Active clinical trials for "Rectal Neoplasms"

Primary Objectives To estimate the pathological complete response rate following neoadjuvant radiotherapy with concurrent capecitabine and oxaliplatin, with or without cetuximab based on the KRAS mutation status in rectal cancer. Secondary Objectives To evaluate the incidence of grade 3-4 toxicities with each of the two neoadjuvant regimens and during the 30-day post-operative period. To estimate the clinical tumour response rate and sphincter preservation rate with each of the two neoadjuvant regimens. To correlate EGRF gene amplification with pathological response rate in those treated with cetuximab. To estimate the pattern of failure. To establish an annotated tissue library with samples being obtained prior to therapy and following therapy (at the time of surgery).

According to the current opinion, local excision in rectal cancer should be limited to selected T1N0 tumours. The investigators addressed the question whether preoperative radio(chemo)therapy can expand the use of this procedure for more advanced cancers. The rationale of preoperative radiotherapy is eradication of mesorectal subclinical disease. Besides, there is a correlation between radiosensitivity of rectal cancers and low cancer aggressiveness. For this reason, conversion to abdominal surgery is needed in patients with radioresistant tumour. The investigators aim to compare the short-course radiotherapy schedule with the chemoradiation in order to determine an optimal scheme. The study hypothesis is that the chemoradiation assures 25% more patients who do not require conversion to an open surgery. In addition, the aim is to asses safety and efficiency of preoperative radiotherapy and local excision for radiosensitive rectal cancer.

response rate to adding cetuximab, oxaliplatin and capecitabine to radiation for advanced rectum cancer

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying radiation therapy and either capecitabine or fluorouracil with or without oxaliplatin and comparing them to see how well they work when given before surgery in treating patients with resectable rectal cancer. It is not yet known whether radiation therapy and either capecitabine or fluorouracil is more effective with or without oxaliplatin in treating rectal cancer.

The purpose of this trial is to study the efficacy of preoperative radiation therapy and capecitabine in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Based on the neurophysiology, it is well known that sympathetic nerves control the ejaculatory function and bladder neck closure. In contrast, the parasympathetic nerves control penile erection and bladder wall contraction. Because of the difference in cultural background of the patients and training background of the physicians between Western and Oriental Countries, the Western people did not believe in the efficacy of wide pelvic lymphadenectomy. In the Oriental countries, due to the shortage of standardized facilities, treatment protocol, and manpower, the concurrent preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) of American style is currently not widely accepted. Therefore, the advantage and disadvantage of these two treatment modalities for advanced rectal cancers need be further clarified. In this project, we plan to randomly assign the patients into two groups: (1) concurrent preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) + conventional surgery group; (2) wide pelvic lymphadenectomy group. Thereafter, we plan to evaluate: (1) the anorectal function by anorectal manometry and colonic transit time using radioopaque markers; (2) the micturition function using urodynamic study; (3) the penile erection by RigiScan; and (4) the ejaculatory function by clinical interview of the patients. Moreover, the various clinicopathologic factors, including the depth of tumor invasion and the status of lymph node invasion, were recorded in detail according to the guidelines recommended by the Japanese Society of Coloproctology. Furthermore, we will evaluate the oncological results for these patients.

A randomized trial comparing weather preoperative short-course radiotherapy with local boost is better than conventional preoperative short-course radiotherapy for local advanced rectal cancer.

This pilot study hypothesizes that hyperthermia delivered via magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRg-FU) is technically feasible and can be safely used in combination with concurrent reirradiation and chemotherapy for the treatment of recurrent rectal cancer. Twenty recurrent rectal cancer patients who are not candidates for surgery will be recruited for hyperthermia treatment delivered via MRg-FU concurrent with reirradiation and oral chemotherapy.

The most challenge for the surgery of low rectal carcinoma was whether to perform low anterior resection (LAR) and preserve anal function improving the quality of life for patients, for which anastomotic leak is a great obstacle with about 5-10% incidence in reported literature. Up to now, kinds of surgical devices have been employed to reduce anastomotic leak rate after LAR. Most of these anastomotic devices could not resolve the problem of "dog ear" phenomena. In the present clinical trial, the investigators use a double purse-string rectal anastomosis with KOL staple in laparoscopic anterior rectal resection for low or ultra-low rectal carcinoma, which will resolve the problem of dog ear. The investigators aim to demonstrate the safety, effectiveness of this procedure and establish a standard method for laparoscopic (ultra-)low anterior rectal resection.

Neoadjuvant (preoperative) concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is now considered as a standard treatment of locally advanced rectal adenocarcinomas, which correlates better local control and higher sphincter preservation rate. Nimotuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been reported to improve the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy in some cancers. This study is a clinical phase II trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of Nimotuzumab administered concurrently with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer, and to further investigate its side-effect and toxicity.