The Radiation Oncology-Biology Integration Network (ROBIN) Molecular Characterization Trial (MCT) of Standard Short Course Radiotherapy for Rectal Cancer

NCT ID: NCT05943210

Last Updated: 2025-07-28

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

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

25 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-05-22

Study Completion Date

2028-05-31

Brief Summary

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This trial (molecular characterization trial) focuses on rectal cancer, a common cancer that is treated with radiotherapy (RT) as standard of care and represents a setting in which to study the effects of RT on the immune system.

Detailed Description

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The study aims to test the hypothesis that the radiation therapy will assist in targeting the rectal cancer by mounting a robust immune response against the rectal cancer.

Conditions

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Rectal Cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

This is a molecular characterization trial (MCT) of 25 consecutively treated rectal cancers with short-course radiotherapy (scRT; 25Gy/5 fractions). Tissue and imaging will be collected at three time-points: 1. Baseline (day -28 to 0) - pelvic MRI and CT, research biopsy, blood (50ml), stool. 2. After 5 RT fractions (day 5-10) - CT, research biopsy, blood (50ml), stool 3. At time of surgery (wk 6) - MRI and CT, surgical tumor and nodal specimens, blood (50ml), stool.
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Single cohort

Eligible patients will receive short course radiation therapy (scRT) of 25Gy over 5 days (fractions) for their localized rectal cancer. Research bloods stool and tissue will be collected at three time points: Baseline, end of radiation therapy and at surgery.

Group Type OTHER

Short Course Radiation Therapy (scRT)

Intervention Type RADIATION

Eligible patients will receive short course radiation therapy (scRT) of 25Gy over 5 days (fractions) for their localized rectal cancer. Research bloods stool and tissue will be collected at three time points: Baseline, end of radiation therapy and at surgery.

Total Mesenteric Excision (TME)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Subjects are expected to undergo total mesenteric Excision(TME) even if subjects have achieved complete response by imaging.TME is a specific surgical technique used in the treatment of rectal cancer in which the bowel with the tumor is entirely removed along with surrounding fat and lymph nodes.

Interventions

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Short Course Radiation Therapy (scRT)

Eligible patients will receive short course radiation therapy (scRT) of 25Gy over 5 days (fractions) for their localized rectal cancer. Research bloods stool and tissue will be collected at three time points: Baseline, end of radiation therapy and at surgery.

Intervention Type RADIATION

Total Mesenteric Excision (TME)

Subjects are expected to undergo total mesenteric Excision(TME) even if subjects have achieved complete response by imaging.TME is a specific surgical technique used in the treatment of rectal cancer in which the bowel with the tumor is entirely removed along with surrounding fat and lymph nodes.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Histologically confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rectum
* Age ≥ 18 years
* ECOG performance status 0-1
* cT2-T3N0 or cT1-3N1 or cT4 or cN2
* Rectal cancer amenable to total mesorectal excision
* No evidence of distant metastases
* No prior pelvic radiation therapy
* No prior chemotherapy or surgery for rectal cancer
* Total neoadjuvant therapy (short course radiotherapy followed by consolidative chemotherapy) is allowed
* No infections requiring systemic antibiotic treatment
* Hgb \>8.0 gm/dL, PLT \> 150,000/mm3, total bilirubin ≤ 1.5x upper limit of normal, AST ≤ upper limit of normal, ALT ≤ 3x upper limit of normal
* Patients must read, agree to, and sign a statement of informed consent prior to participation in this study. Patients who do not read or understand English or eligible but must have the consent form read to them in its entirety by an official translator. Informed consent for non-literate or non-English speaking patients may not be obtained by using a relative or a member of the patient's clinical team as a translator.
* Female participants or reproductive potential, defined as not surgically sterilized and between menarche and 1 year post menopause, must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment.
* Women with childbearing potential who are negative for pregnancy (urine or blood) and who agree to use effective contraceptive methods. A woman of childbearing potential is defined by one who is biologically capable of becoming pregnant. Reliable contraception should be used from trial screening and must be continued throughout the study.

Exclusion Criteria

* Recurrent rectal cancer
* Primary unresectable rectal cancer is defined as a primary rectal tumor which, on the basis of either physical exam or pelvic MRI, is deemed to be adherent or fixed to adjacent pelvic structures (en bloc resection will not be achieved with negative margins).
* Patients who have received prior pelvic radiotherapy
* Patients with prior allogenic stem cell or solid organ transplantation.
* Patients receiving treatment with systemic immunosuppressive medication (including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, thalidomide, and antitumor necrosis factor-α agents) administered at \>10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment.
* Patients with any other concurrent medical or psychiatric condition or disease which, in the investigator's judgment would make them inappropriate candidates for entry into this study
* Patients receiving other anticancer or experimental therapy. No other experimental therapies (including chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal treatment, antibody therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, vaccine therapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, matrix metalloprotease inhibitors, thalidomide, anti-VEGF/Flk-1 monoclonal antibody, or other experimental drugs) of any kind are permitted while the patient is receiving study treatment.
* Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method of birth control to avoid pregnancy for the entire study period and for up to four weeks after the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Silvia Formenti, M.D.

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Encouse Golden, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Locations

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The University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Weill Cornell Medical College

New York, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

New York Presbyterian Hospital - Queens

New York, New York, United States

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Fabiana Gregucci, M.D.

Role: CONTACT

646-962-2199

Facility Contacts

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Fauzia Arif

Role: primary

ManiDeepika Katta

Role: primary

732-427-6212

Izael Nino

Role: primary

Mary Palmer

Role: backup

Maahi Patel

Role: primary

646-962-3118

Fabiana Gregucci, M.D.

Role: backup

646-962-2199

Hina Ali, M.D.

Role: primary

718-670-1541

Krystalle Lyons

Role: backup

718-670-1574

Other Identifiers

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1U54CA274291

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

22-08025121

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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