Locally Advanced Rectal CancerPhase 3ENSEMBLENCT05646511
TNT of SCRT+CAPOX vs SCRT+CAPOXIRI for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
A Phase 3 study testing SCRT, CAPOX and CAPOXIRI in people with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer, run by National Cancer Center Hospital East at 34 sites in Japan.
Trial summary
This trial is a multicenter randomized Phase III study to verify the superiority of short-course preoperative radiation (SCRT) and CAPOXIRI over SCRT and CAPOX as preoperative treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
- What is being tested?
- SCRT, CAPOX and CAPOXIRI
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 608 participants
- Where
- 34 sitesJapan
- Study dates
- 21 Nov 2022to 31 Dec 2030
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- The content of this research was fully explained, and written informed consent was obtained from the subject.
- Histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma.
- Radical resection is clinically possible without any distant metastases on imaging studies.
- Age of 18 years or older on the date of consent acquisition.
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS 0-1 (PS 0 if aged 70 years or older on consent acquisition date).
- Inferior margin of the tumor is within 12 cm of the AV.
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- No prior tumor treatment.
- No history of radiation therapy to the pelvis, including treatment for other cancer types.
- Cases with cT3-4N0M0*or T1-4N1-2M0 based on Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) 8th edition.
- (5 cm< AV ≤ 10 cm, T3a/bN0M0, extramural venous invasion (EMVI) -, mesorectal fascia (MRF) clear and 10 cm < AV ≤ 12 cm, T3a/bN0-1M0, EMVI-, MRF clear are eligible only for those who refused surgery)
- UGT1A1 is wild-type or single heterozygous.
- Criteria for major organ function within 28 days prior to enrollment. If there are multiple test results within this period, the most recent one will be used, and blood transfusions and hematopoietic factor preparations will not be administered within 14 days before the test date for measurements before registration.
- Neutrophil count: ≥1,500/mm3
- Platelet count: ≥10.0×10 4/mm3
- Hemoglobin concentration: ≥9.0 g/dL
- Total bilirubin: ≤2.0 mg/dL
- Aspartate transaminase (AST): ≤100 IU/L or less
- Alanine transaminase (ALT): ≤100 IU/L or less
- Serum creatinine: Creatinine clearance ≥30 mL/min (by Cockcroft \& Gault formula)
Who cannot join
- Extensive surgery (excluding colostomy and central venous port construction) within 4 weeks before starting protocol treatment.
- Complications or history of severe lung disease (such as interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, and severe emphysema).
- Colonic stent in place.
- Contraindications for MRI such as cardiac pacemakers.
- Serious comorbidities (such as heart failure, renal failure, liver failure, intestinal paralysis, intestinal obstruction, uncontrolled diabetes, and active inflammatory bowel disease).
- Patients with multiple active cancers (simultaneous multiple cancers or metachronous multiple cancers with a disease-free interval of 5 years or less). However, carcinoma in situ or lesions equivalent to intramucosal carcinoma, which can be cured by local treatment, are not treated as active multiple cancers.
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- Pregnant women, lactating women, positive pregnancy test, or unwillingness to use contraception.
- Hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen positive or hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody-positive. However, HCV-RNA-negative can be registered.
- Have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
- MSI-high (MSI-H) or defective mismatch repair (dMMR) is known.
- Unwilling to donate specimens for "Research on gene profiling and clinical significance using clinical specimens from cancer patients" for whole-genome analysis based on the "Action Plan for Whole-Genome Analysis, etc." (CONDUCTOR study).
- Any other patients the principal investigator or co-investigator deems inappropriate for study participation.
