This study is for adults with locally advanced rectal cancer that has not spread to distant organs, and is classified as pMMR or MSS (which means it typically does not respond well to immunotherapy alone). The purpose is to see if a new combination of treatments given before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) can more effectively shrink the tumor and increase the chance of curing the cancer or avoiding surgical removal of the rectum. The main things you will do in this study are: 1. Receive a Short Course of Radiation Therapy (5 treatments over 1 week). 2. After a 1-week break, receive a combination of three drugs: 1)Nal-IRI (a special form of the chemotherapy drug Irinotecan, designed to have fewer side effects) 2)Capecitabine (a chemotherapy pill) 3)Camrelizumab (an immunotherapy drug) 3. This drug combination is given in 8 cycles, with each cycle lasting 3 weeks. 4. After finishing all cycles, the doctors will carefully check how the tumor responded. The most important goal of this research is to see how many patients achieve a "Complete Response," which means: 1. No sign of cancer cells in the surgically removed tissue (Pathological Complete Response, pCR), or 2. No sign of cancer can be found through clinical exams, scans, and scopes, allowing the patient to avoid immediate surgery under a "Watch and Wait" strategy (Clinical Complete Response, cCR). Researchers will also monitor: 1. The safety of the treatment and its side effects. 2. How well the cancer is controlled over time (e.g., 3-year survival without cancer recurrence). 3. The rate of successful tumor removal and the rate of preserving the anus.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
44
Short-course radiotherapy is a radiation therapy regimen delivered over a condensed period. In this study, patients will receive a total dose of 25 Gray (Gy), administered in 5 fractions (5 Gy per fraction), delivered once daily over five consecutive days. This intervention constitutes the initial phase of the neoadjuvant treatment protocol.
Liposomal irinotecan is a nanoliposomal formulation of the chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan, designed to enhance tumor drug delivery and reduce systemic toxicity. In this study, it will be administered intravenously at a dose of 60 mg/m² on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle, for a total of 8 cycles, following the completion of short-course radiotherapy.
Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine carbamate prodrug that is converted to 5-fluorouracil in the body. In this study, it will be administered orally at a dose of 1000 mg/m² twice daily (BID) from Days 1 to 14 of each 21-day cycle, for a total of 8 cycles, in combination with liposomal irinotecan and camrelizumab.
Camrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor on immune cells, functioning as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. In this study, it will be administered intravenously at a fixed dose of 200 mg on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle, for a total of 8 cycles, in combination with liposomal irinotecan and capecitabine.
Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Complete Response Rate
The primary endpoint is the Complete Response (CR) rate after completion of neoadjuvant therapy, which is a composite of pathological complete response (pCR) and clinical complete response (cCR). 1. pCR is defined as the absence of viable tumor cells in the surgical specimen (TRG1a according to the Becker tumor regression grading system) in patients who undergo surgery. 2. cCR is defined as the achievement of a ycT0N0 status, assessed by clinical evaluations (including digital rectal exam, endoscopy, MRI, etc.), in patients who enter a "Watch and Wait" strategy without immediate surgery.
Time frame: From the start of treatment until approximately 2 weeks after the completion of all neoadjuvant therapy, assessed over a period of approximately 24-26 weeks.
3 year Disease-Free Survival
Defined as the time from the start of treatment until disease recurrence, distant metastasis, or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.
Time frame: 3 years from the start of treatment.
3 year Overall Survival
Defined as the time from the start of treatment until death from any cause.
Time frame: 3 years from the start of treatment.
Objective Response Rate
Defined as the proportion of patients with a best overall response of Complete Response (CR) or Partial Response (PR) as per RECIST 1.1 criteria.
Time frame: From the start of treatment until approximately 2 weeks after the completion of all neoadjuvant therapy, assessed over a period of approximately 24-26 weeks.
R0 Resection Rate
Defined as the proportion of patients who undergo surgery and achieve a microscopically negative margin resection (R0 resection).
Time frame: Assessed at the time of surgery following neoadjuvant therapy, over a period of approximately 24-30 weeks from the start of treatment.
Tumor Regression Grade
Assessed on the surgical specimen using the Becker grading system: TRG 1a (complete response), TRG 1b (\<10% residual), TRG 2 (10%-50% residual), TRG 3 (\>50% residual).
Time frame: Assessed during pathological evaluation after surgery, over a period of approximately 24-30 weeks from the start of treatment.
Sphincter Preservation Rate
Defined as the proportion of patients undergoing radical surgery who successfully retain anal sphincter function (without a permanent colostomy).
Time frame: Confirmed immediately after surgery, over a period of approximately 24-30 weeks from the start of treatment.
Incidence of Treatment-Related Adverse Events
The incidence and severity of treatment-related adverse events assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 5.0.
Time frame: From the time of informed consent until 30 days after the last dose of study treatment, assessed over a period of approximately 28-31 weeks.
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