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Neoadjuvant RCT Versus CT for Patients With Locally Advanced, Potentially Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the GEJ

RACE-trial: Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy Versus Chemotherapy for Patients With Locally Advanced, Potentially Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) A Randomized Phase III Joint Study of the AIO, ARO and DGAV

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04375605
Enrollment
342
Registered
2020-05-05
Start date
2020-06-03
Completion date
2026-06-30
Last updated
2026-07-07

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

Conditions

Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

Brief summary

This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, stratified, controlled, open-label study comparing neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy with FLOT versus FLOT chemotherapy alone für patients with locally advanced, potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ)

Detailed description

The RACE trial seeks to demonstrate superiority of preoperative FLOT induction chemotherapy followed by preoperative radiochemotherapy and postoperative FLOT chemotherapy over perioperative FLOT chemotherapy without radiotherapy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction undergoing adequate oncological surgery. Eligible patients will be randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups, i.e. preoperative chemotherapy (Arm A) or preoperative chemotherapy with subsequent preoperative radiochemotherapy (arm B), both followed by resection and postoperative completion of chemotherapy. Randomization will occur in a 1:1 ratio with stratification by primary tumor site (Siewert I vs. Siewert II/III). Arm A: Patients randomized to Arm A (control arm) will be treated with four preoperative cycles of FLOT. Cycles will be repeated every two weeks. The preoperative chemotherapy duration in Arm A is eight weeks. Surgical resection will follow 4-6 weeks after day 1 of the last cycle of neoadjuvant therapy. Postoperative chemotherapy will start 6-12 weeks after surgery and consists of another four cycles of FLOT every two weeks. The total treatment period is 25-32 weeks. Arm B: Patients randomized in Arm B (experimental arm) will be treated with two cycles of FLOT every two weeks. Radiochemotherapy will start three weeks after day 1 of the second cycle and consists of oxaliplatin and infusional 5-fluorouracil plus concurrent radiotherapy given to a dose of 45 Gy (25 daily fractions with 1.8 Gy) over five weeks. The preoperative treatment duration is 10 weeks. Surgical resection will follow 4-6 weeks after last treatment with chemotherapy / radiation. Postoperative chemotherapy will start 6-12 weeks after surgery and consists of four cycles of FLOT every two weeks. The total treatment period is 26-33 weeks.

Interventions

DRUG5-Fluorouracil

Day 1 q2w: 2600 mg/m² IV over 24 hours

DRUGCalcium folinate

Day 1 q2w: 200 mg/m² IV over 2 hours

DRUGOxaliplatin

Day 1 q2w: 85 mg/m² IV over 2 hours

DRUGDocetaxel

Day 1 q2w: 50 mg/m² IV over 2 hours

RADIATIONRadiation

25 fractions (5 each week over 5 weeks) each 1,8 Gy to a total of 45 Gy

DRUGOxaliplatin during radiotherapy

Day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: 45 mg/m² IV over 2 hours