Trial locations and contacts
34 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
34 sites in 1 country
Japan34 sites, 34 recruiting
- Recruiting
National Cancer Center Hospital East
Chiba
Takayuki Yoshino, Dr., +81-4-7133-1111
- Recruiting
Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital
Ehime
Masanori Hotchi, Dr., +81-89-947-1111
- Recruiting
Kyushu University Hospital
Fukuoka
Eiji Oki, Dr., +81-92-641-1151
- Recruiting
National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center
Fukuoka
Masahiko Sugiyama, Dr., +81-92-557-6100
- Recruiting
National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center
Fukuoka
Tetsuya Kusumoto, Dr., +81-92-852-0700
- Recruiting
Gifu University Hospital
Gifu
Nobuhisa Matsuhashi, Dr., +81-58-230-6000
- Recruiting
Hirosaki University Hospital
Hirosaki
Takuya Miura, Dr., +81-172-33-5111
- Recruiting
Hiroshima University Hospital
Hiroshima
Hideki Ohdan, Dr., +81-82-257-5555
- Recruiting
St. Marianna University Hospital
Kawasaki
Naoki Izawa, Dr., +81-44-977-8111
- Recruiting
University of Occupational and Environmental Health Hospital
Kitakyushu
Keiji Hirata, Dr., +81-93-603-1611
- Recruiting
Kochi Medical School Hospital
Kochi
Hironaga Satake, Dr., +81-88-866-5811
- Recruiting
Kumamoto University Hospital
Kumamoto
Yuji Miyamoto, Dr., +81-96-373-5212
- Recruiting
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
Kyoto
Tomohiro Arita, Dr., +81-75-251-5111, t-art@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
- Recruiting
Nagoya University Hospital
Nagoya
Goro Nakayama, Dr., +81-52-741-2111
- Recruiting
Ohara Memorial Kurashiki Central Medical Organization Kurashiki Central Hospital
Okayama
Mitsuru Yokota, Dr., +81-86-422-0210
- Recruiting
Okayama University Hospital
Okayama
Toshiyoshi Fujiwara, Dr., +81-86-223-7151
- Recruiting
Kansai Medical University Hospital
Osaka
Jun Watanabe, Dr., +81-72-804-0101
- Recruiting
Kindai University Hospital
Osaka
Junichiro Kawamura, Dr., +81-72-366-0221
- Recruiting
National Hospital Organization Osaka Medical Center
Osaka
Takeshi Kato, Dr., +81-6-6942-1331
- Recruiting
Osaka International Cancer Institute
Osaka
Yoshinori Kagawa, Dr., +81-6-6945-1181
- Recruiting
Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital
Osaka
Kiyoshi Maeda, Dr., +81-6-6645-2121, v22058n@omu.ac.jp
- Recruiting
Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization Osaka Acute and General Medical Center
Osaka
Yujiro Nishizawa, Dr., +81-6-6692-1201
- Recruiting
Osaka University Hospital
Osaka
Mamoru Uemura, Dr., +81-6-6879-5111
- Recruiting
Kitasato University Hospital
Sagamihara
Takeshi Naito, Dr., +81-42-778-8111
- Recruiting
Sapporo Medical University Hospital
Sapporo
Koichi Okuya, Dr., +81-11-611-2111
- Recruiting
Keio University Hospital
Tokyo
Koji Okabayashi, Dr., +81-3-3353-1211
- Recruiting
National Cancer Center Hospital
Tokyo
Yukihide Kanemitsu, Dr., +81-3-3542-2511
- Recruiting
Nippon Medical School Hospital
Tokyo
Takeshi Yamada, Dr., +81-3-3822-2131
- Recruiting
Tokyo Medical University Hospital
Tokyo
Yuichi Nagakawa, Dr., +81-3-3342-6111
- Recruiting
Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital Organization Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital
Tokyo
Kazushige Kawai, Dr., +81-3-3823-2101
- Recruiting
Kanagawa Prefectural Hospital Organization Kanagawa Cancer Center
Yokohama
Manabu Shiozawa, Dr., +81-45-520-2222
- Recruiting
Yokohama City University Hospital
Yokohama
Mayumi Ozawa, Dr., +81-45-787-2800
- Recruiting
Yokohama City University Medical Center
Yokohama
Yusuke Suwa, Dr., +81-45-261-5656
- Recruiting
Federation of National Public Service Personnel Mutual Aid Associations Yokosuka Mutual Aid Hospital
Yokosuka
Hirokazu Suwa, Dr., +81-46-822-2710
About this study
Official title: A Multicenter Randomized Phase III Study of Short-term Radiotherapy Plus CAPOX and Short-term Radiotherapy Plus CAPOXIRI as Preoperative Treatment for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
This trial is a multicenter randomized Phase III study to verify the superiority of short-course preoperative radiation (SCRT) and CAPOXIRI over SCRT and CAPOX as preoperative treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer.
