Short-course Radiotherapy (5×6Gy/7Gy/8Gy) Followed by Neo-adjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in western countries and its incidence and mortality rates have been ascending for several decades in our country. Surgical resection is the primary treatment method for resectable tumor. Post-operative chemo-radiotherapy can improve local control but can also lower the tolerance rate and increase the incidence of postoperative complications. It is generally not recommended as a regular treatment method excepting the patients who have high risk factors of recurrence after surgery. Preoperative radiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision(TME) has been recommended as a preferred treatment regimen for locally advanced rectal cancer for it is more effective in local control compared with that of postoperative radiotherapy. The traditional long-course radiotherapy(LCRT) is 45-50.4 Gy in 25-28 daily fractions given with concurrent chemotherapy and delayed surgery(4-8 weeks after chemo-radiotherapy). Also considered an alternative treatment option is preoperative short-course radiotherapy(SCRT) of 25 Gy in five daily fractions and followed by immediate surgery(1 week after SCRT). Similar rates of local control, survival and toxicity were observed in these two regimens. Although SCRT can reduce treatment interval and cut down costs, it's pathological complete response(pCR) rates are relatively low. Bujko et al. reported that the pCR rate for LCRT and SCRT are 16% and 0.7%, respectively. This difference may partially related to the interval between preoperative radiotherapy and surgery. The pCR rates are higher in patients who have the longer interval. In the latest multicenter, randomized, non-blinded, phase III, non-inferiority trial(Stockholm III), participants were randomly assigned to receive either 5×5 Gy radiation dose with immediate surgery within 1 week(SCRT) or after 4-8 weeks(SCRT with delay) or 25×2 Gy radiation dose followed by surgery after 4-8 weeks(LCRT with delay). All these regimens show similar oncological results. However, LCRT with delay prolongs the treatment interval substantially. Although radiation-induced toxicity was observed after SCRT with delay, postoperative complications were significantly reduced compared with that of SCRT followed by immediate surgery. Thus, SCRT with delay to surgery is a useful alternative to conventional SCRT with immediate surgery.

The optimal pattern of dose fractionation of preoperative radiotherapy still deserves to be explored. J Widder et al. reported that SCRT of 25 Gy administered within 1 week of 2.5 Gy twice daily for resectable rectal cancer generates a well-tolerated and simple way to increase local control. A prospective phase II study of SCRT for rectal cancer with twice daily fractions of 2.9 Gy to a total dose of 29 Gy also results in tolerable toxicity and favourable local control. Although both of the modifications of SCRT have acceptable toxicity and well local control, the improvement in overall survival is still limited. Investigators suppose that whether escalating single radiation dose of SCRT (6Gy,7Gy,8Gy...) may further improve local control and overall survival with tolerable toxicity. A prospective phase II study of SCRT that made a boost to the gross tumor volume(GTV) up to a total of 30 Gy in five fractions to investigate the feasibility and the rate of complete pathological response. The results demonstrated that acceptable toxicity and a better rate of pCR can be achieved. Studies have confirmed that high pCR rates were beneficial to survival. Hence, investigators consider that it is feasible to escalate single radiation dose of SCRT in treating rectal cancer. The theoretical basis of escalation of single radiation dose of SCRT may improve survival outcome are as follows:

1. To improve the biological equivalent doses(BED) of the tumor Biological equivalent doses (BED) were used for comparison of various fractionations of radiotherapy and were calculated with the formula for late normal tissue toxicity BED (Gy) =nd[1 +(d /α / β)] n: number of fractions d: single fraction dose (Gy) α/β: take 3 Gy for normal tissues According to the formula, BED is determined by n, d and α/β. This suggests that escalation of fractional dose can significantly increase BED of tumor, thus can amount to the greater kill to tumor cells.
2. To induce tumor immune response Several studies reported that radiotherapy can induce or regulate immune response, which can suppress tumor growth and generate inflammatory response. Field radiotherapy can motivate the radiation effects of local-regional and distant area of the body.

The other one criticism in treating rectal cancer is distant metastasis that hinder the improve of overall survival. Preoperative chemotherapy can play a role in controlling the potential micrometastases. Previous studies have confirmed that SCRT followed by mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy can improve the pCR rates. Therefore, in this Phase I Study, the safety and efficacy will be tested using a dose escalation mode of SCRT (5×6Gy/7Gy/8Gy) followed by four cycles of mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy when treating locally advanced rectal cancer.

Dose Escalation Methods in Phase I Cancer Clinical Trials:

Three patients receive the lowest level of radiation dose in a cohort and dose limited toxicity(DLT) is observed. If none of the patients show DLT, another cohort of three patients receive the next higher level of dose. If not, a further cohort of three patients will receive the same dose when one or more patients exhibit DLT. Of the six patients treated at this dose level, the trial continues at the next dose level if only one out the six patients appears DLT and stops at that dose level if at least two patients appear DLT. When the escalation stopped, additional three patients will be required at this dose level. The maximum sample size will depend on the dose level that is in progress.