This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, stratified, controlled, open-label study comparing preoperative FOLFOX versus postoperative risk-adapted chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and low risk for local failure
Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer are generally treated with preoperative 5-FU- or capecitabine-based chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) and total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery in order to decrease the rate of local failure. In patients with low risk for local failure in the middle third of the rectum (cT3a/b, N-) as determined with quality controlled MRI, the German S3 guidelines and the ESMO clinical practice guidelines state that neoadjuvant radiotherapy may be omitted. However, distant failure rate is still substantial in the range of 20-25% in these patients highlighting the need for more effective systemic treatment. The hereby proposed ACO/ARO/AIO-18.2 randomized trial incorporates three novel aspects: (1) patient selection relies on strict and quality controlled MRI features and therefore identifies a cohort without imminent need for radiotherapy, (2) the sequence of chemotherapy and surgery is changed in a way that chemotherapy is administered preoperatively to increase the rate of patients treated with chemotherapy, and (3) three months of neoadjuvant FOLFOX or XELOX (instead of up to 6 months adjuvant chemotherapy) are used as a sole perioperative treatment in order to administer effective doses of the presumably most effective perioperative treatment at an early time point during the course of disease. Thus, patients with locally advanced rectal cancer but low risk for local failure (cT1/2N+ in all thirds of the rectum, cT3a/b N- in the middle third, and cT3-4 Nany in the upper third) will be included and randomized between three months of neoadjuvant FOLFOX/XELOX in Arm A and primary resection of the tumor followed by risk (i.e. stage) adapted chemotherapy in Arm B.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
550
neoadjuvant application Folinic acid: 400 mg/m2, 2h i.v., on day 1 Oxaliplatin: 85 mg/m2, 2-6h i.v., on day 1 5-FU: 2400 mg/m2, 46-48h i.v., on day 1. Cycles are repeated on day 15. A total of 6 cycles are administered.
neoadjuvant application Capecitabine: 1,000 mg/m2 bid, po, on days 1-14 Oxaliplatin: 130 mg/m2, 2-6h i.v. day 1 Cycles are repeated on day 22. A total of 4 cycles are administered.
adjuvant application Folinic acid: 400 mg/m2, 2h i.v., on day 1 Oxaliplatin: 85 mg/m2, 2-6h i.v., on day 1 5-FU: 2400 mg/m2, 46-48h i.v., on day 1. Cycles are repeated on day 15. A total of 6 cycles are administered.
Unversity Hospital Mannheim
Mannheim, Germany
RECRUITINGdisease-free survival
time from randomisation to one of the following events: no surgery or non-radical (R2) surgery of the primary tumour, locoregional recurrence after R0/1 resection of the primary tumour, second primary colorectal or other cancer, metastatic disease or progression, or death from any cause, whichever occurred first.
Time frame: up to 3 years
Acute and late toxicity
assessment of acute and late toxicity according to NCI CTCAE version 5.0
Time frame: From date of informed consent until the End of Treatment or 30 days after the last dose of study treatment
Compliance (completion rate) of chemotherapy
Rate of completion of administered chemotherapy
Time frame: From date of randomization until end of chemotherapy, approx. 12 (arm A) respectively up to 34 (arm B) weeks after randomization
Surgical morbidity and complications
Surgical morbidity and complications if surgery is performed and events occur
Time frame: After surgery, approx. 2 (arm B) respectively 20 (arm A) weeks after randomization
Pathological UICC-staging, including pCR (ypT0N0) rate
Pathological staging according UICC criteria, including detailed information about pathologically assessed complete response rate (ypT0N0)
Time frame: After surgery, approx. 2 (arm B) respectively 20 (arm A) weeks after randomization
R0 resection rate, Negative circumferential resection rate (CRM > 1mm)
defined as microscopically margin negative resection with no gross or microscopic tumor remains in the area of the primary tumor and/or samples regional lymph nodes based on evaluation by the local pathologist
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adjuvant application Capecitabine: 1,000 mg/m2 bid, po, on days 1-14 Oxaliplatin: 130 mg/m2, 2-6h i.v. day 1 Cycles are repeated on day 22. A total of 4 cycles are administered.
adjuvant application Capecitabine: 1,250 mg/m2 bid, po, on days 1-14 Cycles are repeated on day 22. A total of 8 cycles are administered.
adjuvant application Folinic acid 2h i.v. 500 mg/m² 5-FU 2,600mg/m² (24h infusion) Days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36; cycle is repeated day 57 (representing one cycle); a total of 3 cycles should be administered.
adjuvant application Folinic acid 2h i.v. 200 mg/m² days 1 and 2 5-FU 400mg/m² bolus followed by 600mg/m² 22h infusion days 1 and 2 The cycle is repeated day 15; a total of 12 cycles should be administered.
Time frame: After surgery, approx. 2 (arm B) respectively 20 (arm A) weeks after randomization
Tumor regression grading according to Dworak in the experimental arm
Grading of tumor regression according to Dworak in the experimental arm
Time frame: After surgery, approx. 2 (arm B) respectively 20 (arm A) weeks after randomization
Rate of sphincter-sparing surgery
Rate of sphincter-sparing surgery if surgery is performed
Time frame: After surgery, approx. 2 (arm B) respectively 20 (arm A) weeks after randomization
Rate of W&W with or without local regrowth
Number of performed watch\&wait approaches with or without local regrowth compared to planned and performed surgery
Time frame: Up to 5 years after end of treatment
Cumulative incidence of local and distant recurrences
Total number of local and distant recurrences, if they occur
Time frame: Up to 5 years after end of treatment
Overall survival
Overall survival is defined as the time interval between the date of randomization and the date of death of any cause. Patients who are still alive when last traced will be censored at the date of last follow-up
Time frame: Up to at least 3 years and until 5 years
Patient reported outcome: Quality of life according to questionnaire EORTC-QLQ-C30
Quality of life scores according to validated questionnaires EORTC-QLQ-C30, based on treatment arm, and surgical procedures. 30 questions; score values from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very much) respectively from 1 (very poor) to 7 (excellent). Score outcome depends on score type.
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever occured first, assessed up to approximately 68 months
Patient reported outcome: Quality of life according to questionnaire EORTC-QLQ-CR29
Quality of life scores according to validated questionnaires EORTC-QLQ-CR29, based on treatment arm, and surgical procedures. 29 questions; score values from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very much). Score outcome depends on score type.
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever occured first, assessed up to approximately 68 months
Patient reported outcome: Functional outcome according to Wexner score
Functional score according to validated Wexner score, based on treatment arm, and surgical procedures. 5 questions; five score values from "never" to "1 per day or more often". The more often the worse the outcome.
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever occured first, assessed up to approximately 68 months