Read the detailed description
Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has the promise, which means non-operative management (NOM) enable more patients (pts) with a complete clinical response (cCR) or near-complete clinical responses (nCR) after TNT to avoid subsequent radical surgery, with potentially maintaining anorectal function and quality of life (QoL). Recently, PRODIGE-23 trial demonstrated that triplet regimen (Irinotecan, oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine) before preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) significantly improved outcomes compared with CRT. However, there has been no prospective study comparing consolidation triplet with doublet regimens following short course radiotherapy (SCRT). The aim of this randomized phase III trial is to test superiority of consolidation irinotecan, capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOXIRI) vs. capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) following SCRT as TNT in pts with LARC.
Pts in both groups will be re-staged after completing TNT before radical surgery according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Regression Schema; pts with incomplete response (iCR) will undergo total mesorectal excision (TME), cCR pts will receive NOM, and nCR pts will undergo TME or NOM by a physician discretion under the recommendation of blind assessment by the designated NOM central committee. Pts will be followed by CT, MRI, colonoscopy and liquid biopsy every 4 months for 2 years, and every 6 months thereafter up to 5 years.
To detect a decrease in 3-year cumulative probability of organ preservation-adapted Disease free survival (DFS) from 75.0% to 81.7%, corresponding to a target hazard ratio of 0·70, a total of 608 pts (196 events) would achieve 70% power at a two-sided α significance level of 0.05.
- Conditions
- Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
- Being tested
- SCRT, CAPOX, CAPOXIRI
- Keywords
- Radiation, CAPOXIRI, CAPOX, Rectal cancer, Total neoadjuvant therapy, Rectal Neoplasms, Colorectal Neoplasms, Intestinal Neoplasms, Gastrointestinal Neoplasms, Digestive System Neoplasms, Capecitabine, Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan, Antineoplastic Agents, Chemotherapy, Non-operative management, Surgery, MRI, Restaging, QOL
- Medical subject headings
- Rectal Neoplasms, Colorectal Neoplasms, Intestinal Neoplasms, Gastrointestinal Neoplasms, Digestive System Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
SCRTRadiation
Also called Active Comparator & Experimental
5x5 Gy: 25 Gy
CAPOXDrug
Also called Active Comparator
Six cycles of CAPOX capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, every 3 weeks
CAPOXIRIDrug
Also called Experimental
Six cycles of CAPOXIRI capecitabine 800 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 and irinotecan 150 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, every 3 weeks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control arm SCRT+CAPOX | Active comparator | The standard-of-care group receives short-course radiation therapy (5 × 5 Gy) followed by six cycles of CAPOX (capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, q3wks). Receives: Radiation: SCRT; Drug: CAPOX |
| Experimental arm SCRT+CAPOXIRI | Experimental | The standard-of-care group receives short-course radiation therapy (5 × 5 Gy) followed by six cycles of CAPOXIRI (capecitabine 800 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, and irinotecan 150 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1*, q3wks). Receives: Radiation: SCRT; Drug: CAPOXIRI |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Organ-preservation adapted DFS
The investigators use the definition of organ-preservation adopted DFS proposed in the international consensus statement for preoperative treatment (75). It is defined as the period from the date of allocation to the earliest of the following events.
- Surgery difficult due to local progression or study subject unfit for surgery
- R2 resection of primary tumor ( not including Circumferential resection margin (CRM) positive )
- Local recurrence after R0/1 resection of primary tumor
- Local regrowth for which Salvage surgery is not possible during NOM
- Appearance of distant metastases
- Occurrence of second primary colorectal cancer
- Development of second primary other cancers
- Death (treatment-related death, death from the same cancer, death from a different type of cancer, non-cancer-related death)
Measured: Up to 3 years. It is defined as the period from the allocation date to the earliest of the following events.
