Clinical trial NCT02533271: Optimization of Preoperative Treatment in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Official title: Phase III Study of Short-term Radiotherapy Plus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Versus Preoperative Long-term Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Cancer, Rectum
Keywords: rectal cancer
short-term radiotherapy
neoadjuvant chemotherapy
total mesorectal excision
Lead sponsor: ChineseAMS
Sponsor class: UNKNOWN
First posted: 2015-08-26
Enrollment: 600
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to compare effectiveness of short-term radiotherapy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(TNT group) with preoperative long-term chemoradiotherapy(CRT group) in locally advanced rectal cancer. The hypothesis is 3-year disease-free survival in TNT group was non-inferior to that in CRT group.

Detailed description: The study is a prospective phase III randomized multicenter trial. The purpose of this study is to compare short-term radiotherapy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(TNT group) with preoperative long-term chemoradiotherapy(CRT group) for middle-lower locally advanced rectal cancer. The primary endpoint is 3-year disease-free survival,defined as the interval from randomization to the first occurrence of local-regional failure, distant metastasis, second primary tumor or death from any cause. The primary hypothesis was that DFS in the TNT group would be non-inferior to that in the CRT group. After preoperative radiotherapy and surgery, the DFS rate of LARC fluctuated from 50% to 65%. Assuming a 3-year DFS rate in CRT group is 65%, we consider the 3-year DFS rate in the TNT group is not lower than 54% (e.g., a margin of 11% or equivalently, hazard ratio (HR) \< 1.43). Guarding against a 5% ineligibility or drop-out rate, the accrual target was 600 patients, with the final analysis to occur after at least 194 DFS events to provide at least 80% power at 1-sided type 1 error of 0.05. The choices of type 1 error and power were made to provide an appropriate comprise between feasibility, timeliness and statistical rigor of evidence generation.

This study seeks to compare outcomes between two groups with respect to rates of overall survival(OS), distance metastasis free survival (DMFS), and locoregional recurrence free survival (LRRFS).In addition, acute and late toxicity profile, completion of preoperative treatment, the proportion of patients with radical resection (R0), surgical complication profile, the rate of pathological complete response (pCR), and quality of life (QoL) are also secondary endpoints.

The STELLAR-trial has been designed by National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, and the hypothesis is 3-year disease-free survival in TNT group was non-inferior to that in CRT group.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Biopsy proven rectal adenocarcinoma;
* Distance between tumour and anal verge≤ 10cm;
* Locally advanced tumour;(AJCC Cancer Staging:T3, T4 or N+)
* Cancer Staging must be based on pelvic MRI;
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG) performance score ≤ 1;
* Written informed consent;
* Mentally and physically fit for chemotherapy;
* Adequate blood counts: White blood cell count ≥3.5 x 109/L Haemoglobin levels ≥100g/L Platelet count ≥100 x 109/L Creatinine levels ≤1.0× upper normal limit（UNL） Urea nitrogen levels ≤1.0× upper normal limit（UNL） Alanine aminotransferase(ALT) ≤1.5× upper normal limit（UNL） Aspartate aminotransferase(AST) ≤1.5× upper normal limit（UNL） Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) ≤1.5× upper normal limit（UNL） Total bilirubin(TBIL) ≤1.5× upper normal limit（UNL）
* No excision of tumor, chemotherapy or other anti-tumor treatment after the diagnosis.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Distant metastases;
* Recurrent rectal cancer;
* Active Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis;
* Concomitant malignancies;(except basocellular carcinoma or in-situ cervical carcinoma)
* Allergic to Fluorouracil or Platinum drugs;
* Contraindications to MRI for any reason;
* Concurrent uncontrolled medical condition;
* Pregnancy or breast feeding;
* Known malabsorption syndromes or lack of physical integrity of upper gastrointestinal tract;
* Symptoms or history of peripheral neuropathy

Primary outcomes:
measure: Disease-free survival rate
timeFrame: three year
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Overall survival rate
timeFrame: three year
measure: Distance metastasis free survival rate
timeFrame: three year
measure: Locoregional recurrence free survival rate
timeFrame: three year
measure: Incidence of surgical complications
timeFrame: one month
measure: Incidence of acute toxicities during radiation or chemotherapy
timeFrame: three months
measure: Radical resection (R0)
timeFrame: one year
measure: The rate of pathological complete response (pCR)
timeFrame: one year
measure: Quality of life (QoL)
timeFrame: up to three years
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Beijing
country: China
facility: Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College
state: Beijing
Study officials:
affiliation: Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College
name: Jing Jin
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Jin J, Tang Y, Hu C, Jiang LM, Jiang J, Li N, Liu WY, Chen SL, Li S, Lu NN, Cai Y, Li YH, Zhu Y, Cheng GH, Zhang HY, Wang X, Zhu SY, Wang J, Li GF, Yang JL, Zhang K, Chi Y, Yang L, Zhou HT, Zhou AP, Zou SM, Fang H, Wang SL, Zhang HZ, Wang XS, Wei LC, Wang WL, Liu SX, Gao YH, Li YX. Multicenter, Randomized, Phase III Trial of Short-Term Radiotherapy Plus Chemotherapy Versus Long-Term Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (STELLAR). J Clin Oncol. 2022 May 20;40(15):1681-1692. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.01667. Epub 2022 Mar 9.