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Recruiting EARLY_Phase 1 NCT03594630

NCT03594630 Active Surveillance and Chemotherapy Before Surgery in Treating Participants With Stage II-III Rectal Cancer

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT03594630
Status Recruiting
Phase EARLY_Phase 1
Sponsor M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Condition Rectal Adenocarcinoma
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 120 participants
Start Date 2024-03-13
Primary Completion 2026-10-31

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
ChemotherapyPatient ObservationQuestionnaire Administration

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

Phase 1 is the earliest stage of human testing — safety and dosage are the primary focus. Visits are frequent and medical supervision is intensive. You will be among the first people to receive this treatment.

This trial targets 120 participants in total. It began in 2024-03-13 with a primary completion date of 2026-10-31.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

This pilot trial studies how well active surveillance and chemotherapy before surgery work in treating participants with stage II-III rectal cancer. Active surveillance involves monitoring participants for additional tumor growth after receiving cancer treatment. Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. It is not yet known whether deferring surgery after active surveillance and chemotherapy will work better in treating participants with stage II-III rectal cancer.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed diagnosis of rectal adenocarcinoma * Eligible for curative resection of rectal adenocarcinoma * Rectal tumor location =\< 12 cm from the anal verge as determined by endoscopy or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (if endoscopy report is not available or deemed inadequate my treating oncologist) * Nodal involvement confined to the radiation field * Radiologically measurable or clinically evaluable disease as defined in the protocol * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS): 0, 1 or 2 * Clinical Stage: Stage II and III. N2 disease is to be estimated as four or more lymph nodes that are \>= 10 mm. Clinical staging should be estimated based on the combination of the following assessments: physical exam by the primary surgeon including digital rectal exam (DRE), computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis and a pelvic MRI. If a pelvic MRI is performed, it is acceptable to perform CT of the chest/abdomen, omitting CT imaging of the pelvis. PET/CT is optional. * No known contraindication to standard (fluoropyrimidine-based) pelvic chemoradiation (e.g. dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase \[DPD\] deficiency) * Patient of child-bearing potential is willing to employ adequate contraception during treatment and after treatment, as directed by treating clinical team * Willing to provide written informed consent * Willing to return to enrolling medical site for all study assessments Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) * Diagnosis of MSI-H colorectal cancer at time of consent * Recurrent rectal cancer * Tumor is causing symptomatic bowel obstruction (patients who have diverting ostomy are eligible) * Any prior pelvic radiation * Other invasive malignancy undergoing active treatment. Patients receiving prior treatment that precludes standard chemoradiation or ability to receive consolidation/adjuvant chemotherapy will be excluded from survival analyses * Patients unwilling or unable to undergo pelvic MRI

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

George J. Chang

✉ gchang@mdanderson.org

📞 713-792-6940

Principal Investigator

George Chang

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT03594630 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Rectal Adenocarcinoma. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT03594630 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 1 trials are the first stage of human testing. The primary goal is to assess safety and determine appropriate dosage levels. Participants are closely monitored. These trials typically involve a small number of volunteers.

Is NCT03594630 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT03594630 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at gchang@mdanderson.org for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT03594630 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Houston, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT03594630 clinical trial?

NCT03594630 is sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The principal investigator is George Chang at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The trial plans to enroll 120 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology