Non Inferiority Study of Preoperative Chemotherapy Without Pelvic Irradiation for Rectal Cancer

NCT ID: NCT03875781

Last Updated: 2026-01-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

540 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-06-05

Study Completion Date

2026-12-05

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study is a non-inferiority phase III randomised trial comparing preoperative chemotherapy alone (modified FOLFIRINOX) to chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy in patients with primary resectable locally advanced rectal cancer. The primary endpoint of the study is 3-year progression free survival.

Expected 3 year PFS rate in the preoperative chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy arm is 75%. This hazard rate, in an exponential survival model, corresponds to a decrease in the 3-year PFS rate on the preoperative chemotherapy arm to 67%. The study will randomize 540 patients (270 in the chemotherapy group and 270 in the chemoradiotherapy group) in 42 french academic centers.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

This study is a national, multicenter, open-label randomized, 2-arm phase III non-inferiority trial.

Patients with mid or low LARC (cT3N0 or cT1-T3N+ with CRM \> 2 mm on pretreatment MRI) will be randomized to two arms of treatment: one experimental arm with systemic FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy for 3 months and one control arm with systemic FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy for 3 months followed by conventional standardized radiochemotherapy (intensified-modulated radiotherapy 50Gy + capecitabine). The choice of FOLFIRINOX for preoperative chemotherapy is based on recent data regarding its safety and efficacy rectal cancer with or without metastatic disease. Since the annual world meeting of ASCO 2020, a new standard of treatment has been adopted using the combination of chemotherapy followed by radiochemotherapy that has been show to improve disease free survival in phase III controlled randomized trial (Conroy et al, J Clin Oncol 38: 2020 (suppl; abstr 4007).

All patients will have reassessment MRI after preoperative treatment and before surgery.

Objectives and study endpoints

\- primary endpoint : 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) from the time to randomization. In this trial, a modified definition of PFS will be used for the primary endpoint. The rationale for using this modified definition of PFS is to better assess time to failure of the whole treatment strategy (preoperative treatment and surgery).

Progression will be assessed as follows:

* progression during preoperative treatment and before surgery: circumferential resection margin ≤ 2mm at MRI reeassessemnt and diagnosis of any new distant lesion whatever the site (liver, lung, peritoneum, adrenal) are considered as progression events.
* progression after surgery: recurrence/progression after surgery or death, whatever comes first.

* Secondary endpoints: treatment related toxicity, treatment compliance, R0 resection rate, sphincter saving surgery rate, postoperative morbidity and mortality rates, loco-regional recurrence free survival, overall survival, bowel and sexual functions at diagnosis, quality of life, radiologic and pathologic response after preoperative treatment.

Statistical analysis A sample size of 518 patients, based on an expected accrual duration of 36 months, 60 months follow-up, and an expected 3 year PFS rate in the preoperative chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy arm of 75%, is expected to provide 239 PFS events required to provide 80% power to declare non-inferiority of the preoperative chemotherapy arm when the true hazard ratio between arms is 1.0 (H1). This design has a global type one-error rate of 0.05 if the true hazard ratio between arms is 1.39 (H0). This hazard rate, in an exponential survival model, corresponds to a decrease in the 3-year PFS rate on the preoperative chemotherapy arm to 67%. By considering a rate of 4% for not informative or lost to follow-up patients the total number of patients to be included in this trial was 518\*100/96 = 540 patients.

Ancillary studies Pronostic value of circulating cancer cells before and after preoperative treatment and after surgery in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer after chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy will be evaluated. After assessment of prognostic value of each rate on survival, recurrence and response to treatment, evaluation of prognostic impact of variation of the rate during differents phases of treatment will be carried out.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Rectal Cancer Advanced Cancer

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

To demonstrate the non inferiority of preoperative modified FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy compared to radiochemotherapy in primary resectable locally advanced rectal cancer
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

A: Modified Folfirinox

Experimental : preoperative chemotherapy:

Modified FOLFIRINOX regimen comprised oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 + irinotecan 180mg/m2 + Folinic acid 400 mg/m2 at day1, then 5-FU given as a continuous infusion over 46h every two weeks. Six cycles are planned preoperatively.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Chemotherapy

Intervention Type DRUG

Arm A : Experimental

* Intervention Type : Drug
* Intervention Name : Modified FOLFIRINOX (experimental arm)
* Intervention Description : preoperative chemotherapy: Modified FOLFIRINOX regimen comprised oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 + irinotecan 180mg/m2 + Folinic acid 400 mg/m2 at day1, then 5-FU given as a continuous infusion over 46h every two weeks. Six cycles are planned preoperatively.