Secondary outcomes (23)
cCR rate
The investigators will use the Memorial Sloan Kettering Regression Schema, which is the cCR standard for TNT clinical trials conducted mainly in the United States.
For judgment, a gastrointestinal endoscopist, a pathological diagnostician, and a gastrointestinal surgeon discuss and comprehensively judge.
Measured: 1-3 weeks (Days 7-21) from the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Clinical response (cCR+near CR [nCR]) rate
The investigators will use the Memorial Sloan Kettering Regression Schema, which is the cCR standard for TNT clinical trials conducted mainly in the United States.
For judgment, a gastrointestinal endoscopist, a pathological diagnostician, and a gastrointestinal surgeon discuss and comprehensively judge.
Measured: Within 1-3 weeks (Days 7-21) from the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Proportion of NOM selection
The proportion of the number of research subjects for whom NOM was selected at the time of re-evaluation to the analysis population as the numerator. Study subjects who died of any cause before the re-evaluation decision date will be treated as "no complete resection" and included in the denominator but not the numerator.
Measured: 3-6 weeks (Days 21-42) from the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Recurrence type and recurrence rate
The recurrence site is classified into local recurrence, distant recurrence, and unknown, and is defined as "recurrence type". Select multiple categories if recurrence is observed at multiple sites at the time of the first recurrence.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Distant metastases free survival (DMFS)
The period from the date of allocation to the date of determination of distant metastasis or the date of death due to any cause, whichever is earlier. An event that corresponds to any of the following is defined as a DMFS event.
- Distant metastasis
- Death (treatment-related death, death from the same cancer, death from a different type of cancer, non-cancer-related death)
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS)
The period from the date of allocation to the date of local recurrence or the date of death due to any cause, whichever is earlier. An event that corresponds to any of the following is defined as an LRFS event.
- Local recurrence
- Death (treatment-related death, death from the same cancer, death from a different type of cancer, non-cancer-related death)
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Overall survival (OS)
From the date of allocation to the date of death due to any cause. Based on " Protocol 8.2.17 Confirmation of outcome and confirmation of recurrence after protocol treatment", the confirmation of survival should be recorded in the medical record, etc.). Patients with no follow-up will be censored on the date of final confirmation of survival.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
TME-free survival
As the earliest of the date of definitive TME at reevaluation, the date of TME at local recurrence (excluding local excision), and the date of death from any cause. An event corresponding to any of the following is defined as a TME free survival event.
- TME when electing surgery at reevaluation
- TME with salvageable local regrowth in NOM
- Death (treatment-related death, death from the same cancer, death from a different type of cancer, non-cancer-related death)
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
TME-free DFS
With the date of assignment as the starting date, the date on which radical TME was performed at reevaluation, the date on which TME was performed at the time of local recurrence (excluding local excision), and Organ-preservation adopted DFS defined in Protocol 12.2.1. The period up to the earliest of the event occurrence dates. An event that corresponds to any of the following is defined as an event of TME-free disease-free survival.
- TME when electing surgery at reevaluation
- TME with salvageable local regrowth in NOM
- Organ preservation - adopted DFS defined in Protocol 12.2.1. is not applicable because TME is implemented)
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Protocol treatment completion rate
The analysis population who completed protocol treatment.
Measured: Immediately after the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Relative dose intensity (RDI)
RDI is calculated for each case, each cycle, and each drug (capecitabine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan) in the analysis target population. The actual number of cycle days refers to the number of days from the start of the corresponding course to the start date of the next course, but the actual number of cycle days in the final course is the number of days from the start date of the last course to the actual day of administration of capecitabine + 6 days. defined as RDI (%) = (Actual Dose/Prescribed Dose) x (21/Actual Cycle Days) x 100
Measured: Immediately after the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
QOL assessment (LARS score, EORTC QLQ-C30, and SF-36)
Using a quality of life questionnaire to assess the following items: LARS score, EORTC QLQ-C30, SF-36
Measured: 3 years
Incidence of preoperative treatment-related adverse events
Incidence of preoperative treatment-related adverse events determined by CTCAE ver5.0
Measured: Immediately after the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Pathological complete response (pCR) rate in the surgical subgroup
Pathological response evaluation will be performed on the surgical specimens of the subgroup that underwent surgical resection in the protocol treatment.
