PD-1 + FOLFOXIRI vs CAPOX as Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for pMMR Low Rectal Cancer

NCT07277842 · tracked via the Priya Life Science China tracker

Sponsor

Sun Yat-sen University

Phase

Phase 3

Started

2025-12-29

Last updated

2025-12-11

Condition(s) studied

Locally Advanced Low Rectal AdenocarcinomapMMR (Microsatellite Stable Rectal Cancer)

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Serplulimab →FOLFOXIRI chemotherapyCAPOX chemotherapyLong-course pelvic radiotherapy

Serplulimab: Serplulimab will be administered intravenously in combination with FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy and long-course pelvic radiotherapy as part of total neoadjuvant therapy in the experimental arm.

FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy: The FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy regimen (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan) will be administered according to the study protocol as part of total neoadjuvant therapy in the experimental arm, in combination with serplulimab and long-course pelvic radiotherapy.

CAPOX chemotherapy: The CAPOX chemotherapy regimen (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) will be administered according to the study protocol as part of total neoadjuvant therapy in the active comparator arm, in combination with long-course pelvic radiotherapy.

Long-course pelvic radiotherapy: Long-course pelvic external beam radiotherapy will be delivered according to institutional standards as part of total neoadjuvant therapy in both study arms, in combination with chemotherapy (FOLFOXIRI plus serplulimab in the experimental arm or CAPOX in the active comparator arm).

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out if adding a PD-1 antibody (serplulimab) to FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy and radiotherapy works better than CAPOX chemotherapy with radiotherapy as total neoadjuvant therapy for adults with pMMR locally advanced low rectal cancer. It will also look at the safety of these treatments and how they affect long-term outcomes such as organ preservation and survival.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does PD-1 antibody plus FOLFOXIRI with radiotherapy improve 3-year event-free survival compared with CAPOX with radiotherapy?

Does this treatment increase the chance of clinical complete response and avoiding a permanent stoma (sphincter-preserving or non-surgical "watch-and-wait" management)?

What side effects and medical problems occur during and after these treatments?

Researchers will compare:

Group A (experimental group): PD-1 antibody (serplulimab) plus FOLFOXIRI chemotherapy combined with long-course radiotherapy as total neoadjuvant therapy.

Group B (control group): CAPOX chemotherapy combined with long-course radiotherapy as total neoadjuvant therapy.

Participants will:

Sign an informed consent form and have screening tests (physical exam, blood tests, ECG, imaging such as MRI/CT, endoscopy) to confirm they can join the trial.

Be randomly assigned (like drawing lots) to Group A or Group B. Receive several cycles of chemotherapy together with a 5-week course of pelvic radiotherapy before surgery; the experimental group will also receive PD-1 antibody during part of the chemotherapy and radiotherapy period.

Have regular clinic visits for checkups, blood tests, and assessment of side effects during treatment.

After neoadjuvant therapy, have MRI/CT and endoscopy to assess tumor response. Depending on the response, they may:

Receive surgery to remove the rectal tumor, or

If a clinical complete response is achieved and both doctor and patient agree, enter a "watch-and-wait" program instead of immediate surgery.

Provide blood samples and allow tumor tissue to be collected (for example, from biopsy and surgery) for future research (such as building PDX models and testing blood markers).

Be followed regularly for at least 5 years with clinic visits, blood tests (including CEA), imaging, and colonoscopy to check for tumor recurrence, side effects, and quality of life.

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Min age

18 Years

Max age

75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma. * pMMR status documented by immunohistochemistry (MSH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 all positive) or by MSI testing showing MSS or MSI-L. * Primary tumor located within 5 cm from the anal verge on pelvic MRI. * Clinical stage cT3-4bN0M0 or cTxN+M0, with or without positive mesorectal fascia (MRF) and/or extramural vascular invasion (EMVI), and assessed by the multidisciplinary team as resectable with the potential for R0 resection. * No clinical or radiologic evidence of bowel obstruction. * No prior colorectal surgery. * No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy. * No prior treatment with biologic agents (e.g., monoclonal antibodies), immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CTLA-4), or other investigational drugs. * Age 18 to 75 years (inclusive). * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1. * Estimated life expectancy \> 2 years. * Adequate bone marrow function: WBC \> 3.5 × 10\^9/L; platelets \> 100 × 10\^9/L; hemoglobin \> 80 g/L. * Adequate liver function: ALT and AST ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); total bilirubin \< 23.0 μmol/L. * Adequate renal function: eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m² (CKD-EPI) or creatinine clearance (Ccr) ≥ 60 mL/min. * Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * Evidence of inguinal or lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis (lymph node short-axis diameter ≥ 7 mm or MRI features typical for metastatic lymph nodes). * Clinically significant cardiac disease, including arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic treatment (except β-blockers or digoxin), symptomatic coronary artery disease or myocardial ischemia (myocardial infarction within the last 6 months), or congestive heart failure \> NYHA class II. * Uncontrolled severe hypertension. * History of HIV infection or active chronic hepatitis B (HBV DNA \> 2 × 10\^3 IU/mL) or hepatitis C (HCV RNA \> 1 × 10\^3 IU/mL). * Active pulmonary tuberculosis under treatment or having received anti-tuberculosis therapy within 1 year before screening. * Other active severe infections (as defined by NCI-CTCAE v5.0). * Evidence of distant metastasis outside the pelvis before treatment. * Cachexia or decompensated organ dysfunction. * Prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy. * Multiple primary colorectal cancers. * History of seizures requiring ongoing treatment (e.g., corticosteroids or anti-epileptic drugs). * History of another malignancy within the past 5 years, except adequately treated cervical carcinoma in situ or basal cell carcinoma of the skin. * Drug or alcohol abuse, or any medical, psychological, or social condition that, in the investigator's judgment, could interfere with study participation or the evaluation of study results. * Any active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease (including but not limited to interstitial pneumonia, uveitis, colitis, hepatitis, hypophysitis, nephritis, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism). * Receipt of any prophylactic vaccine against infectious diseases (e.g., influenza, varicella) within 4 weeks before enrollment. * Requirement for long-term immunosuppressive therapy or systemic/local corticosteroids at immunosuppressive doses (equivalent to \> 10 mg/day of prednisone or other corticosteroids). * Known or suspected allergy or hypersensitivity to any study drug or to any component of the study treatments. * Any unstable condition or other circumstance that may, in the opinion of the investigator, compromise patient safety or study compliance. * Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use adequate contraception during the study. * Refusal or inability to provide written informed consent.

Primary outcome measure(s)

3-year Event-Free Survival (EFS) — Up to 3 years after randomization
Event-free survival (EFS) is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of any of the following events: (1) locoregional failure, including unresectable primary tumor after completion of total neoadjuvant therapy, R2 resection (macroscopic residual tumor), or local bed recurrence after R0-R1 resection; (2) distant metastasis; (3) new invasive primary colorectal cancer; or (4) death from any cause. Patients without an event at the time of analysis will be censored at the date of the last tumor assessment.

Trial sites (1)

Facility	City	Region	Status
Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center	Guangzhou	None Selected

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Official registry record

This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.

View NCT07277842 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ← All trials in China