An interventional study of Boost in Rectal Cancer, sponsored by UMC Utrecht. Status unknown at 1 site in Netherlands. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-09-25.
Sponsored by UMC Utrecht · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Randomized controlled trial in which the effect is investigated of a radiation boost in addition to standard chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer on complete response rate defined as pathological complete response, in those who undergo surgery, or 2-years local recurrence-free survival (2y-LRFS), in those who opted for a wait and see approach. Secondary objectives are adverse events due to chemoradiation (acute, perioperative and late toxicity), tumor response assessed with MRI, the impact of the boost on local and distant recurrence and survival as well as patient-reported quality of life and workability. The need for this comprehensive study is emphasized by the sub-optimal (radiation-) methods, heterogeneity between and poor reporting in the few previous trials in this field.
Rationale: The current treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer consists of pre-operative chemoradiation treatment (CRT) (50 Gray (Gy) in 25 fractions) followed by surgical resection, according to T-/N-stage, circumferential resection margin (CRM) and tumor localization (see table 1). After this neo-adjuvant treatment approximately 15% of patients show pathological complete response (pCR), i.e.no residual tumor in the resected specimen on pathologic examination. Patients with pCR have a lower risk of local and distant recurrences and significantly longer disease-free and overall survival. Furthermore, in these patients surgery could possibly have been omitted. Selected patients with a clinical complete response (cCR), defined prior to surgery by rectoscopy, rectal examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may opt for an organ-preserving therapy, a so called wait and see approach.
Response to chemoradiation occurs in a dose dependent fashion. Therefore, recent trials aimed to improve prognosis by radiation dose-escalation that resulted in improved pCR rates. Toxicity rates associated with radiation doses above 60 Gy are manageable and differ between studies; from increased to comparable or even lower toxicity. Moreover, dose escalation may increase the proportion of patients eligible for organ-preserving therapy.
Objective: We study whether addition of a radiation boost to standard chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer increases the complete response rate defined as pathological complete response, in those who undergo surgery, or 2-years local recurrence-free survival (2y-LRFS), in those who opted for a wait and see approach. Secondary objectives are adverse events due to chemoradiation (acute, perioperative and late toxicity), tumor response assessed with MRI, the impact of the boost on local and distant recurrence and survival as well as patient-reported quality of life and workability. The need for this comprehensive study is emphasized by the sub-optimal (radiation-) methods, heterogeneity between and poor reporting in the few previous trials in this field.
Study design: Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial, nested within a prospective cohort according to the 'cohort multiple randomized controlled trial' (cmRCT) design.
Study population: Rectal cancer patients participating in a prospective cohort (the PLCRC project) and diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the rectum whom will undergo chemoradiation based on clinical criteria (see table 1 section 1.2.1).
Intervention: An irradiation boost of 15 Gy delivered to the gross tumor volume (GTV) in 5 fractions in addition to the standard chemoradiation treatment of 50 Gy. Thereby increasing the total GTV dose to 65 Gy.
Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoint is complete response either defined as pathological complete response (pCR) in patients who undergo surgery, assessed by standardized pathologic examination of the surgical specimen, or 2-years local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) after chemoradiation in patients who opted for a wait and see approach. Secondary outcomes are treatment acute, perioperative and late toxicity, tumor response assessed with MRI, patient-reported quality of life and workability, local recurrence and (disease-specific) survival.
1,762 studies on the registry are indexed under Rectal Neoplasms; 518 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 128 is above the median of 65 across 1,298 interventional studies indexed under Rectal Neoplasms.
Browse Rectal Neoplasms studies →UMC Utrecht is the lead sponsor of 350 studies on the registry; 80 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion criteria
Boost radiation consists of 5 fractions of 3 Gy (total 15 Gy) delivered to the tumor (Gross Tumor Volume) additional to standard chemoradiation of 50 Gy with Capecitabine.
Radiation: Boost
Standard chemoradiation consisting of 25 x 2 Gy (total 50 Gy) with Capecitabine.
External Beam radiation delivered using intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT) planning, consisting of 15 Gy (in 5 sequential fractions).
Complete response rate
The primary endpoint is complete response either defined as pathological complete response (pCR) in patients who undergo surgery, assessed by standardized pathologic examination of the surgical specimen, or 2-years local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) after chemoradiation in patients who opted for a wait and see approach.
Time frame: pathologic examination following surgery, at aproximately 13-15 weeks (control arm) or 14-16 weeks (boost arm) after randomization or clinical complete respons of 2 years after first response assessment.
Acute toxicity in common toxicity criteria for adverse events (CTCAE).
Outcomes are assessed according to Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (v4.0).
Time frame: Until surgery at 8-10 weeks post chemoradiation (which is 13-15 weeks (control) or 14-16 weeks (boost) post randomization
Patient reported quality of life
at baseline and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment. Patient reported outcome (Quality of life (QoL)) is measured by validated questionnaires. QoL: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and CR-29 (these acronyms indicate cancer and colorectal cancer specific questionnaires.
Time frame: at baseline and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment.
Tumor response on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
During (week 2) and after (7-8 weeks post) chemoradiation tumor response is assessed by (several) MRI (sequences such as T1, T2 and DWI).
Time frame: at week 2 during chemoradiation and week 7 post chemoradiation.
Patient reported workability
validated questionnaires. Patient reported outcome (workability) is measured by Workability index.
Time frame: at baseline and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment.
Surgical complication
Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit criteria for surgical complication. This includes wound-infection, wound-healing (time), hospitalization (time), supportive treatment.
Time frame: untill 30 days after surgery, which is 17-19 weeks (control) or 18-20 weeks (boost) post randomization
(disease-free) survival
Survival is measured, as well as other clinical data, in the PICNIC Cohort (ProspectIve data CollectioN Initiative on Colorectal cancer) reviewed by Dutch Medical Ethics Committee @ University Medical Center Utrecht, under number 12-510.
Time frame: up to death of included patients, for a maximum of 60 years post-randomization.
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