Can the Rectum be Saved by Watchful Waiting or TransAnal Surgery Following (Chemo)Radiotherapy Versus Total Mesorectal Excision for Early REctal Cancer? (STAR-TREC)
Adenocarcinoma of the Rectum
About this trial
This is an interventional other trial for Adenocarcinoma of the Rectum
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Biopsy proven adenocarcinoma of the rectum
- mriT1-3bN0 (with ≤5mm of mesorectal invasion) rectal tumour or endorectal ultrasound defined rectal cancer uT1-uT3b (optional: in centres where high quality ERUS is available and patient unable to tolerate MRI)
MDT determines that all of the following treatment options are feasible:
- TME surgery
- CRT
- SCPRT
- TEM Patients with equivocal radiological lesions e.g. mesorectal, retroperitoneal, liver, lung are eligible if agreed by MDT
- Aged 16 or over in UK (18 or over in the Netherlands and Denmark).
Pre-(chemo)radiotherapy treatment, the following criteria must be met :
- Estimated creatinine clearance >50 mls/min -Absolute neutrophil count >1.5x109/l; platelets >100 x 109/L-
- Serum transaminase <3 x Upper Limit Normal/l (ULN)
- Bilirubin <1.5 x ULN
- ECOG performance status 0-1
If female and of childbearing potential, must:
- Have a negative pregnancy test ≤72hours prior to initiating study treatment
- Agree to avoid pregnancy during and for 6 months after study treatment
If male with a partner of childbearing potential, must:
- Agree to use adequate, medically approved, contraceptive precautions during and for 90 days after the last dose of study treatment
- Patient able and willing to provide written informed consent for the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unequivocal evidence of metastatic disease (includes resectable metastases) as determined by
MRI showing:
- node positive
- extramural vascular invasion (mriEMVI) positive
- defined mucinous tumour
- Maximum tumour diameter > 40mm as measured from everted edges (sagittal)
- Mesorectal fascia threatened (< 1 mm on MRI)
- Tumour position anterior, above the peritoneal reflection on MRI or EUS
- No residual luminal tumour following endoscopic resection
- Contraindications to radiotherapy including previous pelvic radiotherapy
- Uncontrolled cardiorespiratory comorbidity (includes patients with inadequately controlled angina or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to randomisation)
- Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) deficiency
- Known Gilberts disease (hyperbilirubinaemia)
- Taking warfarin that cannot be discontinued at least 7 days prior to starting treatment or substituted by low molecular weight heparin
Sites / Locations
- Odense University HospitalRecruiting
- Radboud University medical centerRecruiting
- University of BirminghamRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Active Comparator
Experimental
Experimental
Standard TME surgery
Long course concurrent chemoradiation
Short course radiotherapy
Radical total mesorectal excision
Capecitabine: 825 mg/m² orally, b.i.d., on radiotherapy days Radiotherapy: A dose of 50 Gy, applied to the primary tumour and surrounding mesorectum, in 25 fractions of 2 Gy, 5 days a week.
A dose of 25Gy, applied, to the primary tumour and surrounding mesorectum in 5 fractions of 5 Gy, 5 days a week.