B: Modified Folfirinox followed by Radiochemotherapy

Active comparator: preoperative chemotherapy : Modified FOLFIRINOX regimen comprised oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 + irinotecan 180mg/m2 + Folinic acid 400 mg/m2 at day1, then 5-FU given as a continuous infusion over 46h every two weeks. Six cycles are planned preoperatively FOLLOWED BY Preoperative radiochemotherapy with concurrent capecitabine 825 mg/m2/12h 5 days/week and intensity modulated radiation therapy using a simultaneous integrated boost technique with 45 Gy in 25 fractions in pelvic volume and 50 Gy in 25 fractions to the tumor

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Radiochemotherapy

Intervention Type DRUG

Arm B: Active comparator

* Intervention Name : modified FOLFIRINOX followed by preoperative standardized radiochemotherapy (control arm)
* Intervention Description : preoperative chemotherapy: Modified FOLFIRINOX regimen comprised oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 + irinotecan 180mg/m2 + Folinic acid 400 mg/m2 at day1, then 5-FU given as a continuous infusion over 46h every two weeks. Six cycles are planned preoperatively.followed by preoperative radiochemotherapy with concurrent capecitabine 825 mg/m2/12h 5 days/week and intensity modulated radiation therapy using a simultaneous integrated boost technique with 45 Gy in 25 fractions in pelvic volume and 50 Gy in 25 fractions to the tumor.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Chemotherapy

Arm A : Experimental

* Intervention Type : Drug
* Intervention Name : Modified FOLFIRINOX (experimental arm)
* Intervention Description : preoperative chemotherapy: Modified FOLFIRINOX regimen comprised oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 + irinotecan 180mg/m2 + Folinic acid 400 mg/m2 at day1, then 5-FU given as a continuous infusion over 46h every two weeks. Six cycles are planned preoperatively.

Intervention Type DRUG

Radiochemotherapy

Arm B: Active comparator

* Intervention Name : modified FOLFIRINOX followed by preoperative standardized radiochemotherapy (control arm)
* Intervention Description : preoperative chemotherapy: Modified FOLFIRINOX regimen comprised oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 + irinotecan 180mg/m2 + Folinic acid 400 mg/m2 at day1, then 5-FU given as a continuous infusion over 46h every two weeks. Six cycles are planned preoperatively.followed by preoperative radiochemotherapy with concurrent capecitabine 825 mg/m2/12h 5 days/week and intensity modulated radiation therapy using a simultaneous integrated boost technique with 45 Gy in 25 fractions in pelvic volume and 50 Gy in 25 fractions to the tumor.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Histologically proven middle or low rectal carcinoma, ≤ 10 cm from the anal verge on MRI (sagittal slide)
* cT3N0 and/or cT1-T3N+ on pretreatment imaging work up (pelvic contrast enhanced MRI and/or endorectal ultrasound),
* Pretreatment predictive circumferential margin \> 2mm on pretreatment imaging work up (pelvic contrast enhanced MRI)
* Patients must be 18 years old or older
* A World Health Organization (WHO/ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
* Informed consent signed
* Patients of childbearing / reproductive potential should use adequate birth control measures during the study treatment period and for at least 6 months after the last study treatment. A highly effective method of birth control is defined as those which result in low failure rate (i.e. less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly.

Exclusion Criteria

* Rectal tumor \> 10 cm from the anal verge on MRI (sagittal slide)
* cT4 tumor on pretreatment imaging work up (pelvic contrast enhanced MRI and/or endorectal ultrasound) or involvement of external sphincter
* Circumferential margin ≤ 2 mm on pretreatment imaging work up (pelvic contrast enhanced MRI)
* Metastatic disease
* Prior pelvic irradiation or any contraindication to pelvic irradiation
* Contraindication to oxaliplatin or irinotecan or 5FU based chemotherapy
* Concomitant treatment with warfarin is contraindicated and warafarin must be replaced whenever possible to allow for inclusion.
* Recent or concomitant treatment with brivudine is contraindicated
* contraindications to 5-FU: complete and permanent insufficiency in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, bone marrow insufficiency, chronic and severe infection
* contraindication to irinotecan : inflammatory bowel disease, bilirubin serum level \> 3 times the upper limit of the normal rate, severe bone marrow insufficiency, WHO/ECOG performence status \> 2,
* Concomitant treatment with millepertuis.
* contraindication to oxaliplatin :