Histopathological evaluation of antitumor efficacy is based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) evaluation method. pCR is defined as no viable tumor cells not only in the primary tumor but also in the regional lymph nodes (ypT0N0).
Percentage of study subjects judged to be pCR in the analysis population.
Measured: Immediately after the evaluation of the histopathological findings after surgery
Radical resection rate in the surgical subgroup
Proportion of study participants who underwent a complete resection (confirmed postoperative pathological R0) in the analyzed population in the surgical resection subgroup in protocol treatment. Study subjects who died of any cause prior to the date of surgery were treated as "no complete resection" and included in the denominator but not the numerator.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) in the surgical subgroup
In the subgroup that underwent surgical resection in protocol treatment, the period from the date of surgery to the date of local recurrence or the date of death from any cause, whichever comes first.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Surgery-related adverse event rate determined by Clavien-Dindo classification v2.0 in the surgical subgroup
For early (within 30 days) and late (31-90 days) postoperative adverse events after the end of surgical therapy, the worst grade according to the Clavien-Dindo classification v2.0 is calculated.
Measured: For early (within 30 days) and late (31-90 days) postoperative adverse events after the end of surgical therapy
Local re-enlargement rate in the NOM subgroup
Proportion of study subjects with local regrowth in the analysis population in the subgroups that underwent NOM.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Time for local regrowth in the NOM subgroup
In the subgroup that underwent NOM, the date of NOM determination is the starting date, and the period from the date of local regrowth to the date of death from any cause, whichever is earlier.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Proportion of salvage surgery in local re-enlargement cases in the NOM subgroup
In the NOM subgroup, the proportion of study subjects with local regrowth and salvage surgery in the analysis population.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Time until salvage surgery in the NOM subgroup
In the NOM subgroup, the time to the date of salvage surgery at the time of local regrowth or the date of death from any cause, whichever is earliest.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Surgery-related adverse event rate determined by Clavien-Dindo classification v2.0 in salvage surgery cases in the NOM subgroup
In the subgroup that underwent NOM, among the population to be analyzed, in cases where local regrowth was performed and salvage surgery was performed, early (within 30 days) and late (31-90 days) postoperative adverse events after the end of surgical therapy , find the worst grade by Clavien-Dindo classification v2.0.
Measured: For early (within 30 days) and late (31-90 days) postoperative adverse events after the end of surgical therapy
Proportion of radical resection in salvage surgery cases in the NOM subgroup
Proportion of study subjects with local regrowth and radical salvage surgery in the analyzed population in the NOM subgroup.
Measured: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Dec 2022
- Study start21 Nov 2022
- Primary completion31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Locally Advanced Rectal CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- standard arm: 5x5Gy - - 12 wks CAPOX- - restaging - - surgery or non-operative management experimental arm: 5x5Gy - - 12 wks CAPOXIRI - - restaging - - surgery or non-operative management
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 608 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Center Hospital East
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Takayuki Yoshino, National Cancer Center Hospital East
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05646511
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- K2022001
- Other IDs
- jRCTs031220342
- Acronym
- ENSEMBLE
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 1 Dec 2022
- Last updated
- 3 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: A part of the omics analysis data obtained in the analysis of this study may be disclosed through public databases such as the "Human Database" operated by National Bioscience Database Center (NBDC) in Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). When registering data, re-anonymization will be provided to strengthen the protections of personal information. At the time of NBDC registration, we will comply with the "NBDC Guidelines for Human Data Sharing" and "NBDC Security Guidelines for Human Data(for Data Providers)" .
Publications
Watanabe J, Kagawa Y, Chida K, Ando K, Kotani D, Oba K, Bando H, Hojo H, Shimamoto S, Sakashita S, Kuwata T, Tsuboyama T, Hosomi N, Uemura M, Uehara K, Ito M, Oki E, Takemasa I, Misugi E, Sledge G, Sumani K, Imoto S, Kato T, Yoshino T. Phase III trial of short-course radiotherapy followed by CAPOXIRI versus CAPOX in locally advanced rectal cancer: the ENSEMBLE trial. ESMO Gastrointest Oncol. 2023 Nov 7;1:9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.esmogo.2023.08.002. eCollection 2023 Oct.
