A Phase 2 interventional study of Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy in Anal Cancer, sponsored by University of Vermont Medical Center. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-15.
Sponsored by University of Vermont Medical Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This phase 2 single-arm study will evaluate whether a shortened course of mildly hypofractionated radiation therapy given with standard concurrent chemotherapy (mitomycin C and capecitabine) can provide acceptable tumor control in patients with high-risk non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma. Standard chemoradiation for anal cancer typically requires approximately 5.5 to 6 weeks of daily radiation, which can create substantial logistical burden for patients and caregivers, particularly those in rural settings.
The investigational approach uses a 23-fraction radiation regimen designed to shorten treatment duration while maintaining biologically equivalent tumor-directed dosing compared with standard treatment. The primary question is whether this shorter chemoradiation regimen can achieve an acceptable 6-month complete clinical response rate while maintaining manageable toxicity.
Standard chemoradiation for high-risk non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma typically requires approximately 27 to 30 fractions of radiation delivered over 5.5 to 6 weeks with concurrent chemotherapy. While effective, this prolonged treatment course creates substantial logistical burden for patients and caregivers, particularly for those living in rural regions with limited access to radiation oncology facilities.
This phase 2, single-arm study evaluates a shortened hypofractionated chemoradiation approach designed to reduce treatment duration while maintaining biologically comparable tumor-directed dosing relative to conventional treatment regimens. The investigational radiation regimen uses a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) approach delivering 23 fractions over approximately 4.5 weeks, with reduced elective nodal dosing and concurrent standard-of-care chemotherapy consisting of mitomycin C and capecitabine.
The study focuses on patients with high-risk non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma, including larger primary tumors and/or node-positive disease, a population for whom treatment de-escalation strategies are generally not appropriate. The primary objective is to evaluate whether this shortened regimen achieves an acceptable 6-month complete clinical response rate. Secondary objectives include assessment of survival outcomes, disease control, treatment interruptions, clinician- and patient-reported toxicity, quality of life, and treatment burden.
Exploratory correlative analyses will evaluate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) collected at protocol-specified time points to assess correlations between circulating biomarkers and clinical outcomes. The study also includes optional qualitative patient and caregiver interviews to better understand treatment experience and logistical burden associated with cancer therapy.
297 studies on the registry are indexed under Anus Neoplasms; 74 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 24 is below the median of 66 across 211 interventional studies indexed under Anus Neoplasms.
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T2 tumor measuring ≥4 cm T3 or T4 disease Any node-positive disease
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Able to have children. For women this usually means from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery; for men, unless permanently sterile. Read who the line is about — participants, women, men, or their partners.
Criteria about it usually ask for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Histologically or cytologically confirmed
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Karnofsky performance status (KPS)
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Creatinine clearance (CrCl)
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Reproductive potential
Able to have children. For women this usually means from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery; for men, unless permanently sterile. Read who the line is about — participants, women, men, or their partners.
Criteria about it usually ask for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants receive mildly hypofractionated radiation therapy delivered in 23 fractions using a simultaneous integrated boost approach with concurrent standard-of-care mitomycin C and capecitabine chemotherapy.
Radiation: Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy
Participants receive mildly hypofractionated radiation therapy delivered in 23 fractions using a simultaneous integrated boost approach, given concurrently with standard-of-care mitomycin C and capecitabine chemotherapy.
Complete Clinical Response Rate at 6 Months
Proportion of participants achieving complete clinical response, defined as absence of tumor and malignant ulceration in the anal canal and perianal skin on digital rectal examination and/or anoscopy, with resolution of palpable inguinal lymphadenopathy if present at baseline. Biopsy may be used when clinically indicated to confirm persistent disease.
Time frame: 6 months after start of radiation therapy
Colostomy-Free Survival
Time from completion of treatment to colostomy placement or last follow-up without colostomy.
Time frame: 2 years
Disease-Free Survival
Time from study registration to disease progression, recurrence, or death from any cause.
Time frame: 2 years
Locoregional Control
Proportion of participants without locoregional disease failure involving the primary tumor or regional lymph node sites.
Time frame: 2 years
Local Control Rate
Proportion of participants without local recurrence at the primary tumor site.
Time frame: 2 years
Regional Control Rate
Proportion of participants without recurrence in regional lymph node sites.
Time frame: 2 years
Elective Regional Control Rate
Proportion of participants without recurrence in electively treated nodal regions.
Time frame: 2 years
Distant Metastasis-Free Survival
Time from study registration to development of distant metastatic disease or death.
Time frame: 2 years
Overall Survival
Time from study registration to death from any cause.
Time frame: 2 years
Treatment Interruption Rate
Proportion of participants experiencing interruption or delay in planned protocol treatment.
Time frame: During treatment (approximately 5 weeks)
Treatment-Related Toxicity
Incidence of clinician-reported treatment-related adverse events graded according to CTCAE version 6.0.
Time frame: Baseline through 24 months
Patient-Reported Treatment-Related Symptoms
Patient-reported gastrointestinal, genitourinary, skin, and functional symptoms assessed using PRO-CTCAE.
Time frame: Baseline through 24 months
Fecal Incontinence Severity Index Score
The Fecal Incontinence Severity Index is a patient-reported measure of fecal incontinence severity based on the frequency of accidental leakage of gas, mucus, liquid stool, and solid stool. Total scores range from 0 to 61, with higher scores indicating more severe fecal incontinence.
Time frame: Baseline through 24 months
Hazard Ratio for Clinical Recurrence According to HPV ctDNA Detection Status
HPV ctDNA will be measured in serial plasma samples using a laboratory-based HPV ctDNA assay and categorized as detectable or undetectable. We will assess the correlation between baseline HPV ctDNA levels and selected clinical features via a Wilcoxon test. We will test for correlations between HPV ctDNA detection and recurrence-free survival using a landmark Cox proportional hazards model, with recurrence-free survival compared using the log-rank test Clinical recurrence will be based on radiographic imaging, endoscopic assessment, and/or clinical examination, as determined by the evaluating physician. HPV ctDNA detection will not be considered a recurrence event.
Time frame: Baseline through 24 months
Patient and Caregiver Treatment Experience Assessed Through Qualitative Interviews
Patient and caregiver experiences will be assessed using semi-structured Patient and Caregiver/Support Person Experience Interviews. Interview responses will be reviewed to identify common themes related to treatment burden, convenience, travel requirements, caregiver impact, treatment tolerance, and perceptions of the shortened treatment course.
Time frame: Approximately 3 months after treatment
Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale Domain Scores
The Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale measures quality of life across four domains: lifestyle, coping/behavior, depression/self-perception, and embarrassment. Domain scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline through 24 months
Baseline HPV ctDNA Levels According to Selected Clinical Features
Baseline HPV ctDNA levels will be measured in plasma using a laboratory-based HPV ctDNA assay. Correlations between baseline HPV ctDNA levels and selected demographic and disease-related clinical features will be assessed using a Wilcoxon test.
Time frame: Baseline
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared because no IPD-sharing plan has been established for this small investigator-initiated study. Study findings may be reported in aggregate form.
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University of Vermont Medical Center