Multicenter phase 2 trial of total neoadjuvant therapy with long-course radiotherapy and TAS-102 for locally advanced rectal cancer
Prof. Jinbo Yue
A multicenter phase 2 trial in China evaluated a newly designed total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Patients received radiotherapy (50 Gy/25 fractions) concurrently with oral TAS-102 followed by two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and TAS-102, followed by surgery. Among 50 recruted patients, 44 received surgery. The pathological complete response rate was 32% (95% CI 19-48) and the major pathological regression rate was 52% (37-68). Toxicity was acceptable. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were not reached. The authors conclude that this newly designed TNT led to a high pCR rate among patients with LARC.
