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Implementation of a Tumor Response Assessment Program Integrating the Shared Medical Decision Into the Organ Preservation Strategy for Rectal Cancer Patients

Implementation of a Tumor Response Assessment Program Integrating Shared Medical Decision Making Into the Organ Preservation Strategy for Rectal Cancer Patients: Phase III Randomized - Multicenter

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06740357
Acronym
EVAREC
Enrollment
270
Registered
2024-12-18
Start date
2024-12-10
Completion date
2031-03-31
Last updated
2025-04-09

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

Conditions

Rectal Cancer

Brief summary

The adoption of total mesorectal excision (TME) has standardized rectal cancer surgery and improved oncological outcomes. In locally advanced rectal cancer, neoadjuvant radio chemotherapy (NACRT) has further improved oncological benefit. Although these strategies result in good 5-year disease-free survival rates, they are associated with significant morbidity, in particular permanent long-term bowel, urinary and sexual dysfunction. In rectal cancer management, the main objective of organ preservation is to avoid or reduce morbidity and impact on quality of life after rectal resection, without compromising oncological outcomes. The aim of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of a defined response monitoring program, including a shared decision process, as a strategy for assessing tumor response in locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. This is a national, phase III, randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial comparing the tumor response monitoring program with shared decision-making, versus standard tumor response assessment in organ preservation strategies in rectal cancer.

Interventions

OTHERTumor response monitoring program

three steps of tumor response evaluation (STEP 1 at 2 months, STEP 2 at 4 months, STEP 3 at 6 months after completion of neoadjuvant treatment): STEP 1: digital rectal examination, pelvic MRI, rectoscopy, TAP scan STEP 2: DRE, pelvic MRI, rectoscopy STEP 3: DRE, pelvic MRI, rectoscopy, TAP or PET scan

OTHERStandard evaluation of tumor response

Assessment at 2 months (+/- 7 days) after neoadjuvant treatment: digital rectal exam, pelvic MRI, rectoscopy, TAP scan

At each stage of the monitoring program and depending on the clinical and oncological results, the decision to preserve the rectum will be discussed with the patient according to a shared-decision program.

OTHERDecision-making according to national recommendations

The decision to preserve the rectum is based on assessment at 2 months after completion of neoadjuvant treatment (standard of care since the GRECCAR2 trial).

OTHERFollow-up

Every 3 months for 2 years, then every 6 months for the third year

Sponsors

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient aged 18 to 80 * Histologically proven lieberkuhnian adenocarcinoma with MSS status ; * Patient who has or is due to receive neoadjuvant treatment (4 to 6 courses of (m)FOLFIRINOX or FOLFOX chemotherapy + CAP 50 radiochemotherapy or CAP 50 radiochemotherapy alone); * BEFORE any neoadjuvant treatment: * Tumor classified T2T3 (on MRI) * N0-N1 (≤ 3 positive lymph nodes \* or size ≤ 8 mm) (on MRI) * \* positive node = node size \> 5 mm minor axis and/or morphologically suspicious appearance Tumor size ≤4 cm (ON MRI) * No distant metastasis (M0)\_ TAP scan or PET scan * ≤ 8 cm from anal margin (On MRI) (Clinical examination\*) \*if the clinical examination is not possible, then the source data is that of the MRI. * No invasion of the anal canal and/or sphincters (internal and external) (On MRI) * Operable patient * Ability to comply with the protocol and follow-up appointments (repeated assessment consultations and close follow-up if randomized to the Experimental Group); * Person affiliated with or benefiting from a social security scheme; * Free and informed consent signed by the patient.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with a history of chemotherapy or pelvic irradiation (excluding neoadjuvant treatment) * Contraindication to pelvic MRI * Patients with MSI status undergoing immunotherapy * Other concomitant cancer or history of cancer within 5 years, with the exception of carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin carcinoma or any other carcinoma in situ, considered cured * Women who are pregnant, likely to become pregnant, or who are breast-feeding; * Person under guardianship, curatorship or safeguard of justice, or person deprived of liberty. * Unable to undergo medical follow-up for geographical, social or psychological reasons.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Organ preservation rate2 years after the start of neoadjuvant treatmentAn organ-preserving patient is defined as a patient who has not undergone rectal resection.

Countries

France

Contacts

Primary ContactQuentin DENOST
q.denost@bordeaux-colorectal-institute.fr05 47 50 15 75

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026