PubMed 41647286Kagawa Y, Smith JJ, Fokas E, Watanabe J, Cercek A, Greten FR, Bando H, Shi Q, Garcia-Aguilar J, Romesser PB, Horvat N, Sanoff H, Hall W, Kato T, Rodel C, Dasari A, Yoshino T. Future direction of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Jun;21(6):444-455. doi: 10.1038/s41575-024-00900-9. Epub 2024 Mar 14.
PubMed 38485756Scott AJ, Kennedy EB, Berlin J, Brown G, Chalabi M, Cho MT, Cusnir M, Dorth J, George M, Kachnic LA, Kennecke HF, Loree JM, Morris VK, Perez RO, Smith JJ, Strickland MR, Gholami S. Management of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Oct;42(28):3355-3375. doi: 10.1200/JCO.24.01160. Epub 2024 Aug 8.
PubMed 39116386Kagawa Y, Watanabe J, Uemura M, Ando K, Inoue A, Oba K, Takemasa I, Oki E. Short-term outcomes of a prospective multicenter phase II trial of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer in Japan (ENSEMBLE-1). Ann Gastroenterol Surg. 2023 Jul 11;7(6):968-976. doi: 10.1002/ags3.12715. eCollection 2023 Nov.
PubMed 37927927Kagawa Y, Ando K, Uemura M, Watanabe J, Oba K, Emi Y, Matsuhashi N, Izawa N, Muto O, Kinjo T, Takemasa I, Oki E. Phase II study of long-course chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy as total neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer in Japan: ENSEMBLE-2. Ann Gastroenterol Surg. 2024 Aug 3;8(6):1067-1075. doi: 10.1002/ags3.12848. eCollection 2024 Nov.
PubMed 39502728
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multicenter Randomized Phase III Study of Short-term Radiotherapy Plus CAPOX and Short-term Radiotherapy Plus CAPOXIRI as Preoperative Treatment for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05646511
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ENSEMBLE / K2022001
- Conditions
- Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
- Keywords
- Radiation, CAPOXIRI, CAPOX, Rectal cancer, Total neoadjuvant therapy, Rectal Neoplasms, Colorectal Neoplasms, Intestinal Neoplasms
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 608 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Center Hospital EastUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- Study start
- 21 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This trial is a multicenter randomized Phase III study to verify the superiority of short-course preoperative radiation (SCRT) and CAPOXIRI over SCRT and CAPOX as preoperative treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer.
Detailed description
Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has the promise, which means non-operative management (NOM) enable more patients (pts) with a complete clinical response (cCR) or near-complete clinical responses (nCR) after TNT to avoid subsequent radical surgery, with potentially maintaining anorectal function and quality of life (QoL). Recently, PRODIGE-23 trial demonstrated that triplet regimen (Irinotecan, oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine) before preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) significantly improved outcomes compared with CRT. However, there has been no prospective study comparing consolidation triplet with doublet regimens following short course radiotherapy (SCRT). The aim of this randomized phase III trial is to test superiority of consolidation irinotecan, capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOXIRI) vs. capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) following SCRT as TNT in pts with LARC.
Pts in both groups will be re-staged after completing TNT before radical surgery according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Regression Schema; pts with incomplete response (iCR) will undergo total mesorectal excision (TME), cCR pts will receive NOM, and nCR pts will undergo TME or NOM by a physician discretion under the recommendation of blind assessment by the designated NOM central committee. Pts will be followed by CT, MRI, colonoscopy and liquid biopsy every 4 months for 2 years, and every 6 months thereafter up to 5 years.
