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Short RT Versus RCT,Followed by Chemo and Organ Preservation for Interm and High-risk Rectal Cancer Patients

Short-course Radiotherapy Versus Chemoradiotherapy, Followed by Consolidation Chemotherapy, and Selective Organ Preservation for MRI-defined Intermediate and High-risk Rectal Cancer Patients

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04246684
Enrollment
702
Registered
2020-01-29
Start date
2020-11-05
Completion date
2028-09-15
Last updated
2026-08-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Rectal Cancer Stage III

Brief summary

The hereby proposed ACO/ARO/AIO-18.1 randomized trial aims to directly compare the newly established TNT concepts applying either short-course RT according to RAPIDO, or CRT according to CAO/ARO/AIO-04/-12, both followed by consolidation chemotherapy, and surgery or a watch&wait (W&W) approach for patients with clinical complete response (cCR). The ACO/ARO/AIO-18.1 study incorporates several novel and innovative aspects to further optimize multimodal rectal cancer treatment, partly established by our preceding CAO/ARO/AIO-04 and CAO/ARO/AIO-12 randomized trials: (1) patient selection is based on strict, quality controlled MRI features of intermediate and high-risk characteristics (and, thus, complementary to our ACO/ARO/AIO-18.2 trial in "low-risk" rectal cancer), (2) the CRT regimens incorporates 5-FU/oxaliplatin with doses and intensities shown to be effective and well-tolerated without compromising treatment compliance in CAO/ARO/AIO-04, (3) the sequence of CRT, CT, and surgery/W&W adopts the TNT approach as established by our CAO/ARO/AIO-12 and OPRA trial, (4) surgical stratification allows for W&W management for strictly selected patients with clinical complete response (cCR). Thus, we hypothesize that TNT with 5-FU/oxaliplatin-CRT followed by consolidation chemotherapy may increase organ preservation while maintaining DFS as compared to RAPIDO-like short-course RT followed by consolidation chemotherapy.

Detailed description

The primary endpoint of this trial, organ preservation, is defined as follows: survival with rectum intact, no major surgery, no stoma. Accordingly, the primary endpoint, organ preservation, will not be reached if any of the following occurs: (1) death, (2) any major surgery other than local excision (R0) performed after randomization, during TNT, at re-staging scheduled 22-24 weeks after start of TNT due to clinical non-cCR, or for any locoregional regrowth after initial cCR requiring salvage-TME, (3) any locoregional regrowth not amenable to salvage surgery, or (4) any stoma (non-re-converted protective stoma within 6 months after completion of TNT, or any stoma needed for toxicity or poor function), whichever occurs first. We hypothesized that the 3-year organ preservation rate will improve from 30% in the control arm to 40% in the investigational arm (hazard ratio of 0.76). With a power of 90% and a two-sided type I error of 5%, the sample size required to obtain a statistically significant difference is 702 patients (564 events) in total.

Interventions

DRUGOxaliplatin, 85 mg/m2

85 mg/m2,2h-civ, day 22, 36, 50, 64, 78, 92, 106, 120, and 134 of therapy

DRUG5FU; 2400 mg/m2

2400 mg/m2, 46h-civ, day 22, 36, 50, 64, 78, 92, 106, 120, 134 of therapy for Control arm

DRUG5FU, 250 mg/m2

250 mg/m2 per day, civ, on day 1-14, day 22-35 of radiotherapy;

DRUG5FU, 2400 mg/m2

2400 mg/m2,46h-civ, d64, d78, d92, d106, d120, d134 of therapy

DRUGOxaliplatin 50 mg/m2

50 mg/m2, 2h-civ, d1, d8, d21, d29 of radiotherapy and

DRUGFolinic Acid, 400 mg/m2

2h-civ day 22, 36, 50, 64, 78, 92, 106, 120, and 134 of therapyfor Control arm; 400 mg/m2, 2h-civ d 64, d78, d92, d106, d120, d134 of therapy for experimental arm

RADIATIONRadiotherapy control, 5x5 Gy: 25 Gy

Control arm: 5x5 Gy (total: 25 Gy) 5 fractions

DRUGCapecitabine, 1000 mg/m2

1000 mg/m2 (twice daily) day1-14 every three weeks instead of 5FU optional

DRUGOxaliplatin 85 mg/m2

85 mg/m2, 2h-civ, d64, d78, d92, d106, d120, d134 of therapy

RADIATIONradiotherapy experimental, 30 x 1,8 Gy: 54 Gy

30 x 1.8 Gy (total: 54 Gy), 5 fractions per week

DRUGCapecitabine, 825 mg/m2

825 mg/m2 bid, per os, on day 1-14, 22-35 of RT instead of 5FU optional

DRUGOxaliplatin, 130 mg/m2

day1every three weeks (optional)

Sponsors

Prof. Dr. med. Claus Rödel
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Masking description

multicentre, open-labeled, Phase III study

Intervention model description

Investigator-driven

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* diagnosis of rectal adenocarcinoma localised 0 - 12 cm from the anocutaneous line as measured by rigid rectoscopy (i.e. lower and middle third of the rectum) * Staging requirements: High-resolution, thin-sliced (i.e. 3mm) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis is the mandatory local staging procedure. * MRI-defined inclusion criteria: presence of at least one of the following high-risk conditions: * any cT3 if the distal extent of the tumor is \< 6 cm from the anocutaneous line, or * cT3c/d in the middle third of the rectum (≥ 6-12 cm) with MRI evidence of extramural tumor spread into the mesorectal fat of more than 5 mm (\>cT3b), or * cT3 with clear cN+ based on strict MRI-criteria * cT4 tumors, or * Tany middle/low third of rectum with clear MRI criteria for N+ * mrCRM+ (\< 1mm), or * Extramural venous invasion (EMVI+) * Trans-rectal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is additionally used when MRI is not definitive to exclude early cT1/T2 disease in the lower third of the rectum or early cT3a/b tumors in the middle third of the rectum. * Spiral-CT of the abdomen and chest to exclude distant metastases. * Aged at least 18 years. No upper age limit. * WHO/ECOG Performance Status 0-1 * Adequate haematological, hepatic, renal and metabolic function parameters: * Leukocytes ≥ 3.000/mm\^3, ANC ≥ 1.500/mm\^3, platelets ≥ 100.000/mm\^3, Hb \> 9 g/dl * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal * Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dl, SGOT-SGPT, and AP ≤ 3 x upper limit of normal • Informed consent of the patient

Exclusion criteria

* Lower border of the tumor localised more than 12 cm from the anocutaneous line as measured by rigid rectoscopy * Distant metastases (to be excluded by CT scan of the thorax and abdomen) * Prior antineoplastic therapy for rectal cancer * Prior radiotherapy of the pelvic region * Major surgery within the last 4 weeks prior to inclusion * Subject pregnant or breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant within 6 months after the end of treatment. * Subject (male or female) is not willing to use highly effective methods of Contraception during treatment and for 6 months after the end of treatment. * On-treatment participation in a clinical study in the period 30 days prior to inclusion * Previous or current drug abuse * Other concomitant antineoplastic therapy * Serious concurrent diseases, including neurologic or psychiatric disorders (incl. dementia and uncontrolled seizures), active, uncontrolled infections, active, disseminated coagulation disorder * Clinically significant cardiovascular disease in (incl. myocardial infarction, unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia) \< 6 months before enrolment * Prior or concurrent malignancy \< 3 years prior to enrolment in study (Exception: non-melanoma Skin cancer or cervical carcinoma FIGO stage 0-1), if the patient is continuously disease-free * Known allergic reactions on study medication * Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency * Psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule (these conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
organ preservation3 yearsit is defined as follows: survival with rectum intact, no major surgery, no stoma. Accordingly, the primary endpoint, organ preservation, will not be reached if any of the following occurs: (1) death, (2) any major surgery other than local excision (R0) performed after randomization, during TNT, at re-staging scheduled 22-24 weeks after start of TNT due to clinical non-cCR, or for any locoregional regrowth after initial cCR requiring salvage-TME, (3) any locoregional regrowth not amenable to salvage surgery, or (4) any stoma (non-re-converted protective stoma within 6 months after completion of TNT, or any stoma needed for toxicity or poor function), whichever occurs first.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Disease-free survival3 yearsDisease-free survival
Rate of clinical complete response after TNT:3 yearsTNT total neoadjuvant therapy
Rate of immediate TME after TNT3 yearsTNT total neoadjuvant therapy TME total mesorectal excision
Cumulative incidence of locoregional regrowth after cCR3 yearscCR clinical complete response
Rate of salvage surgery (LE/TME with or APR/stoma) after locoregional regrowth APR/stoma) after locoregional regrowth3 yearsLE local Exision; TME: Transanale endoscopic Mikrochirurgie; APR Abdomino perineal Rectum exstirpation
Cumulative incidence of local recurrence after (salvage) surgery surgery3 yearsCumulative incidence of local recurrence after (salvage) surgery
Postoperative complications of (salvage) surgery3 yearsPostoperative complications of (salvage) surgery
Rate of sphincter-sparing (salvage) surgery3 yearsRate of sphincter-sparing (salvage) surgery
Pathological TNM-staging3 yearsPathological tumor evaluations;TNM tumor staging
R0 resection rate; negative circumferential resection rate3 yearsR0 Removal of the tumor in healthy tissue
Tumor regression grading according to Dworak3 yearspathological response from scale 1-4 poor to very good ascending
Neoadjuvant rectal score3 yearsNeoadjuvant rectal score from low to high values means good to poor
Quality of TME according to MERCURY3 yearsTumor response using MRI scale 1-5 from good to poor descending
Acute and late toxicity assessment according to NCI CTCAE V.5.0) CTCAE V.5.0)3 YeearsCTCAE V.5.0
Quality of life C30 based on treatment arm and surgical procedures/organ preservation3 yearsQuality of life based on EORTC-QLQs-C30
functional outcome based on treatment arm and surgical procedures/organ preservation3 yearsfunctional outcome based on Wexner score
Quality of life CR29 based on treatment arm and surgical procedures/organ preservation3 yearsQuality of life based on EORTC-QLQs-CR29
Quality of life CPIN 20 based on treatment arm and surgical procedures/organ preservation3 yearsQuality of life based on EORTC-QLQs-CPIN20 Quality of life based on EORTC-QLQs-CPIN20
Cumulative incidence of distant metastases3 YearsCumulative incidence of distant metastases
Overall survival3 yearsOverall survival
Translational / biomarker studies3 yearsThe translational research program will include proteomics, genomics and immune profile assessment in primary tumor samples as well as peripheral bloods samples (liquid biopsy). Tumor tissue samples and blood will be collected, processed and stored using protocols. Primary tumor tissue with either fresh tissue or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue will be collected at two different time points: i) preoperative biopsy; ii) before/during surgical resection. Peripheral blood samples will be stored at three different time points: i) immediately before initiation of preoperative treatment (day 1); ii) during therapy assessment at week 22-24 and iii) at the time point of the first follow up.

Countries

Germany

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORClaus Roedel, Prof. Dr.

clinic for radiotherapy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 18, 2026