DRUG5-Fluorouracil during radiotherapy

day 1 - 33: 225 mg/m²/day IV continuously

Sponsors

Universitätsmedizin Mannheim
Lead SponsorOTHER
Institut für Klinische Krebsforschung IKF GmbH at Krankenhaus Nordwest
CollaboratorOTHER
Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V., Bonn (Germany)
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Histologically proven, locally advanced and potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) (Siewert I- III) that is: cT3-4, any N, M0 or cT2 N+, M0 according to AJCC 8th edition 2. Patients\* must be candidates for potential curative resection as determined by the treating surgeon 3. ECOG performance status 0-1 4. Age 18 years or above 5. Adequate hematologic function with absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 10\^9/l, platelets ≥ 100 x 10\^9/l and hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 mg/dl 6. INR \<1.5 and aPTT\<1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) within 7 days prior to randomization 7. Adequate liver function as measured by serum transaminases (ASAT, ALAT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN and total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN 8. Adequate renal function with serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN 9. QTc interval (Bazett\*) ≤ 440 ms 10. Written informed consent obtained before randomization 11. Negative pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential within 7 days of commencing study treatment. Males and females of reproductive potential must agree to practice highly effective\*\*\* contraceptive measures during the study and for 6 months after the end of study treatment. Male patients must also agree to refrain from father a child during treatment and up to 6 months afterwards and additionally to use a condom during treatment period. Their female partner of childbearing potential must also agree to use an adequate contraceptive measure. * \*There are no data that indicate special gender distribution. Therefore, patients will be enrolled in the study gender-independently. * \*\* formula for QTc interval calculation (Bazett): QTc= ((QT) ̅" (ms)" )/√(RR (sec))= ((QT) ̅" (ms)" )/√(60/(Frequence (1/min))) * \*\*\* highly effective (i.e. failure rate of \<1% per year when used consistently and correctly) methods: intravaginal and transdermal combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception; injectable and implantable progestogen-only hormonal contraception; intrauterine device (IUD); intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS); bilateral tubal occlusion; vasectomised partner; sexual abstinence (complete abstinence is defined as refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of risk associated with the study treatments).

Exclusion criteria

1. Evidence of metastatic disease (exclusion of distant metastasis by CT of thorax and abdomen, bone scan or MRI \[if osseous lesions are suspected due to clinical signs\]) 2. Past or current history (within the last 5 years prior to treatment start) of other malignancies. Patients with curatively treated basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix are eligible 3. Evidence of peripheral sensory neuropathy \> grade 1 according to CTCAE version 4.03 4. Patients with other significant underlying medical conditions that may be aggravated by the study treatment or are not controlled 5. Pregnant or lactating females 6. Patients medically unfit for chemotherapy and radiotherapy 7. Patients receiving any immunotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy other than defined by the protocol. The participation in another clinical trial with the use of investigational agents, chemotherapy or radiotherapy during the trial is not permitted 8. Known hypersensitivity against 5-FU, folinc acid, oxaliplatin or docetaxel 9. Other known contraindications against 5-FU, folinic acid, oxaliplatin, or docetaxel 10. Clinically significant active coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure, NYHA III-IV 11. Clinically significant valvular defect 12. Other severe internal disease or acute infection 13. Peripheral polyneuropathy \> NCI Grade II according to CTCAE version 4.03 14. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Comparison of PFS between armsup to 5 yearsto compare PFS in patients with resectable GEJ adenocarcinoma receiving perioperative FLOT alone versus perioperative FLOT combined with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy where PFS ist defined as the time from randomization to disease progression or disease recurrence after surgery or death from any cause

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall survival (OS)up to 5 yearsOverall survival (OS) where OS is defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause
R0 resection rateafter surgery, approx. 12 weeks after randomizationR0 resection rate where R0 resection is defined as microscopically margin negative resection with no gross or microscopic tumor remains in the areas of the primary tumor and/or samples regianal lymph nodes based on evaluation by the local pathologist.
Number of harvested lymph nodesafter surgery, approx. 12 weeks after randomizationNumber of harvested lymph nodes during surgery
Site of tumor relapse5 yearsSite of tumor relapse if tumor recurrence/relapse occurs
Overall survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years1 year, 3 years, 5 yearsOverall survival rate is defined as the proportion of patients known to be alive at 1, 3 or 5 years after randomization
Patient reported outcomes: quality of life according to questionnaire EORTC-QLQ-C30From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to approximately 68 monthsquality of life scores according to validated questionnaires EORTC-QLQ-C30
Patient reported outcomes: quality of life according to questionnaire EORTC module OG25From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to approximately 68 monthsquality of life scores according to validated questionnaire EORTC module OG25

Countries

Germany

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRalf-Dieter Hofheinz, Prof. Dr.

Universitätsmedizin Mannheim

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jul 8, 2026