To detect a decrease in 3-year cumulative probability of organ preservation-adapted Disease free survival (DFS) from 75.0% to 81.7%, corresponding to a target hazard ratio of 0·70, a total of 608 pts (196 events) would achieve 70% power at a two-sided α significance level of 0.05.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- standard arm: 5x5Gy - - 12 wks CAPOX- - restaging - - surgery or non-operative management experimental arm: 5x5Gy - - 12 wks CAPOXIRI - - restaging - - surgery or non-operative management
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control arm SCRT+CAPOX | Active comparator | Radiation: SCRT, Drug: CAPOXThe standard-of-care group receives short-course radiation therapy (5 × 5 Gy) followed by six cycles of CAPOX (capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, q3wks). |
| Experimental arm SCRT+CAPOXIRI | Experimental | Radiation: SCRT, Drug: CAPOXIRIThe standard-of-care group receives short-course radiation therapy (5 × 5 Gy) followed by six cycles of CAPOXIRI (capecitabine 800 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, and irinotecan 150 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1*, q3wks). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (19 listed)
- The content of this research was fully explained, and written informed consent was obtained from the subject.
- Histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma.
- Radical resection is clinically possible without any distant metastases on imaging studies.
- Age of 18 years or older on the date of consent acquisition.
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS 0-1 (PS 0 if aged 70 years or older on consent acquisition date).
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Extensive surgery (excluding colostomy and central venous port construction) within 4 weeks before starting protocol treatment.
- Complications or history of severe lung disease (such as interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, and severe emphysema).
- Colonic stent in place.
- Contraindications for MRI such as cardiac pacemakers.
- Serious comorbidities (such as heart failure, renal failure, liver failure, intestinal paralysis, intestinal obstruction, uncontrolled diabetes, and active inflammatory bowel disease).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| SCRTAlso: Active Comparator & Experimental5x5 Gy: 25 Gy | Radiation | Control arm SCRT+CAPOX, Experimental arm SCRT+CAPOXIRI |
| CAPOXAlso: Active ComparatorSix cycles of CAPOX capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, every 3 weeks | Drug | Control arm SCRT+CAPOX |
| CAPOXIRIAlso: ExperimentalSix cycles of CAPOXIRI capecitabine 800 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1-14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 and irinotecan 150 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, every 3 weeks | Drug | Experimental arm SCRT+CAPOXIRI |
Primary outcome
Organ-preservation adapted DFS
Time frame: Up to 3 years. It is defined as the period from the allocation date to the earliest of the following events.
The investigators use the definition of organ-preservation adopted DFS proposed in the international consensus statement for preoperative treatment (75). It is defined as the period from the date of allocation to the earliest of the following events. 1. Surgery difficult due to local progression or study subject unfit for surgery 2. R2 resection of primary tumor ( not including Circumferential resection margin (CRM) positive ) 3. Local recurrence after R0/1 resection of primary tumor 4. Local regrowth for which Salvage surgery is not possible during NOM 5. Appearance of distant metastases 6. Occurrence of second primary colorectal cancer 7. Development of second primary other cancers 8. Death (treatment-related death, death from the same cancer, death from a different type of cancer, non-cancer-related death)
23 secondary outcomes
cCR rate
Time frame: 1-3 weeks (Days 7-21) from the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Clinical response (cCR+near CR [nCR]) rate
Time frame: Within 1-3 weeks (Days 7-21) from the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Proportion of NOM selection
Time frame: 3-6 weeks (Days 21-42) from the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Recurrence type and recurrence rate
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Distant metastases free survival (DMFS)
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS)
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Overall survival (OS)
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
TME-free survival
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
TME-free DFS
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Protocol treatment completion rate
Time frame: Immediately after the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Relative dose intensity (RDI)
Time frame: Immediately after the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
QOL assessment (LARS score, EORTC QLQ-C30, and SF-36)
Time frame: 3 years
Incidence of preoperative treatment-related adverse events
Time frame: Immediately after the completion of preoperative chemotherapy or the date of discontinuation.
