs or used research instruments for treatment within 4 weeks before the first administration;
4. Previously received the following therapies: anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 drugs, or drugs that stimulate or synergistically inhibit T cell receptors (such as CTLA-4, OX-40, CD137);
5. Have received systemic treatment of traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations with anti-tumor indications or drugs with immunomodulatory effect within 2 weeks before the first administration;
6. Within 2 years prior to the first administration, there has been an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment (such as the use of disease relieving drugs, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressants). Alternative therapies (such as thyroid hormone, insulin, or physiological glucocorticoids used for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) are not considered systemic treatments;
7. Within 7 days prior to the first administration of the study, the individual was receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy (excluding topical corticosteroids via nasal spray, inhalation, or other routes) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy;Note: Physiological doses of glucocorticoids (≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent) are allowed to be used;
8. Known allogeneic organ transplantation (excluding corneal transplantation) or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation;
9. Those who are known to be allergic to the active ingredients or excipients of the investigational drug Adabelimab and combination chemotherapy drugs;
10. Prior to commencing treatment, the individual has not fully recovered from any toxicity and/or complications caused by any intervention measures (i.e., ≤ grade 1 or baseline, excluding fatigue or hair loss);
11. Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (i.e. HIV 1/2 antibody positive);
12. Untreated active hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg positive and HBV-DNA copy number detected is greater than the upper limit of normal value in the laboratory of the research center);Note: hepatitis B patients who meet the following criteria can also be included in the group:

    * Prior to the first administration, if the HBV viral load is less than 1000 copies/ml (200 IU/ml), subjects should receive anti HBV treatment throughout the entire study chemotherapy period to avoid viral reactivation
    * For subjects with anti HBc (+), HBsAg (-), anti HBs (-), and HBV viral load (-), prophylactic anti HBV treatment is not necessary, but close monitoring of viral reactivation is necessary
13. Active HCV infected subjects (HCV antibody positive and HCV-RNA level above the detection limit);
14. Administer a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose (Day 1 of the first cycle);Note: It is allowed to receive inactivated vaccine for seasonal influenza within 30 days before the first administration; However, intranasal administration of attenuated live influenza vaccine is not allowed.
15. Pregnant or lactating women;
16. There are any serious or uncontrollable systemic diseases, such as:

    * Resting electrocardiogram shows significant and difficult to control abnormalities in rhythm, conduction, or morphology, such as complete left bundle branch block, grade II or higher heart block, ventricular arrhythmia, or atrial fibrillation;
    * Unstable angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, chronic heart failure classified as NYHA ≥ 2;
    * Myocardial infarction occurred within 6 months prior to enrollment;
    * Poor blood pressure control (systolic blood pressure\>140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure\>90 mmHg);
    * A history of non infectious pneumonia requiring corticosteroid treatment within the year prior to the first administration, or current clinical active interstitial lung disease;
    * Active pulmonary tuberculosis;
    * There are active or uncontrolled infections that require systemic treatment;
    * There is clinical active diverticulitis, abdominal abscess, and gastrointestinal obstruction;
    * Liver diseases such as cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, acute or chronic active hepatitis;
    * Poor control of diabetes (FBG\>10mmol/L);
    * Urine routine shows urinary protein ≥++and confirms 24-hour urinary protein quantification\>1.0 g;
    * Patients with mental disorders who are unable to cooperate with treatment;
17. Medical history or disease evidence, abnormal treatment or laboratory test values that may interfere with the trial results, hinder the full participation of the subjects in the study, or other situations that the researchers believe are not suitable for inclusion. The researchers believe that there are other potential risks and they are not suitable to participate in this study.

Where this trial is running

Jinan, Shandong

• Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University — Jinan, Shandong, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Feng Tian, Dr.

Conditions Rectal Cancer; Advanced Stage Colorectal Cancer; Radiotherapy; Immune checkpoint inhibitors；Adebrelimab Injection