Rectal Cancer Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Rectal Cancer Clinical Trials?

The rectum is part of the body’s digestive system and large intestine. In rectal cancer, malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the rectum. The disease may also develop when growths, called polyps, on the inner wall of the rectum develop and become cancerous. The significant signs of rectal cancer include bowel movement changes or blood in the stool. Other signs include tiredness, weight loss, change in appetite, diarrhea, constipation, and general abdominal discomfort.

Since family history plays a major role in this disease, many rectal cancer clinical trials focus on identifying and screening gene variants in at-risk patients.

Why Is Rectal Cancer Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Cancer of the rectum and/or colon is referred to as colorectal cancer and is the 4th most common cancer in the United States. Each year, about one-third of the 145,000 cases of colorectal cancers diagnosed are found in the rectum.

The main risk factor for rectal cancer is age. As you age, your chances of getting this disease increase. Moreover, having a familial or personal history of rectal cancer also increases your chances.

The 5-year survival rate for people with colorectal cancer is 65%. However, survival rates for colorectal cancer can vary based on several factors, particularly the stage.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available For Rectal Cancer?

Multiple treatment options are available for patients with rectal cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and more. One study analyzed the effect of radiotherapy (RT) and how it decreases local recurrence rates in two countries, Sweden and Norway. RT was given to 49% of Swedish patients, mainly short-course RT, and 26% of Norwegian patients, predominantly chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Local 5-year recurrence rates were initially higher in Norway (12%) than in Sweden (8%), whereas they were equally low (4%) during the latter time. Moreover, the survival rate improved in both countries.

Other studies focus on combining treatment options, such as surgical resection and other neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies, depending on the location of the tumor and stage.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Rectal Cancer?

Following are some of the recent rectal cancer clinical trials of significant importance:

2017: Neoadjuvant Treatment - Many patients with stage II to III rectal cancer cannot tolerate full-dose adjuvant chemotherapy following preoperative chemoradiation and surgery. BrUOG R-224 was designed to assess the impact of COmplete Neoadjuvant Treatment for REctal cancer (CONTRE). The results showed that CONTRE seems to be a well-tolerated alternative to the current standard treatment sequence.

2017: Evolution of Surgical Treatment - Surgery that produces an optimal total mesorectal excision (TME) resection specimen remains the cornerstone of curative rectal cancer management. This study concluded that TME surgery principles could be applied equally to laparoscopic, transanal, and robotic TME, where access is not easy and limited.

Who Are Some Of The Key Opinion Leaders / Researchers / Institutions Conducting Rectal Cancer Clinical Trial Research?

Douglas Rex, M.D.

Douglas Rex, M.D., of Indiana University, co-authored the colorectal cancer screening recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. His research interest includes colorectal cancer screening and the technical performance of colonoscopy.