Pathological complete response (pCR) rate in the surgical subgroup
Time frame: Immediately after the evaluation of the histopathological findings after surgery
Radical resection rate in the surgical subgroup
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) in the surgical subgroup
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Surgery-related adverse event rate determined by Clavien-Dindo classification v2.0 in the surgical subgroup
Time frame: For early (within 30 days) and late (31-90 days) postoperative adverse events after the end of surgical therapy
Local re-enlargement rate in the NOM subgroup
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Time for local regrowth in the NOM subgroup
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Proportion of salvage surgery in local re-enlargement cases in the NOM subgroup
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Time until salvage surgery in the NOM subgroup
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Surgery-related adverse event rate determined by Clavien-Dindo classification v2.0 in salvage surgery cases in the NOM subgroup
Time frame: For early (within 30 days) and late (31-90 days) postoperative adverse events after the end of surgical therapy
Proportion of radical resection in salvage surgery cases in the NOM subgroup
Time frame: 3 years (up to 5 years)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Apr 2025.
- Background: PubMed 41647286Watanabe J, Kagawa Y, Chida K, Ando K, Kotani D, Oba K, Bando H, Hojo H, Shimamoto S, Sakashita S, Kuwata T, Tsuboyama T, Hosomi N, Uemura M, Uehara K, Ito M, Oki E, Takemasa I, Misugi E, Sledge G, Sumani K, Imoto S, Kato T, Yoshino T. Phase III trial of short-course radiotherapy followed by CAPOXIRI versus CAPOX in locally advanced rectal cancer: the ENSEMBLE trial. ESMO Gastrointest Oncol. 2023 Nov 7;1:9-14. doi: 10.1016/j.esmogo.2023.08.002. eCollection 2023 Oct.
- Background: PubMed 38485756Kagawa Y, Smith JJ, Fokas E, Watanabe J, Cercek A, Greten FR, Bando H, Shi Q, Garcia-Aguilar J, Romesser PB, Horvat N, Sanoff H, Hall W, Kato T, Rodel C, Dasari A, Yoshino T. Future direction of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Jun;21(6):444-455. doi: 10.1038/s41575-024-00900-9. Epub 2024 Mar 14.
- Background: PubMed 39116386Scott AJ, Kennedy EB, Berlin J, Brown G, Chalabi M, Cho MT, Cusnir M, Dorth J, George M, Kachnic LA, Kennecke HF, Loree JM, Morris VK, Perez RO, Smith JJ, Strickland MR, Gholami S. Management of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Oct;42(28):3355-3375. doi: 10.1200/JCO.24.01160. Epub 2024 Aug 8.
- Background: PubMed 37927927Kagawa Y, Watanabe J, Uemura M, Ando K, Inoue A, Oba K, Takemasa I, Oki E. Short-term outcomes of a prospective multicenter phase II trial of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer in Japan (ENSEMBLE-1). Ann Gastroenterol Surg. 2023 Jul 11;7(6):968-976. doi: 10.1002/ags3.12715. eCollection 2023 Nov.
- Background: PubMed 39502728Kagawa Y, Ando K, Uemura M, Watanabe J, Oba K, Emi Y, Matsuhashi N, Izawa N, Muto O, Kinjo T, Takemasa I, Oki E. Phase II study of long-course chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy as total neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer in Japan: ENSEMBLE-2. Ann Gastroenterol Surg. 2024 Aug 3;8(6):1067-1075. doi: 10.1002/ags3.12848. eCollection 2024 Nov.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. A part of the omics analysis data obtained in the analysis of this study may be disclosed through public databases such as the "Human Database" operated by National Bioscience Database Center (NBDC) in Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). When registering data, re-anonymization will be provided to strengthen the protections of personal information. At the time of NBDC registration, we will comply with the "NBDC Guidelines for Human Data Sharing" and "NBDC Security Guidelines for Human Data(for Data Providers)" .
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
34 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing SCRT, CAPOX and CAPOXIRI in people with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer, run by National Cancer Center Hospital East at 34 sites in Japan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 19 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 34 sites in Japan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Yoshinori Kagawa, MD., PhD (+81-6-6945-1181, yoshinori.kagawa@oici.jp), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Organ-preservation adapted DFS (time frame: Up to 3 years. It is defined as the period from the allocation date to the earliest of the following events.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05646511, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Apr 2025.