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A Randomised Trial of Preoperative Radiotherapy for Stage T3 Adenocarcinoma of Rectum

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Adenocarcinoma of Rectum
Interventions
Drug: Short Course Adjuvent Chemotherapy
Drug: Long Course Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Procedure: Initial Surgery
Radiation: Short Course Radiotherapy
Radiation: Long Course Radiotherapy
Drug: Concurrent Chemotherapy
Registration Number
NCT00145769
Lead Sponsor
Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group
Brief Summary

This is a multi-centre randomised trial comparing long course (LC) preoperative chemoradiation with short course (SC) preoperative radiotherapy for patients with localised T3 rectal cancer.

Detailed Description

Objective:

* The objective is, in patients with T3 clinically resectable carcinoma of the rectum, to demonstrate that the local recurrence rate in patients treated with a long course (LC) of pre-operative radiotherapy with continuous infusion 5-FU is lower than that in patients treated with a short course (SC) of pre-operative radiotherapy with early surgery

Eligibility Criteria:

* The main eligibility criteria are that the patient has clinically resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum, a clinical stage T3 tumour whose lower border is within 12 cm of the anal verge, and no evidence of distant metastases.

Endpoints:

* Primary endpoint is local recurrence.

* Secondary endpoints are overall survival, toxicity, abdminoperineal resection rate, quality of life.

Treatment arms:

* SC arm: Radiotherapy (RT) 25 Gy in 5 fr in 1 week to be followed by surgery within 1 week and 6 cycles of postoperative chemotherapy 5FU/Folinic acid.

* LC arm: RT 50.4 Gy in 28 fr in 5½weeks with 5FU 225 mg/m2/day throughout the course of RT, to be followed by surgery 4-6 weeks after completion of RT. 4 cycles of adjuvant 5FU/Folinic acid will be given.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
326
Inclusion Criteria

All of the following must apply:

  • Pathologically documented and clinically resectable adenocarcinoma of the rectum.
  • The patient must be considered by the surgeon to be suitable for a curative resection.
  • The patient must be considered by the radiation oncologist to have no contraindication to pre-operative radiotherapy.
  • Clinical T3 stage tumour on endorectal ultrasound or MRI. When endorectal ultrasound cannot be performed satisfactorily due to a technical reason, such as stenosis or proximity of the tumour, and MRI is not available, infiltration of perirectal fat on CT scan is also acceptable.
  • Tumour with lower border within 12 cm from anal verge on rigid sigmoidoscopy.
  • ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2.
  • Adequate bone marrow function with neutrophil count at least 1.5 x 109/L and platelet count at least 100 x 109/L.
  • Adequate liver function with bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) <= 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.
  • Adequate renal function with serum creatinine <= 1.5 times the upper limit of normal.
  • Accessibility for treatment and follow-up.
  • Written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • None of the following must apply:
  • Evidence of distant metastases.
  • Recurrent rectal cancer.
  • Unstable cardiac disease or clinically significant active infection.
  • Other cancer in the last 5 years except treated non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
  • Pregnant or lactating females or female patients of childbearing potential who have not been surgically sterilized or are without adequate contraceptive measures.
  • Contraindication to insertion of a suitable indwelling venous catheter e.g. implantable central venous device (infuse-a-port), Hickman catheter or peripherally inserted central catheter.
  • Prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Short Course RadiotherapyShort Course Adjuvent ChemotherapyShort Course (SC) pre-operative radiotherapy, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy
Short Course RadiotherapyShort Course RadiotherapyShort Course (SC) pre-operative radiotherapy, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy
Long Course RadiotherapyLong Course Adjuvant ChemotherapyLong Course (LC) radiotherapy delivered with concurrent chemotherapy, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy
Long Course RadiotherapyLong Course RadiotherapyLong Course (LC) radiotherapy delivered with concurrent chemotherapy, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy
Long Course RadiotherapyConcurrent ChemotherapyLong Course (LC) radiotherapy delivered with concurrent chemotherapy, followed by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy
SurgeryInitial SurgeryPatients will receive initial surgery followed by post-operative management according to the NHMRC Guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer: Adjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Local recurrenceMain analysis will occur at minimum 3 years follow up of all patients. (After 6 years since start of trial)
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
SurvivalMain analysis will occur at minimum 3 years follow up of all patients. (After 6 years since start of trial)
ToxicityInterim analyses will occur annually.
Abdominoperineal resection rate. This is defined as the proportion of all patients in any arm who undergo operation by abdominalperineal resection.Main analysis will occur at minimum 3 years follow up of all patients. (After 6 years since start of trial)
Quality of lifeMain analysis will occur at minimum 3 years follow up of all patients. (After 6 years since start of trial)

Trial Locations

Locations (32)

Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre

🇦🇺

Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia

Royal North Shore Hospital

🇦🇺

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Liverpool Hospital

🇦🇺

Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

Royal Brisbane Hospital

🇦🇺

Herston, Queensland, Australia

Royal Perth Hospital

🇦🇺

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

🇦🇺

Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia

Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital

🇦🇺

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Prince of Wales Hospital

🇦🇺

Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

East Coast Cancer Centre

🇦🇺

Tugun, Queensland, Australia

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital

🇦🇺

Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia

Alfred Hospital

🇦🇺

Prahran, Victoria, Australia

The Canberra Hospital

🇦🇺

Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Nepean Cancer Care Centre

🇦🇺

Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

Riverina Cancer Care Centre

🇦🇺

Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Mater Private Hospital

🇦🇺

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Westmead Hospital

🇦🇺

Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia

Launceston General Hospital

🇦🇺

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Royal Adelaide Hospital

🇦🇺

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Auckland Hospital

🇳🇿

Auckland, New Zealand

Monash Medical Centre

🇦🇺

East Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia

Wellington Hospital

🇳🇿

Wellington, New Zealand

Mater QRI

🇦🇺

South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Frankston Hospital

🇦🇺

Frankston, Victoria, Australia

Waikato Hospital

🇳🇿

Hamilton, New Zealand

St Vincents Melbourne

🇦🇺

Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

Princess Alexandra Hospital

🇦🇺

Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

🇦🇺

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong Hospital

🇦🇺

Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Murray Valley Private Hospital

🇦🇺

Wodonga, Victoria, Australia

North Queensland Oncology Service

🇦🇺

Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Box Hill Hospital

🇦🇺

Box Hill, Victoria, Australia

Western Hospital

🇦🇺

Footscray, Victoria, Australia

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