\*bone marrow insufficiency before treatment initiation (neutrophil count \<2x109/L and/or platelet count \<100x109/L), peripheral neuropathy with permanent invalidity before treatment initiation
* severe renal insufficiency (Creatinin clearance \<30 ml/min)
* contraindications to folinic acid : Biermer anemia and other anemia related to B12 vitamin insufficiency
* contraindications to capecitabin : severe renal insufficiency (Creatinin clearance \<30 ml/min), complete and permanent insufficiency in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase
* live attenuated vaccine should not be used during and 6 months after preoperative treatment.
* Previous colorectal cancer
* Other concomitant or previous malignancy, except: i/ adequately treated in-situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix, ii/ basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, iii/ cancer in complete remission for \>5 years
* Presence of any psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial
* protected adults
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Patient with no national health or universal plan affiliation coverage.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Stéphane BENOIST, MD,PHD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Service de chirurgie digestive et oncologique Hôpital Bicêtre - 94275 LE KREMLIN BICETRE

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

BENOIST

Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Île-de-France Region, France

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

France

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Stéphane BENOIST, MD,PHD

Role: CONTACT

+ 33 1 45 21 34 72

Antoine BROUQUET, MD,PHD

Role: CONTACT

+ 33 1 45 21 34 70

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Stephane BENOIST, PhD

Role: primary

+33 1 45 21 34 72

Antoine BROUQUET, PhD

Role: backup

+33 1 45 21 34 70

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Bosset JF, Collette L, Calais G, Mineur L, Maingon P, Radosevic-Jelic L, Daban A, Bardet E, Beny A, Ollier JC; EORTC Radiotherapy Group Trial 22921. Chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2006 Sep 14;355(11):1114-23. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa060829.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16971718 (View on PubMed)

Wiltink LM, Chen TY, Nout RA, Kranenbarg EM, Fiocco M, Laurberg S, van de Velde CJ, Marijnen CA. Health-related quality of life 14 years after preoperative short-term radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: report of a multicenter randomised trial. Eur J Cancer. 2014 Sep;50(14):2390-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2014.06.020. Epub 2014 Jul 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25060825 (View on PubMed)

Schrag D, Weiser MR, Goodman KA, Gonen M, Hollywood E, Cercek A, Reidy-Lagunes DL, Gollub MJ, Shia J, Guillem JG, Temple LK, Paty PB, Saltz LB. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy without routine use of radiation therapy for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: a pilot trial. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Feb 20;32(6):513-8. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2013.51.7904. Epub 2014 Jan 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24419115 (View on PubMed)

Bensignor T, Brouquet A, Dariane C, Thirot-Bidault A, Lazure T, Julie C, Nordlinger B, Penna C, Benoist S. Pathological response of locally advanced rectal cancer to preoperative chemotherapy without pelvic irradiation. Colorectal Dis. 2015 Jun;17(6):491-8. doi: 10.1111/codi.12879.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25524450 (View on PubMed)

Deng Y, Chi P, Lan P, Wang L, Chen W, Cui L, Chen D, Cao J, Wei H, Peng X, Huang Z, Cai G, Zhao R, Huang Z, Xu L, Zhou H, Wei Y, Zhang H, Zheng J, Huang Y, Zhou Z, Cai Y, Kang L, Huang M, Peng J, Ren D, Wang J. Modified FOLFOX6 With or Without Radiation Versus Fluorouracil and Leucovorin With Radiation in Neoadjuvant Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Initial Results of the Chinese FOWARC Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized Three-Arm Phase III Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2016 Sep 20;34(27):3300-7. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.66.6198. Epub 2016 Aug 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27480145 (View on PubMed)

Brouquet A, Bachet JB, Huguet F, Karoui M, Artru P, Sabbagh C, Lefevre JH, Vernerey D, Mariette C, Vicaut E, Benoist S; on behalf the FRENCH , GRECCAR, PRODIGE study groups. NORAD01-GRECCAR16 multicenter phase III non-inferiority randomized trial comparing preoperative modified FOLFIRINOX without irradiation to radiochemotherapy for resectable locally advanced rectal cancer (intergroup FRENCH-GRECCAR- PRODIGE trial). BMC Cancer. 2020 May 29;20(1):485. doi: 10.1186/s12885-020-06968-1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32471382 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

P170920J

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.