Short course radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy for stage II-III rectal cancer

Organ Preservation for Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma: Evaluating the Efficacy of Short Course Radiation Therapy Followed by FOLFOX or CapeOX

Phase 1 Interventional Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center · NCT04703101

This study is testing a new treatment plan that combines short radiation therapy with chemotherapy to see if it helps people with stage II-III rectal cancer feel better and have fewer problems after treatment.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment25 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorJonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsradiation, chemotherapy
Locations1 site (Los Angeles, California)
Trial IDNCT04703101 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase I trial evaluates the effectiveness of short-course radiation therapy followed by a combination of chemotherapy drugs in treating patients with stage II-III rectal cancer. The approach involves administering intensity-modulated radiation therapy over five days, followed by a regimen of modified leucovorin, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin or capecitabine and oxaliplatin. The study aims to assess the complete clinical response rate, local recurrence-free survival, and patient-reported outcomes related to quality of life and anorectal function. Additionally, it explores the correlation between residual disease tests and treatment outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with histologically confirmed stage II or III rectal adenocarcinoma who have no evidence of metastatic disease.

Not a fit: Patients with distant metastatic disease or those undergoing active treatment for another malignancy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could reduce the need for surgery and improve the quality of life for patients with rectal cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar approaches, indicating potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma
* Patients must have stage II (cT3, cN0) or stage III (cT1-3, cN1-3) tumor as staged by MRI
* No evidence of metastatic disease
* Resectable primary lesion
* Karnofsky performance status (KPS) \>= 70 or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1.5 cell/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin (Hgb) \> 8.0 gm/dL
* Platelets (PLT) \> 150,000/mm\^3
* Total bilirubin \< or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< or equal to three times upper limit of normal
* If a woman is of childbearing potential, a negative serum pregnancy test must be documented prior to initiation of radiation therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active treatment of a separate malignancy
* Distant metastatic disease as assessed by staging positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) or CT of the chest and abdomen within 6 weeks of starting radiation therapy
* Prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields
* Pregnant and/or breastfeeding
* Medical/psychological contraindication to MRI

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Locally Advanced Rectal CarcinomaRectal AdenocarcinomaStage II Rectal Cancer AJCC v8Stage IIA Rectal Cancer AJCC v8Stage IIB Rectal Cancer AJCC v8Stage IIC Rectal Cancer AJCC v8Stage III Rectal Cancer AJCC v8Stage IIIA Rectal Cancer AJCC v8
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.